Page 119 of Drawn in Blood
“No,” Killian shook his head, putting on his most charming smile, “I’m afraid I just accompanied my uncle tonight. It’s a lovely ball.” He kissed Ember’s hand as he grinned. “If you’ll excuse me, I believe I have some clients I must check in with. I’ll find you later.”
Ember gave him a pointed look as he grinned, but before he could walk away, a slender hand landed on his shoulder.
“Surely, they can wait,” Veda Ellingboe tutted, as she walked up beside the group. “Care to dance, cousin?” She turned to Ember and smiled, her emerald dress swaying in the breeze that flowed through the open doors. “I’ll bring him back in one piece, Lothbrok.”
Ember felt her blood begin to boil as the raven-haired girl grinned, her hand wrapping tightly around Killian’s. He winced as he turned to her and gave her a knowing look.
I’ll be back.
Ember checked her growing temper and smiled, the sickly-sweet smile she had been practicing for weeks now.
“Come find me when you’re done.” She smiled at Killian, then let go of his hand. The tether at her sternum pulsed as he walked away, like every part of her magic didn’t want him out of its sight, either. She took a breath and turned back to her mother, smoothing her dress in mock boredom.
“Is Theo here?” she asked Aoife. “I haven’t seen him since I arrived.”
“Yes,” she nodded her head behind Ember, “he hasn’t moved much since we got here.”
Ember turned around to see Theo standing in a corner, twiddling his thumbs. Her heart sank. She had been over the plan with him the night before several times, and she knew he was scared. This life, their mother, was the only thing he had ever known. She knew the dread that came with having to leave it all behind and start over, and it broke her heart to see him like this. She walked to the corner and nudged him in the shoulder.
“Having fun?”she signed with a small smile.
Theo shrugged.“Not really,”he signed.“Is it time to go home?”
Ember sucked in a breath.
Home.
She truly hoped Theo could find a home at the Kitts’ with her. She prayed they could find their way out of this together. Ember nodded toward the table where Fen was still standing with a full plate of food, Odette laughing as he tried to balance it.“Why don’t you go hang out with Fen and Odette until we’re ready?”she signed.
Theo nodded with a grin and ran off. Ember made her way around the ballroom, noting the presence of guards and where they were stationed, making a mental note of any exits should things go badly. She was just making another round, going to check on Rowan, when Killian walked up beside her.
“How was your dance?” She grinned, rolling her eyes as he stood stiffly beside her.
“Uneventful.” He shrugged. “I have to keep up appearances unfortunately.”
“Well, everything seems to be in order, so now we just have to wait.” Ember sighed as she looked around the room once more, a smile forming on her face. “I think we deserve to have a little fun before the night delves into complete madness.” Ember nodded toward the dance floor, and Killian laughed.
“I am not inclined to dance,” he shook his head, “and frankly, you can’t make me.”
“Please,” she giggled, batting her eyelashes as she stuck out her bottom lip.
“I thought we agreed that word was off limits,” he whispered, giving her a crooked grin. She stuck out her lip further and he sighed playfully and then pulled her onto the dance floor.
They swayed back and forth to the music, his hand gripping her lower back like it was a lifeline. He spun her around, and she laughed as he drew her back in, her face just inches from his. He was magic, and when she was in his orbit, she felt like magic too. She breathed him in—the smell of spruce and green apples—and steadied herself against his chest. His charcoal eyes bore into hers, the fire from the lamps hovering above them dancing in the smoke.
He grinned as he brushed a stray hair from her face, their movement slowing with the music around them. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest as his grip tightened around her, one hand on the small of her back, the other on the back of her neck. She sucked in a breath—the air around them had her feeling like kindling stepping far too close to an open flame.
“Care if I cut in?” Fen stepped up beside them, and Ember realized how hard she was breathing, stepping back from Killian and smoothing out her dress. Killian shot daggers at Fen, nostrils flaring as the muscles in his jaw twitched.
“Sure, Fen,” Ember smiled, clearing her throat.
“I’ll go check on Theo,” Killian mumbled and then stalked away to the other side of the room.
“Are you scared?” Fen whispered, as they swayed with the music.
Ember shook her head. “I don’t think so,” she replied. “We’ve gone through the plan enough times that I think it will be just fine.”
“That’s not what I meant.” He cocked a brow and looked her in the eye. “I mean, are you scared to leave? To leave your mum again?”
