Page 100 of Drawn in Blood
“My father had this journal,” she continued, voice low, “and a bunch of names were written in it, along with some shops I’ve noticed around town.”
Catriona furrowed her brow as Ember fidgeted.
“I saw this on your door and wondered if you knew what it meant?” She laid the open journal on the counter, and Catriona’s face paled when her eyes met the worn page, all the color seeming to drain from her flushed skin. Ember watched as her throat bobbed, quickly looking toward the door and windows and back down to the book.
“Who knows you have this?” she whispered, snapping it closed so fast that Ember thought she might snatch it away.
“No one,” Ember replied, as she shook her head. “My dad left it to me.”
“I don’t know anything about this,” Catriona said, as she shook her head, pushing it across the counter toward Ember.
She furrowed her brow, glancing up at the woman. “Are you sure?” she asked. “It seems like you know?—"
“I don’t,” Catriona hissed, making Ember jump. “I think it’s time you leave. I have to close up shop early this afternoon.”
Ember didn’t believe her, even for a moment, but she grabbed Theo and headed for the door, nonetheless. Catrionadidn’t say another word as she ushered them through the door and quickly closed it behind them. Ember heard the soft click of the lock engaging and sighed as they walked onto the street.
Ember stuffed the journal back in her bag as she went. She didn’t notice the body in front of her until she ran right into it.
“I-I’m so sorry!” Ember stammered. “I didn’t see you—" She stopped short as she saw the Warden in front of her, staring at her like she had spit directly in his face. She stiffened under his gaze as she cut her eyes at him. “Actually, never mind.”
“Your grandfather sent me to pick you up. You’ve been summoned to brunch,” Collum sneered, like those words were actually painful, and Ember burst out laughing. His mouth didn’t so much as twitch.
“Ah, yes, brunch at the castle,” she laughed. “That’s exactly what I want—an ominous round of mimosas and uncomfortably small finger sandwiches.” She laughed some more, wiping away the tears pooling on her lower lash as she took a breath. “Oh, wait, you're serious?” she asked.
Collum nodded, and Ember rolled her eyes.
“Absolutely not,” she replied, shoving past him as she made to guide Theo back toward the chateau.
Collum grabbed her wrist, so tight she almost winced. “It wasn’t a request, Princess,” he hissed. He bared his yellow teeth at her, and Ember stumbled as he moved her out of the way. He made to grab Theo, knocking the ice cream cone out of his hand and onto the cobblestone at his feet. Theo’s face paled, his bottom lip trembling as he looked over at her.
Ember was annoyed by Collum’s presence, but Theo was scared. She saw red as she stepped between the two, throwing Collum’s hand off Theo’s shoulder and jamming her finger in his chest.
“Donottouch him,” she hissed, ire boiling in her veins. She grabbed Theo’s hand, squeezing it tight, and followed Collum tothe end of the street, a safe point to Echo that wouldn’t draw much attention. He grabbed her by the bicep and whisked them away through a cloud of stars. She barely had time to blink, and then they were in the courtyard in front of the castle.
Ember didn’t let go of Theo’s hand as they walked through the doors.
Brunch was setup in a large dining room, ceilings arched and a long table in the middle. Floor to ceiling windows and two large doors sat on the far end of the room, leading out to what Ember assumed was the gardens. The table was filled with a plethora of different kinds of foods—bacon and sausage, hollandaise eggs on top of English muffins, fruit that Ember didn’t even recognize, and of course, tiny finger sandwiches.
Ember sat beside Theo, keeping her eyes anywhere other than the burly man sitting at the end of the table. The thought of eating in the same room as Helvig made her lose her appetite. The door opened and closed, and Ember almost stood up and left as her mother walked in the room, taking a seat in the chair opposite her. Theo grabbed her hand under the table, squeezing it twice, and gave her a small smile—an unspoken promise.
I’m here.
“How are you doing, Mo Stór?” Aoife asked, as she placed the napkin in her lap.
Ember stiffened at the pet name. She had no right to call her that, not anymore. She ignored the question, focusing instead on piling her plate full of all the food it would hold. If she kept her mouth full, she wouldn’t have to talk. In that moment, Rowanwalked into the room and sat on the other side of her. Ember rolled her eyes—was this an ambush?
“Your mother tells me she had a talk with you,” Helvig said from the end of the table—theheadof the table. “I must say, I’m very pleased that we can all stop walking on eggshells now, no more secrets.”
Ember bristled, nostrils flaring. “Oh, yes,” she breathed, plastering on a smile that was sickly sweet. “I’m sure keeping secrets was so hard on you all.” She laid a hand over her heart and gave them a sympathetic smile. “My sincerest apologies, truly.”
Rowan cleared her throat next to her—a warning.
Ember ignored it. She was itching for a fight, all of the sorrow and grief had settled in her core, slowly morphing into fire, burning through her veins and into her fingertips. She felt her magic pulse, heat building against her palms as she gripped the armrest of the chair.
“It’s no matter,” Helvig replied, as he brushed her off, like her apology had been sincere, “as long as everything is settled.”
“Settled?” Ember bristled. “My mother has spent my entire life lying to me, and you think a simple conversation will ‘settle’ it?”
