Page 140 of The Spark that Ignites
“No one has magic like yours, or close to the sheer power. The blessing of fire can light a hearth, maybe burn a shop to the ground, not torch a whole kingdom in moments.”
She fractured, her tired body trembling under the weight of her actions.
When she’d asked if Destonne had done it, Vesper merely answeredHe’s taken too much from me.Not a direct denial but enough to hide the truth. Herkhaosflame stole all of those innocent people’s lives. That’s why Callias hated her. She’d destroyed his home.
Oh gods, Briar’s face ...shehad caused those burns.
How could Vesper look her in the eye after what she did?
Hot tears, filled not with sadness but hatred, clouded her eyes. Hatred for herself and what she was.
Monster, her magic taunted.
“Did you see it? Did you see me—” she started but her voice died.
“I only remember golden flames, angel. It was incriminating.”
Emmery harnessed her composure. Weakness wouldn’t get her anywhere and she couldn’t let him see it. Couldn’t let him use it against her.
Emmery’s stomach roiled as she took a deep, cleansing breath. “Why am I here? What do you want from me?”
“Maybe we should call it a night,” he offered. He studied her wet eyes. “Tomorrow—”
“No,” she snapped, swiping the threatening tears before they could fall with an abrupt hand. She was done being lied to. Manipulated. Made a fool. “Tell me what you want from me.”
“Very well.” With a sigh, Destonne propped his elbows on the table. “I want a lot of things. But first, I want your alliance.”
“No.” The refusal sat on the table, hovered in the air between them, those two letters clearly not something he was used to hearing, especially twice in such quick succession. She narrowed her eyes at him to stand her ground. “Next.”
“You haven’t even heard my pitch yet. It’s quite spectacular. A real heart-wrenching special.” His attempt to lighten the mood fell flat, her aching heart incapable of humour.
“No,” she said again, her new favourite word tasting like power. Leaning in, she lowered her voice to a deadly whisper, and said, “I see who you are. You’ve lied, killed, and stolen magic from the land. From your own people.” Her lip curled back from her teeth. “I willneverstand by you.”
“I’m going to make you eat those words,” he threatened, his voice impossibly soft and sharp simultaneously. His attention warred between her eyes and mouth, his brows creasing. “Who told you I stole magic?”
Her frown gave him his answer.
Unflinchingly, he inched closer. “I have an opportunity to get what you want. Answers to all those endless questions. All you have to do is put a little faith in me. Make an tiny bargain.”
She refused to balk from his proximity as his smell swept over her—strawberries on his breath, cool mint, expensive soap, and something else.
“What could you possibly have that I want so badly?” she challenged.
Tilting his head, the tip of his nose brushed hers. Emmery’s breath caught as the sliver of space between them collapsed.
This was a game—a test to see who would pull away first. Sadly, he’d underestimated her. She wouldn't back down.
Voice low, he breathed, “Your memories.”
Emmery’s chest tightened as those two words sucked the oxygen from the room. Rage flared bright and hot through her veins, her magic pressing against the restraints.
“Give. Them. Back,” she seethed, her face heating. “Now, you piece of shit.”
From the twitch of his lips, this only amused him, but the blood dribbling down his temples told her differently. And he was so close, she could see the glossiness of the blood as it trailed the contours of his face like water meandering a river.
“You misunderstand,” he said, his voice rough. “I don’t have themhere. But I have the means to get them. All you have to do is agree to help me.”
Emmery almost snorted at the ridiculousness of it all. “I’m not making a bargain with you. You’re going to have to beg on your hands and knees before I evenconsiderlistening to some demented scheme.”
