Page 38 of A War of Embers

I jump, barely managing to keep the mug of tea from clattering to the floor as I sharply turn to glare at Rowan, leaning against the open door jam watching me through hooded mossy eyes. “Do you ever announce your presence or do you enjoy being a ghost?” I demand.

He shakes his inky hair out of his face, the corner of his mouth curling upwards into a tiniest hint of a smile. Moving into the room, he closes the door behind him and shoves his hands into the pockets of his black trousers. “Why are you peering out the window?”

“I’m snooping,” I retort, using his own vernacular.

“I see that, but why?” he presses.

Rolling my eyes, I take another peek back outside where Nox and Lady Cirilla are still arguing. “I’m trying to decide if Lady Cirilla is going to punch Nox in the face or not. It’s fifty-fifty right now. She looks highly annoyed by whatever he’s telling her.”

Rowan’s eyes darken briefly. “He’s informing her that every person deemed a dignitary on this trip will have their own space and will not be sharing.”

“She wasn’t pleased when she came into the kitchen the other day,” I comment. “She’s been avoiding me ever since we had our little chat.” Unfortunately my thoughts on her behavior were wrong. Instead of trying to keep a close eye on me, she shut me out even tighter than before, making her movements untraceable in the constantly moving estate.

A muscle in Rowan’s cheek twitches. I swear even his arms flex as he rotates his shoulders like he’s unwinding his back. “Yes, I was informed by Zeke of the little incident.”

“Is there a reason you sought me out?” I ask, trying to lure his attention away from the previous topic. “Came to say goodbye to your favorite immortal before leaving me alone in your house for who knows how long?”

“I did come to ask you to please not set my home on fire. I’ve heard some immortals have a penchant for flames.”

Reaching forward, I patronizingly pat his shoulder. “Of course not. Who would do such a thing?” There are a few immortals I’ve met over the years who enjoy lighting things with a match when provoked. It’s an easy way to make your voice heard when people are screaming, material items are being ruined, and you’re threatening to continue to burn shit to the ground unless someone stops to listen. Even though it can be effective, I’ve never been one to use fire. No, I much preferred to use my sword to get the point across. I take a quick sip from the mug before asking, “So how was your dinner the other night?”

“You don’t know?”

Unfortunately I was lulled away by Alyvia with the promise to see Meredith and Deena before they left to set up the boundary areas within the Wraithlands for those attending. It gave me little knowledge on what they were doing, but I doubt dinner would have been eventful either. “I’m sure your spies already told you where I was when you were having dinner. So no. Did Lady Cirilla finally talk you into having babes with her? Do you expect they’ll have your eyes or hers?”

Something dark rattles inside of Rowan’s chest. An outright animalistic sound. His mossy eyes darken further, his jawline sharper than usual as he glares at me. A shiver works its way down my spine. Of all things to get to Rowan, this isn't something that crossed my mind. He looks almost feral before he manages to wrangle control of his emotions. “Now isn’t a good time to test my patience, little monster.”

On the contrary, it seems like the perfect time after his little slip of control.

Rowan’s eyes narrow to slits. “Goading me isn’t going to make me kill you. If anything, I’ll throw you back into the Blood Sea and have Char guard you until I return if you can’t behave.”

“Do you always speak this kindly to everyone in your home or am I special?”

“I don’t speak to anyone if I don’t have to.”

Which begs the question why he sought me out to have this conversation. Clearly there’s something else going on. “Why are you here Rowan? Shouldn’t you be preparing to leave?”

Indecision wars on his face. “I am looking into the matter of your souls. I thought it was best you know that I can probably remove the four collectively hiding the last one, but I won't know what that could do to you nor if I could remove the godlike soul myself. I need to consult more texts before I make any movements. I want to be sure.” His eyes search my face. Slowly, like I’m a child, he states, “You will give me time.”

Deciding it’s better to play along while still offering him my usual sass, I bargain, “Alright. I won’t burn down your estate and concede to giving you time if you tell me why you sought me out.” For all things to render Rowan speechless, this never made the list. I don’t quite think he understands why he sought me out either. There’s almost a compulsion in the air to be around one another. The way he pops into my mind at the randomest of times isn’t normal. Neither of us should be giving in to any of these urges we’re clearly feeling.

I expect him to tell me he only came to find me to warn me, to console my feelings on being left behind and that he is trying to live up to his end of the bargain, but he says nothing. We simply end up staring at each other as the minutes grow.

Footsteps can be heard thundering in the hallway just beyond the door. Last minute preparations that still need to go out. Or maybe people doing their final walkthroughs before they bid their friends and family farewell to begin their journey.

Rowan takes a step towards me, almost crowding me into the wall with his size. His deep voice lowers to barely a whisper, “Stay alive.”

Surely I’m hearing him wrong. A frown tugs down the corners of my mouth and I turn more fully to face him. “What does that mean?”

“It means don’t run off on a fool’s errand. Stay here. Stay alive.”

I scoff. “If you hadn’t noticed yet, you’re the only one who appears to be able to kill me and you’re about to go gallivanting off into the sunset to watch creatures breed. I don’t think there will be much difficulty staying alive in your absence.”

He chuckles a dark, gritty sound. “We both know your body can remain here and your mind can be somewhere else. I’m telling you to stay alive, little monster. Just for a little bit longer.” He brings his hand up and tugs on a loose piece of hair by my shoulder. Immediately the thin strand falls through his fingers as he steps back, a frown marring his face as he looks at his hand in confusion. Turning his gaze back towards me, he sternly advises, “Alive, Keres.” Then, in a plume of thick, dark smoke he seems to disappear from the room entirely like a ghost.

Turning back towards the window, I try to see if Rowan magically appears down there but no such luck. The door to the room never opened or closed, which makes me wonder if he’s still here silently watching me. Deciding it’s better to pretend to do as I said and go lay down, I move through the room cautiously to not accidentally bump into the resident poltergeist.

Once in the hallway, everyone seems to be crowding around different locations making sure everyone is ready to go. Seems the caravan is about to depart. I spot Zeke further down the hallway, his head bent down as he murmurs something to Alyvia who frowns at him. Maybe Rowan told Zeke to remind Alyvia to keep tabs on me and make sure I don’t get into any trouble.

---