Page 131 of Drawn in Blood
“You can trust him.” He nodded. “He’s one of us.”
One of us.
Ember wasn’t sure if anyone could truly help, not anymore.
The sixteen-year-olds walked into the den, Otto and Eira close behind, and Ember made her way to the cozy chair by the fire. She nestled into the plush seat, hugging her knees to her chest, and sank into a comfort she hadn’t felt in months. Killian and Fen sat on the couch, Odette in the chair opposite Ember, and Captain Balor stood by the fireplace, leaning on the sturdy mantle as the flame lit his face.
“Start at the beginning,” he said.
Ember took a breath and told them everything.
She told Captain Balor about her mother and how she always assumed she had drowned at sea like her father had. She told him about moving into Lothbrok Manor, her father’s home. Killian told them about finding Collum and his uncle in town and how they began to suspect that he was involved with the missing children. Captain Balor nodded his head, brow furrowed as he listened, nostrils flaring slightly when they mentioned Collum.
And then Ember told them about Torsvik. Otto’s eyes widened as she talked about the chateau, how she and Theo were whisked away without any warning. She told them about the town hidden behind the mountains on the northern coast of Ellesmere and about the Jarl that reigned there. Her throat tightened when she talked about the dungeons and how she found all of the children huddled together in a cell, Fae and Vala alike. She left out the part about Aesira, something told her that was information she needed to keep close to her chest for now.
She glanced at Odette, leaving out the part about the villagers, the crow insignia and Elowyn Quinn being alive. She talked about the ball and their plan to get the children out, then how it all went to shit when they were caught by Collum. She traced the gash on her cheek as she took a shaky breath, then told them about how her mother had found them.
She closed her eyes as her mind reeled—the memory of her mother’s lifeless body on the cave floor forever burned behind her eyes.
Tears streamed down Eira’s face as Ember recounted it all, but they weren’t tears of sadness—not fully. Righteous anger radiated off the woman, rolling off her skin like waves as she clenched her jaw. Anger for Maeve and what she had been through, trapped in a dirty dungeon in the belly of an ancient castle. Anger for Fen at the danger he had been put in. And as their eyes locked, she knew it was anger for her too. Anger at her mother for putting Ember and Theo in danger—risking their lives for the “greater good.”
Captain Balor nodded as he blew out a breath.
“Are you going to go get him?” Fen asked, his face set in anger.
“It isn’t that easy,” Captain Balor replied, as he shook his head. “If Collum had been turned so easily, who’s to say there aren’t more in my ranks? No, we need to tread carefully.”
“The wards there are different,” Osiris said, as he stepped into the room. “You can only get past them with a Torc specifically keyed to enter them. The standard issued bands won’t work”
Eira furrowed her brow. “And how exactly do you know this?” she asked under her breath. Osiris’s cheeks colored red as he looked away from his mother’s stare.
“Is your Torc not standard issued?” Fen asked, as he turned to look at his brother.
Eira’s eyes went wide as she looked at Osiris.
“I’ll explain later, Mum,” he whispered, like a little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
“It will take some time to take inventory of his magic,” the captain continued, “and of any armies he might have. Even with his magic as weak as you say, I don’t know who he might haveto help him. But now that he has been caught, I imagine the children will be safe again. He’ll just find another avenue.”
Ember swallowed dryly. He would come after her again now that he knew where she was and that she was alive. She didn’t doubt that for a moment. She would just have to be ready when he got there.
After taking all the kids' statements, as well as Osiris’s, Captain Balor took the children back to their homes, escorting Odette as well, letting Osiris know he would be back to talk more in depth with him later. Theo wandered back into the den not long after, curling up on the oversized chair next to Ember. All of the boys—Killian, Fen and Theo—quickly fell asleep, and Ember took her chance to squeeze out of the chair and slip out the back door.
The moment her feet hit the dirt, she hurtled toward the barn, slinging the doors open and racing down the open corridor. She skidded to a halt in front of the familiar stall and slid open the lock, gently nudging the door open. Maia was curled up in a ball in the back corner, and Ember crept quietly across the layer of hay on the ground.
Maia’s head popped up, lavender eyes widening, and Ember could’ve sworn she grinned. She tackled Ember to the ground, purring and chirping and nuzzling her snout into Ember’s hands.
“I’m back now,” Ember mumbled. “I won’t ever leave you again.”
They walked together to the front of the house, and Theo was on the porch waiting. He still looked tired, but the kind of tired that couldn’t be reconciled with a good night's sleep. His eyes were dark, but hope flickered somewhere in their depths. Ember sat beside him on the porch, Maia lying quietly at their feet.
“Now what?”Theo signed, then rubbed Maia’s belly. She purred as he nuzzled the bottom of his leg.
Before Ember could answer, the front door opened, then closed. Ember almost expected Killian or Fen to come out, but instead, Eira stood in front of them, softly smiling as she folded her hands in front of her.
“I’m so sorry about your mother,” she whispered. “I can’t imagine the pain you both are feeling.”
“Thank you,” Ember whispered, as she fought the tears threatening to spill over. “It’s been… a lot to handle. But I think we’ll be okay.” She would have to be okay, would have to figure out how to push through this for Theo.
