Page 46 of Drawn in Blood
“You saw something last night, didn’t you?” Odette asked quietly. “When you touched the wisps, you saw something.”
Ember swallowed dryly, palms beginning to sweat. She had tried not to think about the vision she had, about the woman sinking beneath the waves—about the unearthly song that came from her lips.
“It was just a strange dream.” She tried to sound as nonchalant as possible, but the tremor in her voice was evident.“There was a woman in a boat during a storm. I think she was drowning. I thought it was my mum at first, like a memory of sorts, but now I’m not sure.”
Odette just nodded her head as she furrowed her brow. “How interesting,” was all she mumbled.
“So, what do we do now?” Fen asked quietly, as he looked around them.
“Not hatching any evil plans, are we?” a voice said from behind them.
Fen stiffened, and Killian instinctively grabbed Ember’s hand under the table as the Ellingboe twins waltzed up next to them. Ember felt Killian’s grip tighten as Oryn placed his hand on his shoulder.
“What do you want, Oryn?” Killian said through gritted teeth.
“Now, now, cousin, why the hostility? That’s not how you treat family.” Oryn grinned, flashing his teeth at the boy beside him.
Ember gently squeezed Killian’s hand—partly for support, and partly because he was cutting off the circulation to her fingers—and she felt him relax beside her.
“We were just coming to see if you would be coming by the manor this weekend,” Veda said, as she adjusted the sleeve of her sweater. “Daddy seems to think a family meeting is in order. He and Uncle Magnus asked us to relay the message.”
Killian rolled his eyes as he drummed his fingers on the table. “If my father needs me, he can ask me himself. I don’t need to hear it from the two of you.”
“Feisty today, aren’t we, cousins?” Oryn asked with a smile, as his eyes drifted to Ember, looking her up and down. “Lothbrok seems to be rubbing off on you.”
Ember instinctively used her free hand to wrap her sweater tighter around her torso as she shifted in her seat. Oryn leaned on the table in front of Killian, bracing himself with one arm ashis other hand went to Ember’s hair. She held her breath, too afraid to move as his cold fingers traced a line down her cheek,
“Maybe we’ll get to see that famous Lothbrok fire Father always talks about.” He grinned.
Before Ember could move, much less form a sentence, Killian shot up from his seat, grabbing Oryn by his biceps and shoving him into the wall beside them.
“Watch it,” Killian hissed, as his grip tightened. “Whatever you’re up to, leave her out of it.”
“Or what?” Oryn asked, gritting his teeth. “Her little puppy will come after me?”
“I think you and I both know what I’m capable of,” Killian almost growled, and Ember felt her heart leap into her throat. “Stay away from her.”
“Is that a threat, cousin?” Oryn grinned manically, as his eyes cut toward Ember again. “There are so many fun games we could play with her, it might just be worth it.” He licked his lips as his eyes connected with Ember’s, and she felt bile rise in her throat. Before she could voice her disgust, Fen was launching himself across the table, right as Killian’s fist connected with Oryn’s jaw. Fen was on top of him next as Veda’s screech pierced the air, and Ember finally jumped up and ran around the table, grabbing Fen by the shoulders and trying to pry both him and Killian off the boy, who was also throwing punches as best he could from the ground.
With Odette’s help, Ember finally pulled the boys apart, blood dripping from their faces, and she felt heat rise in her chest. Veda narrowed her eyes at Ember and the boys as she helped her brother off the ground, quickly conjuring a handkerchief to dab the blood dripping from his nose. Both his jaw and eye had already turned a deep shade of purple, and Ember grimaced at the sight of it.
“Keep your attack dogs at bay, worm,” Veda spat at Ember, as she supported her brother. “Honestly you’d think the lot of you would have some sort of decorum.”
“Watch how you talk about my sister, and there won’t be any more problems,” Fen spat, blood spraying from his mouth.
Veda scoffed as she turned, leading her brother out the door of the cafe. Ember quickly surveyed the room, noting luckily there were only a handful of students in a far corner who were minding their own business, likely not wanting to get in the middle of anything that the Ellingboe twins were involved in. She sighed as she whipped her head around at the boys, who were now laughing and talking animatedly at the table.
“Are youtryingto get yourselves expelled?” She almost shouted as she glared at them both, hands on her hips. Odette had conjured two handkerchiefs, handing them to both boys and began to mumble some sort of healing spell under her breath, tendrils of magic leaving her fingertips and lighting up the gash on Fen’s brow. His eyes widened, but he didn’t say anything, his cheeks turning red as the girl leaned in close.
“Someone had to defend your honor, Starshine.” Killian smirked as he titled his head. His grin was playful, but Ember could still feel the heat from the fire behind his eyes.
“Well, you could try to be more discreet,” she sighed, as she shook her head at them. “You’re no good to me trapped at home. Besides, Eira would kill all of us if you got suspended for fighting.”
Fen smiled sheepishly with a nod, and then his eyes widened. “Why don’t we meet at the house tomorrow? We can get ready for Rukr tryouts, and I’m sure Mum would love to see you.”
Ember’s eyes widened as she slipped her bag over her shoulder. She had completely forgotten about Rukr tryouts, and all of a sudden, her stomach was in knots. They had been delayed while Wardens reinforced the wards around the pitch, and withthe chaos of moving and school, it had completely slipped her mind.
“Tryouts, right of course.” She nodded as she bit her lip. “I’m sure my mum wouldn’t mind me leaving for the day. Do you want to come Odette?”
