15

FIFTEEN

Ember

Artie’s been whistling the entire trip and I think I might murder him today. I hope Willow won’t miss him too much.

Please refrain from harming my best friend. That will cause quite a mess for me to clean up.

Ugh! Get out of my head Willow.

He laughed down the bond and it warmed my heart.

I hate to admit that I’ve grown quite fond of the Prince after our aquancy rituals. He has a heart of gold and cares so much about the people of Estrallume. He makes me feel cherished, wanted, appreciated. I can understand why people enjoy mate bonds, but I’m terrified of what’s going to happen.

Will we repeat history and be destined for early graves like my parents? Why are the moons and stars pushing us to join so quickly? Most mated fae have months to get to know one another before making the decision on their bond at the next eclipse. We were given 15 days initially and now we have 5 days left before I have to make up my mind. Do I want to be his mate forever? Or do I want to continue with my original life plans?

I decided to distract myself and zone out Artie’s tunes. I flick open my communication orb,  “Hey Amara! I’m on my way back to the shop. Meet me there soon please.”

I’m greeted with static and silence. Strange. It’s a bit concerning that no one is on the line even for emergency calls. “Hello?”

Silence.

Okay, well I’m almost home so I’ll figure out what’s going on. After a short while, we pulled up to the courtyard of my shop and home. I quickly exit the carriage and say my goodbyes and thank Artie for his escort. We’ll be seeing eachother soon at the ball anyways. “Remember princess, dress to impress. This is a momentous opportunity for the royal family to bring their children into society for the first time.”

“Yeah, I’m well aware. Also, I am always here to impress. Thank you.” And with that, I turn and head to my own personal safe space. There’s nothing better than being home. Strolling through my courtyard gardens, I can feel my flowers sing with joy that I’ve returned. My magic reaches out and kisses each blossom like a lover. I adore my plants, and they adore me.

I head around the building and find my private staircase that leads to the apartment above. It’s a gorgeous stone staircase enclosed in a canopy of jasmine vines. It’s a smell I plan on bathing in as soon as I get inside.

I turn the golden handle and step inside my home. I throw my keys on the entry table and begin stripping out of my body suit immediately. I’m fully naked by the time I make it upstairs, and I beeline for the shower. Before I can make it there, I stop dead in my tracks as I find a sleeping Amara on my bed surrounded by tissues.

Tissues? Does she have some sort of sickness?

Deciding it’s best to check on her, I grab my bath robe from the bathroom door and tie it around my waist. I gather up her tissues and toss them in the waste bin in the bathroom. Man there’s a lot of tissues. I hope she’s okay, my sweet sparkle.

“Amara, I’m home,” I whisper as I crawl into bed next to her. Running my hand through her hair, she finally starts to rise from her deep slumber.

With a hoarse voice and raw throat, Amara barely lifts her head as she calls out my name. “Em?”

“I’m here now. What’s wrong?”

I don’t even know what’s going on when Amara breaks out in a rage of tears, hysterically crying and shaking as she latches onto me.

“Amara! Honey! What is wrong? What’s going on?” I continue to soothe her and run my hand through her hair. “Please, I need you to talk to me, Amara. Use your words.”

I can barely understand her through wails, snot, and choking on her own tears. Never in my life have I seen Amara this upset.

“Amara, where is Brooks?” She doesn’t answer me.

“Where is Brooks, Amara. Why is he not with you?”

She can’t talk. She can’t get words out. I don’t understand.

Finally, she cries herself into a tired ball of snot and sweat. She slowly whispers in a weak voice, “Brooks… Brooks went missing 2 days ago and–gurgle–I couldn’t reach you-gasp for air-”

Guilt floods me instantly and I almost choke on the pain in my chest. “What do you mean Brooks went missing?”

I can’t process what I’m hearing. No one has gone missing in the outer villages. The crimes have been focused on the Celestial Quarters of Estrallume. This changes everything. Brooks must be at The Ascension Guild or staying with his parents. Right?

“What has been done to help locate him? Was he acting strange before he went missing? Where was he last seen?” I begin to focus on the solution immediately, incapable of feeling sad when Brooks has to be found.

He has to be found.

I can’t lose him. He’s a brother to me.

Amara lets go of me, sits up a bit straighter and wipes her eyes with the back of her hands. “We initiated a guild-wide search party for him. It’s been the same response from the Royal guild when we ask for backup. Nothing.” She’s sniffling now but collecting herself. We both look like hot ass messes at this point.

“I’m so sorry you were alone for this, I can’t believe I was with the fucking prince and not here with you. This wouldn’t have happened if I never got captured in the first place. I’m such a fucking dumbass.” Feeling a heavy weight settle on my chest, I get up and start to pace around my bedroom. There’s pink clothes strewn everywhere, dirty dishes, and trash.  I’m feeling so useless and yet so frantic in this environment. I have to do something. “We need to shower, we both look horrific and then we will find Brooks.”

She sniffles and adds, “There’s more Em… His family was murdered. My parents were going over for dinner the other night and found the entire family bleeding out in the kitchen. It was horrific. My mother is traumatized to have lost her bestfriends. I grew up with them, Em. And now they’re just gone.” She lets out a pained wail. “No one has seen Brooks since before the incident, and there were no sightings of shadows or strangers near their family home.” She begins crying again and I gather some tissues to pass to her. She greatly accepts them.

“It just doesn’t make sense, why would they be taking older people, if that’s what’s even going on here. Are we sure this was the same assailant? Are these events even connected to the murders in the quarters? I thought they were only interested in young faeries this whole time based on the missing children in the capital city.”

“This needs to be addressed by the king before it’s too late.”

“I completely agree.” I wince and finally stop pacing to face Amara curled up in my bed sheets. “Speaking of the king… I have to meet him tomorrow at the Winter Solstice Ball being held at The Lunar Palace.”

“WHAT?!” she chokes out and tosses the covers off the bed. “That’s... What?! Okay we need to get you an outfit right away and–”

I laugh. “Whoa whoa whoa, calm down. I was trying to tell you that I will gather as much information about the missing children and Brooks when I’m there.”

“Oh.” She deflates a bit as she realizes I’m not excited like her.

“Yeah. But I do still need a dress and we need a distraction or else neither of us will be able to function with the weight of this situation. It’s probably not the healthiest way to cope with the loss of his family, but I can’t fall apart right now and neither can you. I think it’s the highest priority that we utilize my connection to the royal family and find out where Brooks was taken.”

“Agreed.” She sniffles and wipes the last of her tears away. Softly smiling, we quickly shower and get ready to spend hours creating my gown for the ball. Amara is an incredible seamstress and makes most of our clothes. After little debate, we decided I’d be adorned in a subtle blush gown. It’s a traditional, large tulle gown that is layered with golden flames that daintily line the edges of each tier on the dress.

For accessories, I’m wearing a dagger directly down the center back of the dress, just in case it gets crazy tonight. I never would have imagined this would happen to Brooks and his family. I’m grateful I’ve blocked out my empathy because I couldn’t handle it right now if I sat and thought about him for too long.

We will be getting answers tomorrow. Even if I have to force them out of the king. I’m only worried about what Will might think of me as I use him to get access to his father.

Do I reach through the bond and tell him what’s going on? Or do I keep him out of this mess because of his involvement with the crown? I want to trust him and every bone in my body tells me he’s safe, even if my mind is arguing otherwise.

Fuck it.

I reach through my chest and find the glowing strings of my bond, submerging myself in its warm mist. Aromas of cedar and fresh salt trickle down the bond as the mist of our bond kisses my skin and that’s when I know I’ve connected to Will through our pairing.

I have some news.

A few seconds pass before I hear anything back. I was starting to worry he blocked out the bond as well.

Hello, my little dragon. What news do you have for me?

A warmth blossoms in my chest. Wow, it feels amazing to hear his voice even when we’re so far away from each other.

Brooks is missing and his entire family was murdered. I found Amara in utter disarray upon arriving home, and we need to know what the crown’s involvement is in solving this case. I plead but only silence greets me.

And then my senses are flooding with emotions through the bond. Feelings of anger, confusion, distress, and worry rush through me like a plunging wave. Hello?

I’m so sorry, little dragon. I will talk to my father and let you know what I can do to help. Gather the details and we will have a meeting tomorrow night after the winter ball.Do you need me to come be with you?

His offer is kind and sweet, showing compassion that I didn’t know I deserved. No, but I can’t thank you enough for your efforts.

You can thank me by sharing a dance with me tomorrow night.

I giggle out loud and Amara looks at me like I’m crazy.

I thought I told you I’m not cut out for court life.

You will be the brightest flame in the room, my dragon.

The last thing I felt through the bond before closing our communication window was warmth and… love? How could he feel love towards me so soon? I am not deserving of that feeling and it was strange to taste in my mouth. Love is a taste and sensation I only feel from Amara and Brooks and their version tastes like blueberries and sweetened cream. But, when Will sent that emotion down the bond, it tasted like the pancakes he brought me when I was staying there.

And I can’t get enough of it. Does he trust in the stars so much that he’s allowed himself to freely fall in love with me?

Honestly, that’s blind affection and bat shit crazy. Right? Or is it kind of endearing?

Ugh. He makes my head spin.

We’ve cleaned up my living room from all the fabric and sewing supplies, washed dishes from dinner, and headed up stairs to crawl into bed. We’re both exhausted and Amara will be staying with me for a while. She and Brooks shared a house previously, impatiently awaiting their bond to register, and I don’t think she’ll be able to go back there for a while.

After a few minutes of slow breathing, we both fall fast into a restless sleep. I think I maybe got 2 or 3 hours of slumber. I just couldn’t quiet my thoughts. I should have gotten a Viella elixir before we went to bed to aid in calming us. I just stared at the ceiling and thought of a different time when things seemed peaceful here in Faerelle. Long before I was born.