Page 57 of Drawn in Blood
Ember felt her stomach drop and mouth go bone dry. Her fingers ached as she clenched her fists, trying to steady her breathing. Her eyes cut through the crowded pitch as she searched for Fen and Killian, just a glance to steady her.
How could Veda know? And if she knew, who else did?
Before she had a chance to think any further, Professor Bjorn blew his whistle, and everyone took off. Ember shook her head, trying to ignore the dread pooling in her stomach, and raced toward the Brazul, caman in hand. The wind whipped her braid back and forth, her breath catching as she sucked cold air into her lungs. She sped through the sea of students, trying desperately to keep her mind off her secret that felt like she was losing control of.
It only took a few seconds of distraction to flip everything upside down.
With her eyes searching the crowd of players for Fen, she missed the Brazul coming straight for her. Instead of using hercaman to hit it, she made a sharp left turn, knocking her almost completely off balance, swinging her caman just a hair too late. Instead of hitting the glowing flame buzzing past her head, she hit something solid. A screech sounded through the air, and Ember felt her blood run cold as her eyes widened.
Veda very well could have had steam coming out of her ears, and Ember wouldn’t have been surprised. Blood trickled down her chin from her lip, and a bright red imprint from her caman was already beginning to turn purple across her cheek.
For feck’s sake.
“I…I…” Ember stammered above the howling wind, but she couldn’t make the rest of the words come out.
Veda’s eyes cut into her like daggers, and Ember was frozen in place, hovering in the air. Professor Bjorn’s whistle blew, cutting through the air like a foghorn, and Ember quickly turned and sped down to the safety of the grass. Every eye was on her as she landed, most looking at her in horror, but she caught Fen and Killian grinning out of the corner of her eye. Veda unstrapped from her board across the way by her brother, her eyes never leaving Ember.
“That will conclude tryouts for today,” Professor Bjorn said, as he cleared his throat. “I think we’ve seen all we needed to see for the day. Please leave any camans or gloves you borrowed on the sidelines for collection. The list for teams will be posted at the end of the week. Have great weekend!”
Ember turned to make her way to the changing room, to get out of the vicinity of the Ellingboe twins as fast as possible.
Not fast enough, though, apparently.
Veda shoved past Ember, Oryn hot on her heels.
“You’re going to pay for that, worm,” she hissed, as she walked by, driving her elbow into Ember’s rib. “Mummy can’t protect you from everything.”
Ember swallowed dryly, narrowing her eyes as her nostrils flared. Veda walked away, and Ember whipped her head around, searching through the sea of students on the pitch. She turned on her heels, marching directly over to Fen and Killian, and shoved her finger into Killian’s chest.
“What did you tell your grimy cousin,” She hissed under her breath, shoving her fingers into his sternum several more times.
“Bloody hell, woman.” He winced as he caught her by the wrist, holding it tight. “What are you on about?”
Ember wrenched her hand out of his grip and crossed her arms tightly over her chest, narrowing her eyes. “Why does Veda know about my eyes,” she asked, lowering her voice. “What did you say?”
It was less a question and more an accusation.
“Your eyes?” Fen asked, bending over to pick camans up off the sideline.
“Yes, my eyes,Fenrir,” she hissed. “Do I need to spell it out for you?”
“Whoa there, Starshine,” Killian said, as he furrowed his brow. “If you’re mad at me, that’s fine, but don’t take it out on, Fen.”
Ember ran her tongue along her teeth and sighed. “Fine,” she replied, shoving him in the shoulder one more time for good measure. “What did you do, Killian Vargr?”
“I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he replied, cocking a brow as he shoved his hands in his pockets. “What makes you think she knows?”
“Because she bloody well said she did,” Ember hissed in reply. “She made some snide remark about my contacts. No one knows about my contacts except for you two.”
“Well, someone else must,” Killian shrugged, “because I didn’t say a word to anyone, least of all my cousins. Now, are you done assaulting me?”
Ember sighed as she ran her hand down her face, biting her lip. “Sorry,” she replied quietly, “just shook me up a bit, I guess.”
“Can we go now?” Fen asked, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I’m starving.”
Ember swallowed as she nodded, anxiety still weighing down her chest, and the trio made their way out of the pitch and up the path toward the front of the grounds. Wardens were positioned throughout the grounds, wandering around stiffly with their hands behind their backs. Ember straightened her spine as they walked through the ward, seeing one Warden standing on the outer edge. He couldn’t have been older than twenty-one, too old to be young and hopeful but too young for any true life experience. His long blond hair was tied loosely behind him, braids scattered throughout it. He cut his bright blue eyes at the trio as they stepped past, and Ember felt the hairs on the back of her neck raise.
“Best go straight home,” he grunted, nodding in the direction of the Echopoint. “Don’t wander.”
