Page 65 of Wicked Embers

“No, Lulu-Petal, don’t even think about it,” Papa snaps, his voice sharp and almost unrecognizable. His green eyes, usually so warm and full of love, brim with fear.

“You pull it out, Papa,” I beg, my breaths coming weaker and weaker.

“I can’t, sweetheart,” he says, his voice cracking. Before I can respond, the woman beside him interrupts. She’s beautiful, but her face is bruised and streaked with blood.

“Are you sure you can’t pull it out?” the woman asks, her voice trembling. “The poison is spreading so fast.”

“If he pulls it out, she’ll bleed to death,” it’s another female voice—she’s a lot younger than the other one. “We can’t touch the bolt either because of the poison.”

A tall man strides into the room. “I’ve taken care of the video feed. Alexandra’s gone with the evidence,” he says, his tone brisk.

My vision blurs, but I force myself to focus on him. He’s handsome, his jaw tight with tension as he drops to his knees beside me. “Hang in there, little duchess,” he says, his voice breaking. “Sol and I will find the antidote. Don’t stop fighting, okay? Do you hear me? We’re going to find that bastard.”

My head lolls as darkness creeps in. I barely register the tear slipping down his unshaved cheek before he roars at Papa, “Can’t you pull the fucking arrow out?”

“No!” Papa barks back. “It might have hit an artery. Wipe everything down! Don’t let anything trace back to us—especially not to Leigh!”

The older woman strokes my hair softly. “It’s okay, darling. Close your eyes.”

Her name hovers just on the edge of my memory, but I can’t grasp it. It slips away, disappearing into the haze.

“Iceman…” I whisper, my chest tightening as panic rises. A chilling laugh echoes somewhere deep in my mind. “He’s going to come after me.”

The darkness swallows me whole.

Present Day

“Leigh!” Judy’s voice cuts through the suffocating darkness. “Leigh, wake up!”

“No, Judy.” Panic grips me, squeezing the air from my lungs. “You have to go. If you’re caught here…”

My eyes snap open, and I see Judy staring at me, her face pale and stricken, fear shimmering in her wide eyes.

The room tilts, and the past starts to dissolve into the present. My heart pounds in my chest, and in a flash, I know I’ve seen her before. It’s not clear—not yet—but it’s as if I’ve dragged one piece of my buried memories into the light. The edges are still jagged, blurry, but it’s something.

“I know you,” I murmur, my voice hoarse. “You’re someone from my past.”

Judy blinks, hesitating for a moment before composing herself. “We’re all from Vegas. We’ve probably crossed paths. Your mother sang at the Diamond Lounge, and I waited tables there while I was in college. You probably know me from that.”

Her explanation feels half-true, but I know there’s more—so much more. Before I can press her, the door bursts open, the noise jolting me out of my thoughts. I realize I’m no longer standing in the hallway. I’m in a strange bedroom, lying on an unfamiliar bed.

“How did I get here?” I ask, my voice trembling.

“You passed out,” Judy says, just as Radomir storms into the room with Oleksi close behind.

“I’ve got this handled, cousin. Go take your place,” Oleksi snaps, his tone hard and dismissive.

Radomir doesn’t even acknowledge him. His voice booms as he commands, “Clear the room. Now!”

Judy flinches but obeys, moving toward the door. Oleksi hesitates, glaring at me as if daring me to speak.

Radomir kneels beside the bed, his icy exterior cracking just enough for me to see something unexpected—gentleness. Worry. And… fear?

“Leigh,” he says, his voice softer now. “Are you okay? Did my cousin hurt you? What happened?”

“I barely fucking touched her,” Oleksi growls from across the room, his tone dripping with contempt.

“Get out!” Radomir roars, standing abruptly. His fury fills the room, making the air feel heavy.

---