Page 86 of The Spark that Ignites
Chapter Thirty-Two
Though Emmery’s magic had kept him alive, Callias still slept for the following three days with Briar at his side. She watched him drift in and out, eyes brightening each time he stirred and somehow, even in his sleepy haze, he always reached for her. Emmery poked her head in periodically only to turn away. The way Briar clung to him, and he held her as he slept felt private. Intimate. Even though it couldn’t be.
Briar insisted on staying behind as Vesper and Emmery set off to the city of Malheim both to ensure Callias didn’t stupidly push himself too hard, look after Aera, and tend to Castle Dusk. With the city under major reconstruction things were finally coming together, though there was no feasible way to complete the restoration before the end of the month despite Vesper’s determination.
Emmery feigned nonchalance when Vesper mentioned the destination but practically begged to tag along. Luckily, he didn’t seem to mind, claiming the company would be nice but as they rode to the city, she fought the urge to study the inscriptions on her ring and pocket watch, planning how she would slip away.
Emmery peered at him on Balthasar, nervously spinning her ring as she glimpsed the chewed fencing with missing planks bordering the outskirts. Inside, the city appeared just as bleak.
“Vesper?” She placed his name cautiously between them—a bridge for her request.
He ceased his whistling and grinned cheekily. “Yes, Emmery?”
“Can I ask a favour?” She knotted her hands in Juno’s mane, bracing herself for his answer. He could easily shoot her down or demand something in return like he had before. But what would she give for this favour?
“I do owe you for healing Cal. Though I would anyway if you askednicely.” The corner of his mouth turned up. “What can I do for you?”
She fumbled for a way to broach the subject. The unorthodox request had plagued her mind since the Whispering Spring. “You can communicate with spirits, right?”
Vesper tilted his head, his mouth twisting hesitantly. “Sort of.”
Her teeth sank into her lip. “Is that only forKennaor humans too?”
“I haven’t tried with a human.” He gave a forlorn glance. “Maela?”
Heart constricting, Emmery nodded. “Would you try?” The silence dragged before she added, “For me?”
“For you, of course, but ... you should know—” His jaw hardened. “It may be a bad idea.”
Emmery’s stomach sank. “Why is it a bad idea?”
“She may not be how you remember, Emmery. I’ve only done it twice and the last person was ... mangled. It was rather unpleasant.” He studied the dirt road leading into the city. “That’s why I never tried with Izzy. Because there wasn’t much ... left of her. Allegedly. I never saw her body.”
Emmery leaned into Juno for support, knowing this didn’t change anything. “Would you try? I want to see her.”
On a relentless exhale, he said, “Fuck. Don’t say I didn’t warn you though.” He gave her an intense look that plunged beneath her ribcage. “But are you really sure?”
“I’m sure.” Though her gut twisted, she repeated, “I’m sure.”
Squirming in his seat on Balthasar, Vesper said, “Then there are a few things we need to pick up, other than what we came for.”
Relief flooded her followed by a shred of fear. Maybe it was foolish but the prospect of seeing Maela again was worth it. They originally came in search of several illegal ingredients for Izora’s spell and Vesper claimed if there was anywhere to buy contraband, it was Malheim.
“Do we need another blood bargain?” Emmery asked, dismounting Juno with ease and a smug smile. Practice really did make a mountain of difference. Placing a kiss on Juno’s muzzle, she tapped her cuff three times, and the steed disappeared into a cloud of mist. After Vesper dismissed Balthasar, they entered the town gates.
“Nah. It’s a favour between friends.” He gave her a teasing smile before fishing a palm sized pouch from his satchel and placing it in her hand. “If you want to buy something.”
Emmery reached inside and pinched a crimped diamond, made of some strange onyx stone, between her fingers, the sunlight illuminating the metallic shimmer beneath the dark surface.
He must have seen the question etched into her narrowed brows because he said, “It’s slate. Works the same as your silver.”
She turned back to Vesper with gratitude in her eyes. “You—you shouldn’t have, Ves. This is too much.”
With a shrug, as if it were insignificant to give someone a bag of money, he said, “My father left a large sum. May as well share the wealth.”
Emmery playfully elbowed him. “Well, thank you. How generous.” He had already given her too much. Would she ever get used to gifts? Though with the Fallen Equinox drawing near and her plans, she never would.
Nudging her back, he murmured, “Don’t mention it.”
