Page 54 of Tarnished Embers

I’m so fucking sorry you’re having to go through this because of her, and I swear to you we will get you out.

For now, make sure you eat all your dinner like our good girl and Cas reminds you to drink your water.

I love you, sweet Ember. You’re one of the strongest people I know. This will not defeat you.

Prince Xxx

If I thought I was crying before, it’s nothing compared to the sobs that rack my chest now, my knees giving way as I sink into the chair. My head comes to rest on my folded armsand I give in to despair and sadness, just for a minute.

The note crinkles in my fist, the sound helping to draw me out of my admittedly justified pity party. I look up at the noodles, wiping my eyes and nose on the napkin, and then I pick up my fork and eat.

Prince is right. I’ve survived worse than this. I thought I’d break when my mum died, but I didn’t, and then again when my dad died. Yet I’m still here.

I will not let that bitch win.

CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX

“THE OTHER SIDE” BY RUELLE

PRINCE

Two days.

Two fucking days that my bitch of a mother has kept Ember locked in the attic. Tightness in my chest fills me as I try to discover an answer and come up empty. Even if we knew how to get up there, which Odette’s made sure that we fucking don’t, the armed security that patrols that grounds and the house prevents us from staging the rescue that we so desperately want to.

We’d all risk ourselves, but we won’t risk her.

Nausea swirls in my stomach as the sun sets on the second day, and the sound of cars pulling up the drive is like nails on a chalkboard.

“The guests are arriving,” Oct says, his voice flat. He steps back from the window, letting the curtain fall closed. We’re in Cas’s room, which has a view of the driveway on one side, and the line of car headlights has me trapped, my heart thudding inside my chest as I continue to think of a way to avoid this.

It’s like there’s a weight on my chest, a lump in my throat that prevents me from taking a full breath. I fucking hate that we can’t get out of this. That we’ll have to fuck these other women tonight in order to keep the one woman we all love safe.

Heaving a sigh, I reach into my pocket and pull out the packet of little blue pills that are going to be the only way I’ll get it up tonight. I ordered this the moment Odette told me that we’d be taking part in this party, knowing that I couldn’t maintain even a semi without them.

“Aren’t we a bit young to need Viagra?” Kit asks, trying and failing to make it into a joke, but nothing about this is fucking funny.

“Will you be able to get a hard-on without it?” I question, my voice low and rough. His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows hard. Then he shakes his head, reaching out and taking the packet after I’ve extracted a pill for myself.

It sits on my palm, taunting me, reminding me of how I’ve failed my brothers and my soulmate.

“We’ll get through this,” Cas says softly, placing a hand on my shoulder and giving it a squeeze. My throat damn near closes up at his words, the knowledge that we have no choice threatening to be my undoing.

“How will she forgive us?” I breathe out, knowing that none of them can give me an answer.

“She’ll understand,” Oct replies tightly, his jaw clenched. Then I watch as he places the pill on his tongue, reaching for the glass of water by Cas’s bedside and swallowing a gulp.

He hands the glass to Kit, who takes a deep, shuddering inhale before copying him. Kit then passes it to Cas, who gives me a small nod, places the pill on his tongue, and then takes a drink, handing me the now three-quarters-empty glass.

I look down at the small pill. How can it hold so much pain? So much devastation?

“Forgive me, Sugar,” I whisper, closing my eyes as I place the pill on my tongue, then use the water to wash it down.

* * *

“WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER” BY BILLIE EILISH

EMBER

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