Chapter 37 Apples, Starlight, and Impulsive Decisions #2
Gaelen nodded. “I saved it all from the cottage in Galway. I hoped one day you would get to have it all back again.”
“She never mentioned that you were my nanny,” Ember said, as she shook her head. “Why didn’t she mention it when I first got there?”
“She didn’t remember.” Gaelen shrugged. “She thinks I found her in Scotland, so she doesn’t remember I was with your family all those years. As far as she is aware, we had never met.”
“You protected me.” Ember smiled through her tears. “All these years I thought I was alone, but you were protecting me.”
Gaelen nodded as she smiled. “I made a promise to your father, and I have done my best to keep it—to protect you both.”
Theo.
“Now, shall we finish getting ready?” Gaelen said, as she stood up, brushing her hands down her dress as she took a breath. She smiled gently, taking out the strap in the box and handing it to Ember.
Ember hooked it around her thigh, slipping the dagger in and letting the dress float back down over it.
“Watch over your brother,” Gaelen said, as a tear rolled down her cheek, “and get him home.”
Home.
Ember sniffed, tears pooling on her lower lash as she pulled the cape out of her bag.
“I don’t know what is going to happen tonight,” she said, as she handed the silken material to Gaelen, “but after we leave, go home as quickly as possible. Everyone should be distracted at the castle, so you shouldn’t have a problem making it to the docks. ”
Gaelen smiled, more tears rolling down her cheeks as she clutched the cape in her hands, starlight shimmering between her fingers. “You are going to do great things, Ember Lothbrok.”
Collum picked her up at exactly eight o’clock, his dress uniform finely pressed as he stood with his hands firmly behind his back, waiting as she walked down the stairs. He took her arm, and they walked out the door. Right before he Echoed them to the castle, he mumbled, “You look nice, Princess.”
Ember cringed, even as the air was sucked from her lungs, flying through stars.
People milled about the courtyard in masks of all shapes and sizes, the women wearing some of the most beautiful gowns she had ever seen.
She fidgeted with the side of the dress as Collum led her through the door toward the ballroom.
Music filled the castle, reverberating off the arched ceilings making the magic thrum steadily in her veins.
“Are we late?” she whispered as they walked toward the ballroom and the grand set of stairs leading into it.
“A princess is never late,” he replied, as he shook his head.
Ember gritted her teeth but didn’t reply. The crowd below fell into a hush as Collum guided her down the staircase, her dress flowing behind her as everyone watched—every eye on her.
This might be harder than she thought.
The music swelled, and people began dancing again, singing and chanting as whiskey was slung through the air.
A boy with pale hair and charcoal eyes walked up to her and Collum, his finely pressed suit rivaling the blackness of the night outside.
He had a mask on that resembled a white wolf, and Ember giggled as he bowed.
“I’ll take it from here.” He winked at Collum and took Ember’s arm to walk away. “You look stunning,” Killian whispered, leaning close to her ear. The warmth of his breath sent goosebumps down her neck, her cheeks flushing as she smiled.
“You’re not so bad yourself, Vargr,” she replied with a grin.
They made their way through the dance floor, to the side of the room lined with tables.
Food piled every inch of them—roast lamb, duck and rabbit, hot cross buns drenched in honey, bread of all shapes and sizes, bowls filled with seed and fruits and leafy greens, and enough deviled eggs to feed ten armies.
“What the hell is an ‘auroch?’” Fen asked, as they approached the table, picking at a slab of meat he had on a plate.
He was wearing all black as well and had a blood red mask on in the shape of a draic.
Ember laughed as she grabbed a bun and some cheese and stuffed them in her mouth—she was famished.
“It’s like an ancient cow,” Odette hummed, as she popped a few sunflower seeds in her mouth. “Helvig must breed them somewhere.”
“Odette!” Ember nearly shouted, wrapping the girl in a hug. Odette hugged her back, the blushed colored dress she was wearing wrinkling between them. “What on earth are you doing here?” Ember asked, as she stepped back, her chest suddenly feeling lighter.
“She insisted on coming,” Fen replied, as he stuffed a strawberry in his mouth. “Would you believe she even threatened to tell my mum if we didn’t bring her?”
Odette’s cheeks stained crimson as Ember raised a brow. Suddenly, she remembered the woman whose smile so closely resembled her friend’s, and her heart sank.
“Odette, your mum…” she began, but Odette stopped her.
“I know,” she whispered. “I can feel her.”
“We can go find her,” Ember said, as she began to look around the room. “She’s bound to be here somewhere.”
“Not tonight,” Odette said, as she shook her head. “We are here for a reason, and so is she. We will meet again.”
Ember tilted her head. She wished she had half the courage the Odette seemed to.
“We have company,” Killian whispered, as he nodded his head to the front on the room.
Ember felt the air shift as Helvig and her mother entered the room, gliding down the staircase like it was something that came naturally.
She stiffened as she turned away, focusing on her friends, and praying they didn’t come up to talk to her.
Rowan walked up to the table, her red dress flowing around her ankles, brown curls falling over her shoulders.
She smiled at Ember, but her face immediately shifted when she saw the way Fen was looking at her.
“I was really hoping this was some sort of sick joke,” he mumbled, as she walked up to the trio, “but I suppose we couldn’t get that lucky.”
“It’s wonderful to see you too, Fenrir,” Rowan cooed, as she adjusted the bracelet on her wrist. “Still just as inconspicuous as ever I see.”
Fen pulled at his sleeves, the midnight black he and Killian were wearing in stark contrast with the spring colors everyone else seemed to have on. “And you’re still a raging bitch I see,” he spat.
Ember slapped him in the arm and gave him a look. Don’t start.
She started it, he seemed to say as his eyes narrowed.
“I find your obvious disdain for me so refreshing.” Rowan smiled back.
“Obvious?” Fen laughed. “And I was trying so hard to hide it.”
“Can we continue this little reunion later?” Ember asked, as she made to step in between them. “We have work to do.”
Rowan’s eyes widened a hair as she scanned the group. “Quinn?”
“Hello, Rowan.” Odette smiled, any surprise at the girl in front of her not evident on her face. “It’s so lovely to see you again.”
“I’m going to check that everything is ready in the garden.” Rowan shook her head, nodding toward the other side of the room. “Meet you in the dungeons in two hours?”
Ember nodded as Rowan left, moving to make sure everything was in place.
The distraction would take place in the gardens, hopefully pulling everyone's attention away from the ballroom and outside. Ember wasn’t sure exactly how Rowan planned to distract everyone, but she knew it would be nothing short of extravagant.
“We will only have a few minutes to get out of the room and to the dungeon after Rowan gives the signal,” Ember lowered her voice, as she talked to the boys and Odette.
“We have to be focused, clear headed. Whatever you do, stay away from the whiskey.” She eyed Fen, who carefully set his glass on the table behind him, wiping the amber liquid off his mouth.
“So, what’s the signal?” he asked, as he cleared his throat and stuck his hands in his pockets.
“When we get to the dungeons,” she ignored his question, “we will have maybe ten or fifteen minutes before we’re missed. We have to let Aesira out, then get the children and make our way through the tunnels.”
“Okay,” Fen nodded, “but what’s the signal?”
“I don’t know how long the tunnels are, the map doesn’t give specifics,” Ember continued, “so we’ll need to go quickly and quietly.
I don’t know what’s down there. I’m going to go make an appearance with my mother and Helvig and then find Theo,” she said, as she sucked in a breath. “Try to mingle and not act suspicious.”
Killian nodded with a grin. “I’ll come with you. A princess needs an escort.”
Ember scrunched her nose but didn’t argue.
“But what’s the signal?” Fen whispered hoarsely, as they walked away, but they didn’t turn around to answer, leaving Odette to handle him on her own.
“Oh, Ember, love,” Aoife cooed, as she and Killian walked toward them. “Don’t you look lovely.” She brushed a lock of hair over Ember’s shoulder, smoothing the sleeves of her dress. “The tiara fits perfectly.”
“A gown and tiara fit for a princess.” Helvig grinned. “How are you enjoying your first Ostara celebration?”
Ember gritted her teeth, forcing a smile. “It’s lovely. Thank you, Granda’.” She nodded.
Killian squeezed her hand in his—an unspoken promise.
I’m here.
“Mum,” she continued, “you remember Killian Vargr?”
“I do.” Aoife smiled. “How lovely to see you Killian. Are your parents here?”
“No,” Killian shook his head, putting on his most charming smile, “I’m afraid I just accompanied my uncle tonight. It’s a lovely ball.” He kissed Ember’s hand as he grinned. “If you’ll excuse me, I believe I have some clients I must check in with. I’ll find you later.”
Ember gave him a pointed look as he grinned, but before he could walk away, a slender hand landed on his shoulder.
“Surely, they can wait,” Veda Ellingboe tutted, as she walked up beside the group. “Care to dance, cousin?” She turned to Ember and smiled, her emerald dress swaying in the breeze that flowed through the open doors. “I’ll bring him back in one piece, Lothbrok.”