Page 25 of Of Flame and Fate

Emme meets my face, saying nothing all the while appearing to hold too much back.

“Just tell me,” I say.

Gemini’s fingers trail to my lower back. “Now isn’t the time,” he says, the way he grips my hip giving away the severity of the situation despite his gentle hold. “A lot is happening between theweresand how Emme is perceived,” he explains. “It’s firing Bren’s defensive nature.”

He focuses on Emme. “I need you to stay beside me,” he tells her. “And you’re not to leave with another male unless it’s me, Aric, or Koda. Females are fine, but not other males. Am I clear?”

It’s often hard for me to keep my trap shut. This is one of those moments, and if it weren’t for how Emme seems to withdraw further, I would be demanding a lot more than I’m getting.

“All right,” Emme agrees just above a whisper.

“Let’s go,” he says.

I glance at him, hoping he’ll give me a clue to what’s happening. He keeps his stare ahead. He’s trying to keep Emme from appearing alone and vulnerable. I know that much. Except there’s more to it based on Bren going all animal.

Twoweresin human form guard the double front doors leading into the main building. I recognize them from last year’s graduating class. They nod to Gemini and open the doors, allowing us through. The viciousness in their deep-set eyes alert me of their anger and how they’re prepared to maul anything that tries to get past them.

But the way they regard Emme is entirely different.

I was already tense, but all this heaviness soiling the air is doing little to soothe me and Sparky. I mutter a curse when she starts to quiver. Gemini reaches into the pocket of his jeans and pulls out my gloves.

“Here, take these.”

“I’m not trying to hide who you are,” he adds when I reach for them slowly. “But I am trying to keep as much attention off you as I can.”

“All right,” I say, realizing he only means to keep me safe.

We pass through the large foyer and continue down a long corridor paneled in dark wood, our steps the only noise in what should be a building busting with activity and magic.

I tug on my gloves as we walk, stretching my fingers through them. “I didn’t know you had them.”

His focus locks onto the entrance to the ballroom ahead. “I found them when I first entered the alley. They slipped my mind when I saw thesituationyou were in.”

“I had it under control.”

He looks at me.

“Well, I did,” I mumble.

“With that logic so did Emme,” he says, jerking his head in her direction. “And we see and smell where that led her.”

“You can smell me?” she asks.

She could smell herself when she pressed her sleeve against her nose, and likely reasoned it was only because she’s close to the source. Personally, all I smell is Honolulu Sunshine, having lathered it on her like she was covered with bile, because hey, she sure as hell was.

I glance at Gemini, knowing his nose scents a lot more than my sanitizer.

“My apologies Emme,” he says.

Emme’s panic-riddled features whip my way. I know what she’s thinking, the room is going to be packed with supernatural noses. They’ll scent her, and see her, and goodLord, no wonder he wants her so close to him. He’s the best line of defense she has.

“It’s not a big deal,” I say, in true pa-shaw fashion, lying through my damn teeth.

She covers her face. “Yes, it is,” she moans.

The doors part ahead of us. I think it’s some spell. I don’t know the extent until we close in.

I don’t see theweres, not at first. Their appearance slowly taking shape as I near, starting with the blurry images of their outlines seconds before their large shapes fill in.

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