Page 32 of Tarnished Embers

My eyes stutter closed, unable to look at the old man as I know what’s coming, have experienced this news too many times.

“I–I’m so sorry, Miss. He’s dead.”

* * *

“IN THE STARS” BY SAMI ROSE

EMBER

My knees buckle, but there’s no pain because I don’t hit the floor. Instead, I’m swept up into powerful arms that pull me close. Rum, leather, and cedar surround me, and I nuzzle into Prince, blocking out everything else.

He’s dead.

Two words that have the power to change my life.

How can he be gone? He’s always been there, even when he withdrew and buried himself in work, he was still there.

“Breathe, Cinders. Come on, baby.” Cas sounds panicked, and it’s enough to have me gasping, air hitting my lungs, burning as it gives me the oxygen I didn’t realise I was denying myself. Bright, copper eyes creased in concern, stare back at me.

“Cas—” My voice doesn’t sound like me. It’s a broken, agony-filled plea that hurts as it leaves my throat.

“I’m here, baby. We’re all here.” His toffee apple scent fills my nose, and as I pull him closer, the softness of my bed registers, as does a warm body pressed behind me, arms holding me close.When did I end up in my room?

“Tell me this is a nightmare, please, Cas,” I beg, knowing that I wouldn’t have them with me if I was in one of my nightmares.

“I wish I could, Cinders. Fuck, I wish I could.” His voice is rough, and I bury my face against his chest, hearing the rhythmic thump of his heart as mine fractures into tiny pieces.

A wail sounds around us, like that of a wounded animal, and it takes me a moment to realise that it’s me making that noise. That I’m the one screaming and crying as if it will make a difference. As if it might bring back my dad and I won’t be an orphan.

“Please calm down, little sis,” Oct’s broken voice sounds in my ear, but I can’t stop, the pain inside me is too great to hold back.

“This will help her sleep,” someone new says, a voice that features in the blurry time after my mother’s death, when I was lost to grief and had to be sedated more often than not. A voice that is always present in my nightmares, even if the doctor meant no harm.

“No…” My plea is ignored though when I feel a sharp prick in my neck, and then I’m met with nothing but blackness.

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

“LOST MY MIND” BY ALICE KRISTIANSEN

EMBER

Idon’t know how many days I spent in the dark, surfacing briefly, only to dive back down into the black because it’s easier to face than the agony of my reality.

“I won’t fucking get her sedated again.” Prince’s angry voice floats into my mind, and a deep sigh leaves my chest at the sound. There’s a comfort in knowing that he’s close.

“Prince?” My voice sounds cracked and bleeding, raw, and the pain in it has my breath stilling.

“I’m here, Sugar.” A warm hand strokes my face, and I lean into the touch, trying to absorb all the security and warmth that it’s offering me. “Can you open your eyes for me, baby?”

The effort to lift my lids is almost impossible, but slowly, I blink them open, and his green irises are all I can see. I hiss a breath as the ache in my soul pulses, his image turning watery as tears mar my vision.

“It hurts so much,” I confess in a hushed whisper, and his brows dip, his palm holding my cheek tighter.

“I know, darlin’, but you can’t hide away from it forever. We all have to face the pain at some point.” His gentle gaze sears into me, and the moisture spills over onto my cheeks, burning me as he forces me to sit in my heartache. “If you don’t, it’ll consume you, Sugar.”

A small whimper sounds in my throat, and I beg him with my eyes to take this agony from me. After a few moments, a soft sigh leaves his lips, his thumb brushing my cheek.

“I can help take the pain away for a little bit, without the meds, if you want me to?” he offers, his other hand moving into my line of sight. Blinking the tears away, my gaze darts to the side. He’s holding my pouch, the one that contains my razors. The tension drains from my body at the sight, a lump forming in my throat.

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