Page 145 of The Spark that Ignites
“Bone ash is vile. Not only is it highly addictive and potent, but it’s extremely easy to overdose. The highs can last months, depending on how much you take. He’s still lost in one.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Have you—?”
“Never.” He shot her the same look. “No need to look at me so judgmentally.”
Despite his denial she wasn’t sure she believed it. Hehadstolen the bone ash from her that day. Who’s to say he didn’t use it? And really, how did she know that Destonne hadn’t been the one to give Fionn the bone ash? The thought twisted her insides with so much rage she had to look away and focus on anything other than the King.
Emmery’s eyes grazed over the empty air around Fionn. She remembered Briar saying he was Hollow like her. “He doesn’t have a vestige,” she observed.
“Isn’t it obvious? Fionn is Forgotten.” The pompous tone was less than helpful.
Was that why he never showed his magic? Why he kept it a secret from her? Emmery stared at Fionn as if she could extract the answers from him with merely a look. When that obviously didn’t happen, she wove her fingers together and squeezed until her knuckles were bloodless.
Studying her hands, Emmery asked, “It wasn’t a coincidence that I met Fionn, was it?”
“No.” A stray curl fell across his forehead.
Her breath thinned, fearing both the question and the answer. “So, we were friends? Before, I mean.”
Could all of this have been a lie too? Did Fionn care about her at all? And if he did care, why hadn’t he come back for her? If Vesper had found a way, surely Fionn could have as well.
“You two were close,” Destonne said simply. “He spoke fondly of you. And when he came back alone, he was rather upset.”
Relief flooded her, whether it was true or not. Fionn’s cobalt blue set of matching trousers and button-up brought a smile to her lips. “You know, he’s always been a sharp dresser. Even on the brink of death, he has better taste than me.”
After thoroughly guilting Emmery for biting him, Brennen had given her pack back. She was all too relieved to slip out of that sheer dress.
Destonne raised a brow at the ruffled, brown trousers and black tunic she had thrown on—the only clothes Briar had packed. “I’m sorry to break it to you, but I don’t think that has to do withhisfashion sense.”
Without thinking, Emmery slugged him in the arm.
The smile fell from her lips as she realized what she’d done, and an icy wave of dread washed over her. Emmery braced for his reaction—a blow back, one of those cold looks he’d given Vesper, perhaps even a swift trip down to the dungeon.
Destonne merely rubbed his bicep, the corners of his mouth twitching. “You’re stronger than you look.”
Emmery didn’t know what to say, how to process the calm, unbothered reaction. In fact, there was even a slight glimmer of amusement in his eyes. Once again, she merely sat there mute and balked at the inconsistency of his character.
After clearing his throat and breaking that lengthy silence, the King asked, “Will you stay here long?”
Emmery’s heart hurt at the idea of leaving. The bed was quite small but maybe she could squeeze in next to him. After all these years apart, thinking Fionn was dead, they would have to tear her away. “I want to stay until he wakes up,” she said.
“I suggest you get comfortable then. But at least you’ll have good company.” Destonne stood and strolled to the door,swinging it open to release a bounding Aera. She launched herself into Emmery’s arms, showering her in kisses, spittle flying everywhere, and her wagging tail battering Emmery’s arm.
A sigh of relief escaped Emmery, an exhalation of all her surmounting problems. She clutched Aera to her chest, that familiar calm her companion always brought soothing her heart. “Where did you find her?”
“When Brennen retrieved you at the temple, she wouldn’t let him touch you. But once my other men showed up, she flew off. She wandered her way back with Vesper. Apparently, he wouldn’t carry her. Something about her biting him?”
Emmery huffed a laugh. Served him right.
But when Aera leapt from Emmery’s lap, clawed at Destonne’s leg, and he slung her over his shoulder, she just stared.
The gesture was socasual. Aera even nuzzled his cheek.
Destonne strode across the room and kneeled, giving Aera the perfect angle to leap back to her.
“You’re free to roam the castle as you please,” he said, “but you’re not permitted to leave the walls on your own. Either Brennen or one of my men will accompany you.”
Emmery drowned in Destonne’s endless dark gaze while he read the lines of her face like the pages of a book. After all he’d done to the Merikhs, his ruthless reputation, and wickedly terrifying control, she didn't know how to feel, but some tiny part of her was morbidly fascinated.
