Chapter 30
In the Belly of the Castle
Ember barely registered that she had crossed the room until she was in front of him. His eyes were wide, jaw slack, and all the color had drained from his face, like he was staring at her ghost. In some ways, she felt like he was.
“You’re here,” she whispered, unable to take her eyes off him. The bags under his eyes were prominent against his alabaster skin, and Ember wondered when the last time he had slept was. He snapped his mouth shut, jaw tensing as his throat bobbed, eyes flashing amber, but he didn’t look away.
“Oh, that’s right.” Helvig smiled. “I forgot you knew Killian. Why don’t you two get reacquainted while I have a word with Mr. Vargr?”
Ember nodded, and the two men walked away. She pulled Killian to the opposite end of the room, gripping his wrist like it was a lifeline. He suddenly seemed to snap out of whatever trance he was in and grabbed her shoulder, whirling her around, and wrapped her in the tightest hug she had ever felt.
“Thank the gods,” he mumbled into her hair. His chest shook as he took a breath. “We couldn’t get any Helios to go through.”
Ember pulled away and gave a nod as she bit her lip.
“The wards are too strong, and my phone is broken so I’ve had no way to get ahold of anyone.
” Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as the fire in his swirled.
“I never thought I would see you again.” She blinked as she took in his finely pressed shirt and dress pants and furrowed her brow. “What are you doing here?”
Killian ran a hand down his face as he blew out a breath.
“The day after break, I felt like the bond had been severed, like there was a cavern in my chest.” He gripped his shirt, knuckles turning white.
“I thought it was just me until I talked to Fen, and he felt it too. We went to look for you at the manor, and Maize told us you had left, and he handed Maia over to Fen.”
Ember let out a breath—she had been so worried about Maia and was so relieved that she was safe at the Kitts’.
“I overheard my da’ and uncle talking a few nights ago, something about a girl at the castle. It sounded odd, and I thought they were talking about some clients in Scotland, but something just didn’t sit right with me.”
Ember’s heart sank—his dad and uncle had been talking about her? How did they know?
You are playing a very dangerous game without so much as a glimpse into the rule book.
That was what Magnus Vargr had spat at her when she had barreled into him in the streets of Sigurvik. It felt like another lifetime.
“My father has made a big deal about trying to get me into the family business,” Killian continued, keeping his voice low, “so I started showing interest. Going to meetings, meeting with clients, even sucking up to Veda and Oryn.” He made a face like even the idea made him nauseous.
“I eventually convinced my uncle I was trustworthy, and he decided to bring me to meet with a very important client this weekend. I didn’t know if you’d be here, but it was the only lead we had. ”
Ember choked back tears. “But how?” she whispered. “How did you convince him? He must know you’re my friend.”
“It doesn’t matter how,” Killian replied, his throat bobbing. “Has anything ever stopped me before?” His smile lit up his entire face, seeming to warm every inch of that marble ball room. It was at that moment that she realized just how cold she had been for the last few months.
“You found me,” she whispered. Not a question.
Killian smiled lazily, a hand in his pocket and the other tracing the gold trim on the sleeve of her dress. He was so close to her she thought she might stop breathing. “I will always find you, Starshine,” he replied huskily.
“How long are you here?” she asked, as she looked around, keeping an eye on Helvig, who was still on the other side of the room talking to Malcolm.
“I go back after my uncle is done here, later this evening. What are you doing in a castle? And where’s Theo and your mum? What happened?”
Ember bit her lip and took a breath, then explained everything that happened almost three months prior. About how her mother had whisked her and Theo away without any explanation, how she was in a giant chateau on the edge of the city. About the mountains and the wards.
“I don’t trust him,” she whispered, not knowing who was listening. He seemed to have ears everywhere. “Something is going on, and I intend to find out what it is. I think this is who Rowan was talking about last year. I think this is who sent her to find the Book.”
“Rowan?” Killian asked, as he furrowed his brow.
Ember nodded. “She’s here,” she replied. “Rowan is here. She lives in the castle and has been working with Helvig.”
“She’s here?” he asked, a little louder than Ember would’ve liked. She shushed him, and he quickly snapped his mouth shut.
“Something is going on, and I think Rowan knows what it is,” she whispered. “That’s why I’m here, to try to get a feel for what he’s hiding.”
“Ember, you don’t need to get tangled up with Helvig,” Killian warned. “From everything my uncle has said, he’s a dangerous man.”
“I am forever entangled with him unfortunately,” Ember sighed. “He’s my grandfather.”
The shock on Killian’s face made it evident that he didn’t know—maybe no one did. “But if the Jarl is your granda’,” he whispered, “then that would make you—"
“Don’t say princess,” she breathed, eyes closed. She couldn’t stomach it, couldn’t make sense that it was who she was.
“Well,” he sighed, “this changes things, now doesn’t it?”
“It doesn’t,” she replied. “He is hiding something, and grandfather or not, I’m going to find out what it is.”
As if on cue, Rowan waltzed into the room, and Ember stiffened as she saw Veda and Oryn at her side. The twins' smiles looked almost feral as their eyes locked with hers, and it took everything in her not to recoil as Oryn leaned in and kissed both her cheeks.
“I didn’t want to believe it when Father said you were here,” he grinned, “told him he had lost his mind. But I stand corrected.” His eyes roved over her like she was a mouse caught in a trap, and his grin made her stomach turn sour.
Killian let out a low growl, stepping closer to Ember, and looked like he was ready to slit Oryn’s throat clean open. Rowan let out a laugh as she trailed a hand along Killian’s shoulder, rounding him to stand between them.
“Simmer down, boys,” she said, as she pinned them both with a dark look. “Now is not the time or the place.”
Ember bristled, watching as the muscles in Killian’s jaw twitched, nostrils flaring as Rowan’s hand made contact with his broad shoulder. Oryn seemed to take a step back, holding his head just a hair higher as he kept his eyes on her.
“I was wondering how long it would take you to get here Vargr,” Rowan said, as she inspected her nails. “I will say, I expected better timing honestly.”
“Our dear cousin has been quite busy.” Veda smiled, then turned to Ember, who was looking between the three of them with a furrowed brow. “Has he not told you what he’s been up to?”
Against her better judgement, Ember shook her head.
Veda let out a breathy laugh as she grinned. “Killian has finally come around to the family business,” she cooed. “It took him a few tries to prove himself, but he’s finally got the hang of it.”
Prove himself.
Ember felt bile rise in her throat as she swallowed dryly. Killian’s face was stoic, but she could see the amber flash across his eyes as Oryn inched closer.
“Rafe better watch out,” Oryn grinned, “or Uncle will have a new favorite son.”
To Ember’s surprise, Killian let out a gruff laugh, a small smile barely ghosting his lips. His eyes locked with hers, and she could almost hear what he was thinking.
Go along with it.
Veda turned as Malcom called her and Oryn, and she gave Ember another smile. “I’m sure we’ll see you very soon, Lothbrok.” She grinned and then turned to Killian. “Make it quick, cousin. We have work to do.”
“Your family is so charming,” Rowan drawled, as she turned her back on the retreating duo. “How on earth do you deal with them at Sunday dinner?”
“Cut the shit,” Killian hissed. “What do you want?”
Rowan glared at him, then rolled her eyes. “I wanted to warn you to watch your back.”
“Is that a threat?” Killian growled, hackles raised. His eyes flashed gold, and Ember held her breath.
“Not me, you mangy mutt,” Rowan replied, as she rolled her eyes. “Your uncle is a regular here, and he has no problems leaving boots prints on people’s backs, if you catch my drift. It seems your cousins might be following in his footsteps.”
“I can take care of myself,” he grumbled, but it didn’t stop him from glancing toward his uncle on the other side of the room.
“Why were you with them?” Ember asked, as she narrowed her eyes.
Rowan shook her head, biting her lip to keep the secret in. “That’s on a need-to-know basis.” She smiled, but Ember could see the battle being waged behind her eyes. She gave her a nod, then to her surprise the girl looked to her left and right and wrapped her in a tight hug.
Ember stiffened, eyes wide as she looked toward Killian, who seemed ready to hex her if need be.
“Remember what I told you—be careful,” she whispered in her ear, then let go and walked toward Helvig.
“What was that all about,” Killian asked, as he narrowed his eyes toward the other side of the room.
“I don’t know,” Ember replied, shaking her head. Killian turned around, just as Malcom motioned for him to leave, and Ember felt her heart sink.
“I have to go,” he said, as he stuffed his hands in his pockets, “but I’ll be back.
I’ll figure out a way to get here alone.
” He began to walk away when he suddenly stopped and turned around.
“I forgot to tell you. Cormac from Celestial Steel said he was sorry he couldn’t fix the spell on your ring. ”
Ember furrowed her brow.
“What spell?” she asked.