Page 67 of The Spark that Ignites
Vesper stood there, hand poised to knock, hair damp, dressed in a pair of dark trousers and a thick beige knit.
Emmery parted the robe to show the black stain.
He blinked hard, eyes wide. “While I do appreciate the gesture, Emmery, there is something to be said about subtlety in seduction. But despite the forwardness, if you insist—”
“No, you buffoon, themark,” she whispered loudly. “This was not there before my trial. It’s aShadowheart? Isn’t that what you called it?”
His eyes meandered their way up her exposed skin, resting on the shadowy mark between her breasts. Vesper lifted his knit revealing the same mark and smooth lines of his stomach. “Seems we’re twins. Wonder how I’m going to break the news to Izzy—”
“Can’t you be serious for a damn second?” She jerked her robe closed and squeezed her eyes shut. Maybe if she pretended it wasn’t there, it would disappear. “What is it?”
“It’s a long story. One that can wait for tomorrow.” He stalked down the hall. “I’ll show you to your room.”
“You’re kidding,” she spat, her damp feet slapping the ground as she sprinted after him. Vesper didn’t pay her much attention. “You’re not going to tell me now?”
“It’ll still be there tomorrow, Sparky.”
“Vesper—” she whined.
“Emmery,” he whined back, his eyes sliding to her, but they didn’t hold the same amusement they usually did.
She darted in front of him, shoving a hand against his chest. “That was a shadow dragon in the clearing, right? Was it—does it have to do with theShadowheart?”
“Yes, Emmery, thatwasa dragon. Very astute of you.”
She glared at him. “Where did it come from? It just appeared.”
Vesper released a heavy breath, keeping his eyes downcast. “That’s Kaida. She lives inside my mark.”
“She? What do you meanshe?” Shaking her head and poking his chest, Emmery demanded, “Explain, Vesper Merikh.”
With a long exhale and a tousle of his hair, he said, “The mark of theShadowheartcan summon a shadow creature. It’s like the rest of our magic. We have no choice in whether we bear it. She’s part of me as much as I’m a part of her, but it’s ... different from my other magic. It’s hard to describe but when I call her, she crawls from my chest, and I can’t really command her—or rather she doesn’t listen. But sometimes I get this fluttering in my chest, like she’s trying to escape, and I can summon her. It’s usually only if I’m in danger and it heavily drains my magic, so I’ve only done it a handful of times.”
Emmery gaped at him, her stomach dropping. “So, I have shadow creatures living—inside me?” She swallowed, palming her mark. “What ... like a dragon?”
“Ashadow creature.One. Single. Likely not a dragon. Izzy’s was different from mine.” Vesper stared down at her finger jabbing his mark and Emmery retracted. “Shadowheartshave been extinct for centuries, and we don’t know much about the mark, but Iz and I received it when we passed our trials. It was a bit of a shock too. There’s fear around the legends, so we hid it for some time.”
“What do you mean by fear?” Her heart thrummed and she fisted her hands. “And they were ... extinct? For how long?”
“They were executed centuries ago because they were too dangerous. Powerful. But that was long before we were born. Many couldn’t control their creatures and there were catastrophic consequences. The destruction of kingdoms, wars,and overthrown monarchies. History says when they died, so did the magical line.”
Emmery asked, “Did your father have a mark? Your mother? How did you get it?”
“No, and ... I wouldn’t know.” He frowned, rubbing his jaw. “I assumed Iz and I did because of the prophecy. There’s really no other way. And I guess it’s the same for you.”
Emmery’s brows scrunched as she ran her finger over the raised skin. “So, if people were afraid ofShadowhearts, what did they say when they saw your mark?”
“My father wasn’t pleased, and some were so frightened they abandoned his service. But others were excited. Claimed the gods had finally made a wise choice. But most don’t remember whatShadowheartswere like other than fear filled, ludicrous stories. And because it's written in history, that voice is the one that prevails, whether it's right or wrong.” Giving her a thoughtful look, Vesper said, “I would advise keeping it to yourself and focusing on your other magic. The last thing you want to do is lose control and Collapse. After I summoned Kaida, my vestige was paper thin. I called her back in time, but it was a close one, and I’ve had much more magical training than you.”
Emmery shivered at the underlying threat in his words. She could die from her magic if she didn’t gain control. It seemed each day things got progressively worse. First thekhaosflame and the prophecy made her a target, and now she held even more dangerous magic. With theShadowheartand another beast housed within her, fear crept into her heart. People would be afraid of her because of it. Would they eventually execute her too? Would it only be a matter of time? She had escaped across the gate from danger, but it seemed shewasthe dangerous one after all. A danger to herself. What if she slipped up and released herShadowheartby accident? The colour drained from her cheeks.
Vesper frowned at her. “You should rest. You’re still a bit pale from the fever.”
Emmery gave him a meek nod, knowing the fever wasn’t the cause.
He led her down the hallway to the last room on the left and the moment he pushed the door open, Emmery’s jaw dropped. A dressing table with a gothic framed mirror sat in the corner, several ceiling high shelves overflowing with books ran one length of the wall, and a large four poster bed with a canopy centered the room. Though these were all things she dreamed of having, it was the forest-green walls that made her heart skip.
“This is—” Her voice caught. “This is my room?”
