Page 22 of Drawn in Blood
Fen cleared his throat from the end of the corridor and scuffed his shoe across the paved floor. “Need any help, Em?”
Ember smiled as she shook her head. “No, I think that’s about it.” She attached the lead rope to Maia’s halter and kissed the top of her head right as a Helio shot through the open door and hovered in the middle of the trio.
“Your mum is here, Ember,” Eira’s voice rang out from the bright blue orb, more meek than normal.
Ember took a breath, patting Maia on top of the head. “Time to see our new home,” she whispered, then led the draic down the corridor and toward the house, both boys shuffling along behind her.
Ember rounded the corner of the house to see Eira, Otto, and her mum standing on the front porch. Eira’s eyes were rimmed red and puffy, and her cheeks were pink, like she had spent all afternoon rubbing stray tears off them. Otto had her hand in his,and Ember watched his grip tighten around her pale skin every few seconds.
Ember’s breath caught in her throat when her eyes landed on her mum. Her long brown hair flowed over her shoulder in waves, and it swayed as she bobbed her head from side to side in conversation. A lump grew in Ember’s throat as she tightened her grip on Maia’s lead, tugging her along to the porch.
“Mo Chroí,” Otto smiled sadly, “do you have everything?”
Ember nodded as she handed off Maia’s lead to Killian, whose eyes were narrowed at Aoife. He stood tall, a half step in front of her, acting like she needed protection from her own mother. Fen wasn’t much better, standing with his arms crossed tightly over his chest, close enough to her that she could feel that magic dancing like electricity off his skin. The invisible tether between the three tightened, humming as it vibrated. Both boys glanced toward her briefly, but no one else seemed to notice.
She nudged them both and shook her head, just enough for them to lower their guard as they nodded.
“Oh, a draic.” Aoife smiled as she turned to pat Maia on the head.
The draic’s nostrils flared, lavender eyes widening as she whipped her head back to Ember. Ember shook her head, as if to tell her tobehave.
“She’ll love the barn. I’ll have the dryads set her up a stall when we get back to the manor,” Aoife continued.
Ember choked on her own spit.
“What?” she breathed, as she furrowed her brow. “You live in a manor?”
“It’s been in your father’s family for generations. It’s sat empty since we left the island, but I’ve had the dryads and Merrow working all week to get it ready for your return.
“Now who’s spoiled,” Killian laughed under his breath, as Ember jabbed him in the ribs.
“And who is this?” Aoife asked, as she nodded toward Killian, who was now rubbing between Maia’s ears. He straightened himself up, plastered on a cocky grin, and held his hand out to shake Aoife’s.
“Killian Vargr, Mrs. Lothbrok.” He smiled charismatically. “Pleasure to meet ya.”
“Vargr?” Aoife asked, as she tilted her head and squinted. “You wouldn’t be kin to Magnus and Asena Vargr, would you?”
Ember glanced to her right as Killian stiffened, the muscle in his jaw tensing as his nostrils flared slightly.
“Aye,” he nodded stiffly, “they’re my parents.”
“Well, do tell them I said hello.” Aoife smiled sweetly, seemingly unaware of the way his fists clenched at the sound of his parents’ names.
“Are you ready to go, my love?” Aoife turned back to Ember, who nodded her head and took a shaky breath. She gave both Eira and Otto a hug and squeezed Maeve as she leapt into her arms.
“Come back and see me?” the little girl asked through tear filled eyes.
“Of course I will.” Ember smiled as she wiped stray tears from her reddened cheeks. “We’ll have a flying lesson soon, okay?”
Maeve nodded her head vigorously before giving Ember one last tight hug and slipping back down onto the porch. Ember turned to Fen, who had his arms crossed tightly over his chest and was looking at anything other than her. Her heart sank as she walked toward him, stomach twisting into knots as she bit the inside of her cheek.
Fen was the closest thing she had ever had to a real sibling, him and Maeve both. While she knew this wasn’t a forever goodbye, it still stung to see the way his eyes filled with tears every time he looked at her. This would change things, changetheir dynamic. No matter how much she tried to convince herself otherwise, she knew this was the end of something she had fought for for so long.
“I’ll see you at school Monday.” Ember smiled as she took a shaky breath. “Save me a seat in Zoomancy?”
“Yeah, of course.” He nodded with a half-smile. “Come fly in the orchards soon?”
“Wild draics couldn’t keep me away,” she whispered back.
