Page 75 of Drawn in Blood
“Happy birthday, Starshine,” he whispered.
Ember gasped when her phone buzzed, almost jumping back and falling off the dock completely. She fished it out of her pocket, rolling her eyes as a text lit up the screen.
“It’s Fen,” she breathed, a little heavier than she expected. In that moment, Killian’s phone buzzed too. “He’s probably tracking us and plans to tear us apart new one when we get?—"
Whatever she was going to say died in her throat, her face dropping as she read the text, her lungs feeling like they had been ripped out of her chest. From the hollow look on Killian’s face, she knew he had gotten the same message. She choked back tears as her bottom lip trembled, her hand shaking as she read the message again, gripping Killian’s hand like he was a raft in the middle of a hurricane.
Maeve is missing. Come quick.
Chapter 23
Checkmate
Killian dropped Ember off at home, heading straight to the Kitts’. As badly as she wanted to go with him, she desperately needed to check on Theo. If they had gotten to Maeve, who’s to say they hadn’t gotten ahold of Theo too? Ember quietly walked in through the back door and made a mad dash for his room upstairs. She felt like she might spontaneously combust as she ran, choking back the tears that she refused to let spill over.
She skidded to a halt in front of his room, suddenly unable to turn the knob. Out in the hall he was okay, no matter what lay beyond the door. She took a shaky breath and swung the door open before she could think about it any further, her bottom lip trembling as she stared at his bed.
He was sound asleep, an open book laying on his chest with his mouth hanging open. She laughed, tears streaming down her face as she crept into his room, lying the book on his nightstand and pulling the blanket up to cover him. Relief washed over her, though it was short lived. Her heart sank when she thought about Fen and Eira and Otto and the aching they must be feeling. She tried not to think about Maeve and how terrified she must be in that moment. Alone without her family.
She squeezed her eyes shut, rubbing them with the heels of her hands as hard as she could. She kicked off her shoes, climbing into bed with Theo and pulling a blanket over her. She closed her eyes, pulling him as close as possible, almost as if she thought he would slip away if she let go.
She laid there for a few minutes until her heart rate slowed and she felt confident that Theo was safe. She slipped out of Theo’s room and into her bathroom, taking a fast shower and changing into clean clothes before making her way downstairs with her bag.
“A bit early, isn’t it?” Aoife smiled playfully from her seat in the sitting room, a cup of tea balanced on her knee. Her smile faded as her eyes met Ember’s, and she furrowed her brow. “What’s wrong?”
Ember’s bottom lip trembled; her chest suddenly tight. She took a shaky breath and shook her head. “Maeve is missing,” she whispered, tears streaming down her wind-chapped cheeks.
“Oh, my love,” Aoife replied, “do they know anything yet?”
Ember shook her head as she wiped her cheek with the back of her hand. “I don’t know,” she replied. “I haven’t talked to Fen.”
“Well, do you need me there?” Aoife asked, as she adjusted the sleeve of her blouse. “I can cancel my plans for the day if you need me.”
Ember smiled as she sniffed. Something about her mum’s readiness to drop everything to help her made her feel safe, even in the wake of this disaster.
“No, I’ll be fine,” she said, as she shook her head.
Aoife cocked a brow as she looked just over Ember’s shoulder. “It seems we’re all up a little late—or early—today.”
Ember turned around to see Theo behind her, shoes on and still rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
“I’m going,”he signed solemnly.
Ember shook her head.
“No,” Aoife said, as she shook her head, “no, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Not a good idea.”Ember signed.
Theo stomped his foot and crossed his arms tightly over his chest. “Going,”was all he could manage to sign in reply.
Aoife sighed as she rubbed the bridge of her nose.
“I’ll watch him,” Ember promised. “I’ll keep him safe.” But that was the problem, wasn’t it? Suddenly, nowhere felt safe anymore.
Aoife gave a nod. “You will not let him out of your sight,” she said sternly, walking across the room to kiss each of them on the head. “You will go straight there and come straight home, and you will stay together. Promise me you will stay together.”
“Of course, Mum.” Ember nodded. She would feel better if Theo was with her anyway. She couldn’t control much, but she could do her best to protect him, even if she couldn’t protect Maeve.
