Page 120 of Drawn in Blood
Ember averted her eyes. “I don’t think scared is the right word,” she replied, as she watched Aoife mingle with all the guests, laughing and carrying on like she had done it a thousand times before. Emotions warred inside of her—hurt and anger mingling together to form something akin to…
Grief.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked.
“No,” Ember shook her head with a polite smile, “not yet.”
The song ended, and Ember wrapped Fen in a hug. “You’re a good brother,” she whispered.
He gave her a nod, tears glistening in his eyes as she pulled away.
“I’m going to go get some air.” She turned and walked outside to the terrace overlooking the gardens. Rowan was in there somewhere, preparing the distraction, and all she could do was wait now.
She breathed in the night air, steadying herself against the stars that burned above her. Rage had consumed so much of her in the past weeks that she hadn’t given herself a moment to think about the grief that would come with leaving. When she had lost her parents when she was six, they had been taken from her—swept away by Njord and leaving her lost and alone. But this time, she was leaving on her own, making a choice to leave behind the life she had begged the gods for since she was a wean on that rocky beach. Leaving behind a part of her family.
The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.
Ember smiled to herself—maybe there was more to family than just who you were born to.
“Taking one last look at the sky before we go underground?” Killian grinned as he leaned on the railing next to her. “I promise these stars will still be there when we get out.”
“Just taking a breather before it all starts,” she laughed. “What are you doing out here? Get tired of Fen’s company?”
“I just had something I needed to finish,” he whispered.
Ember furrowed her brow, but before she could ask what he meant, he had one hand wrapped around the back of her neck and the other around her waist, pulling her so close to him that she thought they might stay tangled up forever.
And he kissed her.
It was passionate—hungry, like if he let go for even a moment, she might disappear. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he pulled her closer. Fingers tangled in her curls as he gripped the back of her neck, and she thought she could stand there forever.
She had kissed boys before—one boy, to be exact, when she was twelve years old at the only birthday party she had ever been invited to, for the only friend she had ever had. It had been pleasant enough, if not quick. It had happened during a game of truth or dare on his twelfth birthday, and Ember thought she might spontaneously combust right there on the spot. But kissing Koen Skarsgard when she was twelve was a far cry from this ball with this man on a night where anything could go wrong.
But as Killian pulled away and looked into her eyes and grinned, she realized how many things could go right tonight too.
He tasted like apples, starlight, and impulsive decisions.
He kissed her again, this time slower—deliberate, like he was memorizing the way she tasted, taking his time as he held her against his chest. There was something otherworldly about the way his fingers moved through her hair, twirling around hercurls, and trailing down her neck. She wanted this moment to last forever.
Her breathing evened out as he pulled away from her, his smile growing as he brushed his thumb down her cheek, his face turning red.
“Why me?” she whispered. Out of all the girls in the world, why her?
“It was always going to be you, Ember Lothbrok.”
He spoke her name like a prayer.
“What are you lot doing out here?” Fen grinned as he ran up beside them, Theo and Odette in tow behind. His eyes narrowed, darting between the two of them, and Ember felt her face flush. Killian’s eyes were wide, his lips swollen and red, and he looked like he wanted to be anywhere other than there at the moment.
Fen’s eyes widened as his jaw dropped in understanding. “What are you twodoingout here?” he asked again, but this time it sounded like he would rather not receive an answer.
Before Ember could reply, an explosion sounded in the distance, and screams erupted from the ballroom all the way to the garden. Ember jumped, grabbing Killian’s hand as she turned to look toward the maze. A fire burned brightly against the darkness of the night, and Ember shook her head as she laughed. Rowan had caused an explosion in the middle of the maze. It would take them ages to get in and out—it was genius.
“You reckon that was the signal?” Fen said with wide eyes.
Ember nodded, grabbing Theo’s hand, and turning toward the door. “We need to go now!”
Chapter 38
