Page 28 of Fangs
My lungs betrayed me, inhaling a sharp, pained breath, and everyone’s eyes snapped to me.
“Ember?” Sable asked. “You back with us?”
Returning to myselfhurtand made me painfully aware of every part of my body; and as usual, nausea rose and dragged my anxiety with it. I curled my shoulders, trying to shrink back, and hid my trembling hands in the blanket. I didn’t look at Sable.
“We didn’t look at the scar,” he said, calm and quiet. I would’ve known he was a healer just by his voice. “The only reason we’d ever go against your wishes is if you had a serious injury that needed care.”
I stared at the floor, wishing I’d drowned in the river. I hated that my brother was seeing how broken I really was—the paint chipping off and revealing the cracks below.
“Ember.”
I tensed at Wolf’s voice.
“Why did you go in the river?”
I pressed my lips together and didn’t answer.
“No, you don’t get to do that. I deserve some answers.” His voice sharpened, and he stepped forward, nudging Sable with his leg.
Sable shifted backward, making room for Wolf to sit beside me. My heart started beating faster as I glanced at him. He stared at me with a severe expression.
“Ember, answer me. What were you thinking?”
“Why do you care?” I mumbled.
His eyebrows shot up before his eyes narrowed. “Ember,” he snapped, “you could havedied.”
I almost laughed. “So what, it matterswhereI die?”
“What?” he demanded.
“You’re taking me to Carth to be killed.”
“No, I’m taking you to have a trial,” he growled.
“Same thing.”
“Godsdamnit, Em,” Wolf snapped, “will you just answer the question?”
“What the fuck do you want me to say?”
“I want you to tell me thetruth,” he growled. “Why did you go in that river? Were youtryingto drown?”
“No,” I muttered, which was mostly true.
“Where were you trying to go?”
Home.
“Back to the Vault?” he pushed.
I stared hard at the worn texture of the couch. “Yes.”
“Were you torturing people for Madame?”
Shame swept over me, and I didn’t answer.
“How long have you been at the Vault?”
