Page 134 of Drawn in Blood
We’re home.
“Thea!”Maeve squealed, as she swung open the front door. Ember’s face lit up as the woman walked into the kitchen. Her coffee-colored hair hung in waves over her shoulders, decorated with several braids, and her emerald eyes twinkled as she smiled at Ember.
“Thea,” Ember breathed with a grin. The woman wrapped her in a hug and she choked back the tears that were already brewing.
“I heard you had quite the adventure.” She winked. “Are you doing alright?”
“We’re getting there.” Ember smiled. Every day was a little easier than the last. The longer she spent in the Kitts’ warm home, the more the dark cloud hanging over her seemed to dissipate.
“And this must be Theo!” Thea beamed, as the little boy grabbed Ember’s hand with a grin. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you.”
Theo gave her a shy nod, gripping Ember’s hand a little tighter.
“Nervous?” Thea asked with a wink.
Ember blushed as she bit her lip, looking down at Theo. “Maybe a little.”
“I have something that should help with that,” Eira said, as she poured piping hot tea into a mug and handed one to Ember and another to Theo. In the other hand, she held a potion bottle. She quickly popped the top off and poured the contents into both teas, twirling her finger above the liquid to stir. Ember watched the silver swirl around with the amber like a pool of starlight. “Calming drought,” Eira whispered, as she kissed her forehead. “For the nerves.”
Ember nodded as she sipped the drink and immediately felt herself relax, every molecule that was vibrating in her body slowing to a leisurely stroll. Theo seemed to feel the effects too because his grin widened, his grip on her hand loosening.
“Shall we?” Thea asked, as she nodded to the other room.
Eira, Ember, and Theo followed her into the dining room and sat at the table. Otto joined them, followed shortly by Maeve and Fen. Fen took the seat beside Ember, squeezing her hand a few times and giving her a reassuring smile.
“Now to clarify for the record,” Thea began, as she sat a pen and parchment on the table. “We are here for the finalization of the adoption of Ember Moira Lothbrok and Theodore Avery Lothbrok to Otto and Eira Kitt.” She smiled at the family as they nodded enthusiastically, Eira already wiping stray tears from her cheek.
Thea nodded with a smile. “And, Ember, have you two thought about whether or not you will be taking the Kitts’ name?”
Ember fidgeted in her seat as bit her lip and looked around the table. Her eyes met Otto’s, and he gave her a small nod with areassuring smile. She took a deep breath as she tapped her finger on her knee and looked over at Thea.
“You could hyphenate it,” Thea offered, as she smirked, “and then you could use whichever name you wish.”
“That sounds lovely,” Ember replied. Her voice was steady, but nerves still rolled around in her stomach.
“Perfect.” Thea nodded with a grin.
Ember met Eira and Otto’s eyes, both of whom looked like they couldn’t be any happier than they were in that very moment. Her heart rate settled as Theo grabbed one hand, and Fen squeezed the other again, giving her a look of his utmost approval.
“Will she still be my sister?” Maeve asked, as she bounced on her knees in her seat. “Will Ember still be my sister if we don’t have the same exact last name?”
Otto scooped her up into his lap and kissed her forehead. “Aye, Mo Chroí,” he laughed. “Family is so much more than blood and a last name.”
The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.
“Before we can get to the paperwork,” Thea continued, “the bonding ceremony has to be completed. Have you decided where you want to have it?”
All eyes turned to Ember, who didn’t realize until that moment that she was supposed to have a place picked out for this elusive ceremony.
“Um…” she stuttered, “I think I would like to have it in the den.” The den, in front of the roaring fire, was where she first thought maybe this would all work out. She felt at peace there, surrounded by her family, and she couldn’t think of a better place to solidify her place here.
Thea nodded and flicked her wrist, shuffling the pile of papers into a neat stack, and stood quickly from the table. “Shallwe?” she asked and motioned for everyone to follow her into the cozy den. Thea stood in front of the fireplace and motioned for the family to join her. They placed themselves in a circle, leaving the middle open.
Ember’s heart beat furiously in her chest as she willed her hands to stop shaking. She shifted her weight back and forth, trying to do something with the sudden amount of energy that was suddenly bubbling inside of her.
Apparently, the tea had worn off.
Theo grabbed her hand and squeezed.
