Page 42 of Drawn in Blood
“You did enough.” She nodded. “I have a feeling you’ll be able to help with a lot more than you think.”
Ember gave her a small nod, and they said their goodbyes, heading back up through the now quiet town and through the gate, into the Dark Forest.
Ember furrowed her brow as they walked. “How can they do that?” she asked no one and everyone. “How can anyone just take children?”
“Who knows.” Killian shrugged, quickly shifting back into the great white wolf as they made their way down the trail. Odette hummed quietly beside them, lost in her own thoughts as the bells at her ankles and wrists jingled while she walked.
“Anything you would like to add, Quinn?” Fen said with a mocking smile.
Ember frowned at him as she shook her head.
Odette simply shrugged; her unseeing eyes locked in front of them. “There are secrets buried so deep in this island that it would take a truly magnificent person to uncover them.”
“Secrets?” Fen snorted. “What sort of secrets could be hidden under the pristine cobblestone in Sigurvik? Or perhaps they’re scribbled under the paint on the side of the Bookwyrm or buried in the walls of all the gods forsaken manors?” He laughed to himself, but Odette simply cocked her head, face serious in a way that made Ember’s stomach coil into tight knots.
“The secrets of this island are all drawn in blood.”
“Areyou sure you don’t need us to take you home?” Fen asked, as they neared the Echopoint by the school. The walk back through the Forest had been surprisingly uneventful, and Ember wanted nothing more than to climb into her warm bed and sleep until she had to be up for school the next day.
“I’m sure.” She smiled. “You guys need to get home before we all get in trouble.”
“Well, I’m off then,” Fen replied with a salute. “Someone save me a seat in Zoomancy tomorrow.” And with a pop, he was gone, Odette following quickly after him, leaving Ember and Killian under the stars alone.
“Ladies first.” Killian grinned as he motioned toward the low hanging branch on the Echopoint. Ember nodded and grabbed the tree as Maia leaned against her leg, and just as she whispered, “Lothbrok Manor,'' under her breath, Killian was beside her, holding tight to the tree and her hand. They landed with a thud on the ground outside the gate, and Ember quickly brushed the dust off her jeans.
“What on earth are you doing?” she whispered hoarsely. “You need to go home before we’re caught.”
“Starshine, if you know anything by now, it’s that I don’t do what I’m told.” He flashed his teeth at her with a wink as he held out his arm to escort her up the long drive, whispering into her ear, “And I don’t get caught.”
Ember felt heat creep up her neck as she smacked his arm away, but she couldn’t hide the smile that played at the corner of her mouth.
“I’m walking you to the door,” he continued, matching her stride. “What kind of man do you take me for?”
“Manwould be a stretch,” Ember smirked, “but thank you. I appreciate the chivalry.”
“Always, Starshine.” He winked as they quietly walked toward the front door. Maia trotted through the yard toward the barn at the back of the house, and Ember quietly made her way up the steps.
Ember grabbed the handle to the large door and hesitated, looking back at the tall blond with smoky eyes. His face was leaner than last year, more chiseled. As much as she liked to joke with them about still being boys, they seemed to have turnedinto men overnight. A chill ran down Ember’s spine as she took a breath and gave him a quick nod.
“Well, goodnight,” she whispered.
Killian gave her hand a squeeze, lingering for a few seconds longer than Ember expected. “Sleep tight, Starshine.” He grinned and then turned to walk back down the dark drive.
Ember slipped through the door and leaned against it as it quietly shut behind her. She wasn’t sure why she was struggling to breathe or why her heart suddenly felt like it was going to leap out of her chest and dance around the hardwood floor in front of her. Since when did Killian Vargr make her feel like she couldn’t breathe, like she might melt into a puddle from his smile alone?
Ember shook her head and pushed herself off the door, creeping through the darkness toward the steps to head to her room.
“Bit late to be out on a walk, don’t you think?” a voice cut from the sitting room to her right.
Ember froze and sucked in a breath before turning and walking into the other room. “How long have you been waiting for me?” she asked sheepishly, scuffing her foot on the floor as she stood behind the sofa.
“Since I came out of my office to check on you before bed and you weren’t anywhere to be found,” her mother replied without turning around, not even bothering to put the book down that was in her hands. “Gaelen said she might have seen you sneak out, so I decided it was best to wait up and make sure you got home safe.”
“I didn’t mean to worry you,” Ember replied.
“Worry me?” Aoife scolded, as she closed the book and turned around. “I was terrified, Ember. You can’t just run off without a word of where you’re going. I just got you back. I can’t lose you again.”
Ember felt the guilt crack open her chest and burrow itself inside of her.
