Page 122 of An Empress of Air & Chaos

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” she said, smiling back at his contagious grin. “But I think it’s time you get me off this dance floor and get me a drink.”

He smiled and fell into step behind her as she led the way.

The drinks flowed and so did the laughter as Gideon and Waylen reminisced about growing up together. Cally couldn’t stop making eyes between Waylen and Emara as if to say, ‘Do you like him?’ However, Emara didn’t give anything away; she would chat to her regarding the details of the night at a later point.

As she sat listening to the teenage years of the wolf pack, Emara couldn’t help but look around the room for the inky black hair and ocean eyes that had been on her mind recently.

She found him after a few moments. He stood with his hand against the wall, whispering sweet nothing into a beautiful redhead’s ear. The girl had a familiar symbol at her collarbone, a circle that represented House Spirit. His black shirt had opened at the neck slightly and the girl tickled a finger against the nape of his throat, tipping her head back in roaring laughter.

He isn’t that funny, Emara thought to herself.

“And then, there Gideon was…naked in the barn, lying on the haybale!” Waylen barked out a thunderous laugh, showing his canine-like teeth. Cally also laughed with the boys; she had clearly taken in every single word of the story whilst Emara’s mind had trailed off somewhere a little more dangerous.

“I will never play that drinking game with you and your brothers again.” Gideon laughed and then silence followed quickly.

Brothers. Eli.

Cally went still against Waylen as he, too, paused in laughter for a second. The uncomfortable atmosphere snapped Emara’s attention back to the room.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“Don’t worry about it.” Waylen placed his drink on the table. “They are good memories of Eli and that is how we will remember him.” Cally brushed her hand against Waylen’s shoulder in a soothing motion and Emara studied them as Waylen looked at Cally. They did have good chemistry, she would give them that.

“I am so sorry for your loss,” Emara managed to say.

The wolf nodded in gratitude.

“Shall we go and get some drinks?” Cally asked, making a gesture with her head.

“Actually, I was going to nip out for some air.” Emara crinkled her nose.

“Do you want me to come with?” Gideon started to get up from his chair.

“If you don’t mind, I will just go to the ladies’ room and then head out,” she protested. “I won’t be long. You stay, chat and reminisce with Waylen; I’m sure he is finding comfort in the memories you have together.” She masked a smile onto her face and lost herself in the crowd before Gideon could protest.

The corridors were long and winding and the doors were all the same white wood as she looked in each one for a bathroom. Emara opened a hefty door on the left of the corridor and noticed a master suite with a four-poster bed, wrapped in red and cream sheets. Looking around, she noticed another door that was slightly open and prayed for a bathing chamber. In a manor this size, they had to install bathing suites in each room to save the residents running around looking for a bathroom in the middle of the night.

And she was right.

Praise the Gods.

After washing her hands, she left, turning off the oil lamp that lit the room. As Emara walked along the corridor, she passed a door that was now open that had definitely been closed on the way up.

Stopping before she passed, she peered through the crack in the open doorway. The room was poorly lit by oil lamps, but she noticed a familiar face. Kellen Blacksteel stood against one of the posters on the bed. His perfectly crisp, white shirt lay open at the chest, and he had taken off his formal tie, his brown hair ruffled slightly against his face.

Emara gulped when she realised he was not alone.

“I can’t be gone long,” a husky voice sounded from inside the room, one that Emara didn’t recognise. Kellen’s lips pulled into a gentle smile, which told her that he wasn’t quite smiling on the inside.

Had he been a few years older, he would have been astonishingly beautiful. He just needed time to grow into his youthful features.

“I am really glad we can steal a few moments to ourselves,” Kellen said as he took a hand from his pocket and ran a thumb along his lips. “I haven’t saw you since—”

“Selection,” the unfamiliar voice finished for him. “It’s been a few moons since. I thought you might have forgotten…”

“I will never forget.” Kellen’s shoulders tensed, and his eyes glazed over with something Emara couldn’t pinpoint. “It’s not something one forgets quickly.”

“No, it is not,” the mystery voice sounded stern and low. “But we must never make that mistake again.”

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