Page 123 of Forging Darkness

Umm.

Her lips curve at the corners. I don’t know what to do.

Sable comes to my rescue. “She’s joking. You can refer to all the Elders by their first names.”

A full smile breaks over Sorcha’s face. She’s beautiful, but the smile highlights a few of the fine lines and wrinkles absent from the rest of the angel-born. They contrast with the youthful smattering of light freckles on the bridge of her nose.

“Sorry. I couldn’t help it. Supreme Highness does have a nice ring though.” Her quiet chuckle is warm and so I relax a bit. “In all seriousness, though. We have to go. There’s a . . . situation that needs immediate attention. I’m so sorry we can’t let you rest before jumping into the fray.”

“We understand.” Sable speaks for all of us.

“Come.” Sorcha motions us forward. We walk through a stone archway that opens up to a pedestrian street of packed sand. She sets a quick pace as we breeze past several square buildings, nondescript except for the giant sand-colored bricks they’re made from. It’s soon clear we’re headed toward the larger of the two pyramids.

“We sent troops to Whitehold while you were in the air. The place is deserted,” Sorcha tells us. “We’re trying to collect as much intel as possible, but the early reports are that it’s pretty cleaned out.”

“Is that what the Council wants to discuss with us?” I ask. Sorcha exchanges a look with Sable, who then casts Steel a worried glance. Something is definitely up.

“It’s Silver. She’s here.”

Chapter Forty

I’m still trying to swallow the realization that Silver is here when Sorcha pushes open the ten-foot-high double doors to the Council’s meeting room.

There weren’t any windows when we marched down the halls—because we’re in a pyramid—and there still aren’t any when we enter the inner sanctum.

A group of people are seated at the long rectangular table in the middle of the room when we enter. I recognize Steel’s parents, Laurent and Eloise, first.

Eloise springs from her seat and hurries toward her son as Sable and Sorcha find a place at the table. Grabbing his face between her hands, Eloise’s gaze bounces over his features before sweeping his body for injuries. Seemingly satisfied, she tugs him into a quick but fierce hug. She lets go and moves to the side, allowing Laurent to step forward and pull Steel into a quick one-armed embrace.

I’m watching the father and son duo when Eloise picks up my hand. Holding it between both of hers, she leans forward and kisses me on the cheek.

“I’m so glad to see you are safe. We were all so worried.”

I can’t talk over the sudden ball lodged in my throat, so I simply bob my head.

“And what you did for Steel.” Tears start to collect in her crystalline eyes. “We’ll never be able to repay you.”

“Oh, no. That’s not—I mean there’s no need—”

“Please, everyone sit.”

I recognize that voice. Malachi stands at the far end of the table, eyes already on me when I spot him. He gives me a quick nod before addressing the entire room. “We have several important matters to discuss, so please forgive these quick introductions. Emberly, everyone here has been updated. You know Deacon and the Durands.”

Deacon winks from one of the seats closest to me. He must have booked it off the plane and come directly here.

“But this is the rest of the Council.”

As he rattles off names, each of the Elders nods once in my direction. I immediately forget who is who under the pressure of all their stares.

When he’s finished with introductions, Malachi gestures toward the remaining seats. I hesitate for a moment, unsure exactly where to go, when Steel takes my hand and tugs me forward.

As we pass his parents, I catch his mom smile out of the corner of my eye and my cheeks heat.

I was kidnapped, imprisoned, almost possessed by a Fallen, escaped from a secret enemy stronghold, and flown across the world—all in the last week—and what ruffles me is holding my boyfriend’s hand in front of his mom.

Oy.

Steel isn’t officially my boyfriend, but the guy did tell me I was the flame that ignited the darkness inside him, so I’m pretty confident that means we’re making it official.

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