5. Ember

5

EMBER

A sh pressed a button on the wall, unlocking the elevator door, and an attendant pushed in a linen-draped cart with six plates covered in silver domes.

“Can I get you anything else?” He clasped his gloved hands in front of his chest.

“Shit. A tip,” I said under my breath. “He wants a tip.” And I’d spent every dollar I had and maxed out my credit card. If we made it out of this alive, I had no idea how I’d recover. Maybe I could sell feet pictures on one of those fetish apps. I cringed at the thought.

“I’ve got it.” Shade rose and handed the man a folded bill. “Thanks.”

“Thank you, sir.” The man bowed and returned to the elevator.

Miles closed his laptop and set it on the counter before joining the rest of us at the table. Ash passed out the plates, and the moment I took the lid off mine, the savory scents of seared beef and black peppercorn wafted to my senses. My stomach growled on cue.

The steak was so tender, it practically melted on my tongue, and the buttery green beans with rosemary roasted potatoes tasted like heaven. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I finished my plate and gorged myself on three dinner rolls.

When we finished, Ash returned our plates to the cart and rolled it out of the room. “What’s the new plan?” she asked as she returned. “We can’t let another witch get their hands on the amulet. They might know how to use it.”

I leaned back in my chair and tapped a finger against my lips. “I’m not sure we need a new one.”

“How so?” she returned to her potion station and sprinkled dried oregano into a bowl while Miles opened his laptop.

“The auction protocol will be the same,” he said. “The only difference will be the wards. I’m sure they’ll be using magic to guard the relics in addition to firepower.”

“Less firepower than they would have at a mundane auction, I’ll bet.” I drummed my fingers on the table. “Not only that, but if any humans are there, they already know magic is real. If it goes south, we can use our powers openly. This is good. Finally, something is going our way.”

“Mmm…” Ash pressed her lips into a thin line.

I flattened my hand on the table. “What?”

“They know artifacts can be magical.” She poured a potion into a bottle and corked it. “I doubt they’ve witnessed someone shoot flames from her fingertips.”

“So I’ll say I have an artifact that gives me fire power.” I rose and rested my hands on my demon’s shoulders. “It’ll be fine. We’ve got this, right, Mayhem?”

“Indeed, we do.” He clasped my hand, angling his head to look up at me. “Together, we can accomplish any feat.”

His words warmed my chest and made my stomach tighten. At least the moths had settled. “We go in as planned. Big Oil Boyd and his plus one will ask to see the amulet ahead of the auction. While I’m charming the guards with my mad people skills, Mayhem will slip the stone into his pocket, and then we’ll jet.”

“Hecate, help us,” Shade said. “You don’t have people skills.”

“I do when I want to.” I crossed my arms. “Do you have a better idea?”

“I do, actually.” He stood and joined Miles at the counter, leaning his hip against it. “I’ll go with you.”

I barked a laugh. “You think you’re better with people than me? Please.”

“Ember and I can handle it.” Mayhem stood next to me. “We don’t require assistance.”

Shade bristled, squaring his shoulders toward us. “Like you didn’t ‘require assistance’ at the Formorian’s shop?” He made air quotes.

My nostrils flared with my hard exhale. “We’d have been fine if Ash hadn’t said my name.”

“Sure. Blame it on your sister like you always do.” He crossed his arms. “Poor, incompetent Ash. Always the scapegoat. How convenient.”

Mayhem tensed beside me. “The assistance you provided made you a liability. If it hadn’t been for Miles, you’d have bled out on the floor.”

“Stop it. All of you.” Ash spread her fingers and shot three separate flames.

One hit Mayhem in the mouth as he tried to speak. He pushed it out with his tongue and sent it back to Ash. Another hit me on the cheek, the impact stinging before my skin absorbed the fire.

The third she directed at Shade, the flame singeing him before she called it back.

“Ow!” He clutched his neck where she’d burned him. “What the hell was that for? You know I’m not fireproof.”

“Your arguing is giving me a headache. Keep it up, and I’ll burn the whole building down.” Her eyes narrowed, her brow lower than I’d ever seen. Something about her expression reminded me of a wild animal that had been backed into a corner and was ready to lash out against its foe.

She looked downright feral.

The sigil on her arm glowed a deep red, and the tension in her jaw eased, the vein near her temple no longer protruding. I glanced at Chaos. He kept his gaze trained on my sister, but the worry in his eyes was unmistakable.

She exhaled, her posture returning to normal, her expression softening to neutral before she scrunched her brows. “Why is everyone staring at me?”

Shade laughed dryly. “I wonder.”

“I remember seeing a burn salve in Ash’s bag.” Miles rummaged through the satchel and pulled out a jar of blue goo.

“Who got burned?” She looked perplexed.

I made eye contact with Chaos and then Mayhem. Concern etched lines into their foreheads.

“You don’t remember?” Mayhem asked.

“Remember what?” She corked another bottle. “What’s going on? You’re all acting weird.”

“You burned Shade to stop their arguing.” Miles spread the salve over Shade’s neck and returned the jar to the bag.

Ash shook her head. “No, I didn’t.”

“You did.” I walked toward her cautiously. When she didn’t bristle, I pressed my hand to her forehead. What I was looking for, I couldn’t say. Did curses cause fevers?

Her skin felt a normal temperature, so I dropped my arm at my side. “You said you’d burn the building down if we didn’t stop.”

“I…” Her mouth hung open for a beat or two. “Oh, no.”

“I was able to calm you through our bond.” Chaos moved to her side and wrapped an arm around her waist. “You’ll be fine, as long as we’re together.”

“It can’t be the curse.” She returned to her herbs, her hands trembling as she mixed another potion. “Mayhem must have…”

“I did nothing.” He grasped my hand, and this time, I let him hold me. The familiar pinpricks danced across my skin, sending a warm jolt to my heart.

“We must obtain the rest of the amulet before your hysterics…” He cleared his throat. “Before the curse takes such hold that Chaos cannot control you.”

“We’ll take care of you.” I lifted our entwined hands for emphasis. “Don’t worry.” Because I was worrying enough for all of us. If we lost my sister to the curse because I couldn’t get my act together and lead this coven, I’d…

Well, I’d be dead. We all would.

Ash swallowed hard, her eyes glistening as if she held back tears. “I know you’ll do your best.”

I would from here on out. No more arguing with Mayhem or Shade or anyone else. No more letting my ego get in the way. I would keep myself in check, give it my best, and hope it would be good enough…which I should have been doing all along.

“Shade, what was your idea?” Chaos asked. “I assume you planned to go in under shadow because Boyd is only registered to bring one guest.”

“Exactly.” Shade straightened, turning toward Mayhem and me. “I’ll follow you in, under shadow, and both of you can distract the guards long enough for me to swipe the amulet.”

I shrugged, reminding myself he was just as capable of stealing a heavily guarded, eons-old amulet as I was. More so, thanks to his inborn power. “I suppose that could work too.”

Miles, who had been clicking away on the keyboard, stopped typing. “That’s the best idea I’ve heard so far. People will see your faces. You’re the High Priestess of Salem, so they might recognize you. It’s best if you aren’t the one to commit the crime.”

“I’m only the acting High Priestess. Most covens don’t have a clue about our situation, and once we get my family back, I won’t be in charge anymore.” And thank the goddess for that.

“You’re part of the governing bloodline, Em. Our pictures are on the witchy web.” Ash bottled the last potion and carried her supplies to the wet bar sink. “You’ll have to go in as you, married to Boyd, another fire witch.”

“Is his aura shroud still strong enough to fool them?” I rested my hand on his biceps.

“A Formorian prince believed he was a witch,” Chaos said. “I can’t imagine a witch less powerful than you seeing through it.”

I caught my bottom lip between my teeth, chewing on it as I tugged from Mayhem’s grasp, and resumed pacing. “One: Donal was tricky. Who knows if he saw through it or not? And two: Mayhem just had one foot…or hoof…in the Underworld. Guys, can you see through the shroud?”

Shade narrowed his eyes at my demon. “Yes, but we’ve known what he was from the get-go. I could always see through it.”

“No, you couldn’t.” Miles turned away from his computer. “You were in awe at how well the spell worked, remember? You mentioned it after…” He flicked his gaze down before returning it to Shade. “You mentioned it.”

Shade pressed his lips into a thin line and sighed. “Yeah. You’re right, but I can see through it now. Can’t you?”

Miles nodded.

“Did you bring all the ingredients for the spell?” I asked as Ash rummaged through her bag again.

She set a jar of lady’s mantel next to the marjoram and cinnamon oil. “I have everything but wolfsbane. I’ll need to buy some.”

“Okay, next steps.” I grabbed the bag I’d packed with my dress and shoes for the event and slung the new one a la Donal’s store over my arm. “Ash, you and Chaos find a metaphysical shop and get everything you think we’ll need. Shade, did you bring anything to wear besides spandex?”

“No, but I’ll be in shadow the whole time.”

“Unless something happens and you can’t hold it.” I strode toward the hallway that led to the bedrooms, pausing at the entrance. “Go with Ash and Chaos and get something dressy enough that you’ll look like you belong there…just in case.”

He nodded. “I can do that.”

“Miles…” I said.

“I’ll stay here and get it set up. We’ll need to be within a block of the auction house half an hour before the doors open.”

“Good. I’m going to shower and get ready to be a trophy wife.” I shuddered at the thought. Though not at being Mayhem’s wife, surprisingly. That idea sat unnaturally well in my psyche. It was the trophy part that made me want to wretch.

“I’m unfamiliar with the term ‘trophy wife,’” Mayhem said, following me through the bedroom into the en suite bathroom, which was bigger than my entire bed and bath combo at home.

“It basically means a wife whose only value is being arm candy.” I grabbed a velvet hanger for my new dress and hung it from a hook near the door.

“Arm candy?”

“She looks good on his arm, but he doesn’t give a flying flip about who she is on the inside.” I gazed into the massive mirror above the sink. The small bit of mascara I’d applied in the morning had run, rimming my eyes in faded black. My hair looked like both a squirrel and a dove had nested on my head, and my shirt was torn and bloodied. I couldn’t say whose blood it was. Shade’s maybe? Or mine?

“Ew.” I curled my lip at my reflection. “I’m definitely not arm candy.”

Mayhem picked up a wide-toothed comb and began working the knots out of my hair. “But you are a trophy.”

“Excuse me?” I spun and grabbed his wrist. “Care to elaborate?”

He searched my eyes, his gaze traveling to my lips for a moment before he spoke, “I treasure you, Ember. If I could win your heart the way you’ve won mine, it would be my greatest accomplishment.”

I opened my mouth to argue that I was not a prize to be won, but I couldn’t force the words from my throat. That silent vow I’d made to stop arguing with him included this too. It was time to stop deflecting and accept the emotions churning inside me. All of them.

“Why do you treasure me?” I asked.

He blinked as if my question surprised him, but he recovered quickly, one side of his mouth pulling into a teasing grin. “Aside from your value as candy on my arm?”

“Aside from that.” I turned on the shower, letting the hot water fill the bathroom with steam. It smelled fresh, like lavender and sandalwood, and I kicked off my boots before stuffing my socks inside them.

“Allow me to count the reasons. You are intelligent, fierce, and feisty.” He ticked them off on his fingers. “Despite your self-professed lack of people skills, you lead your coven with dignity and grace.”

“I…” No more arguing, Em. Keep your mouth shut and let the man flatter you. It’s not that hard.

I tugged my tattered shirt over my head, clicking my tongue at the rip. At least it was on the seam.

“What else?” I asked without making eye contact as I shoved my pants down my legs and stepped out of them.

He inhaled deeply, and I could imagine the primal look in his eyes, could feel the need forming between us. “You recognize the talents in others, and you encourage their strengths rather than envy them. It’s a lesson I am beginning to learn, thanks to you.”

I held my hand beneath the water, adjusting the temperature to a nearly searing heat. The biggest showerhead hung from the ceiling, the flow coming down like rain in the center of the massive, tiled stall. Six other jets lined three walls, and I turned them on as well.

“All that’s missing is the rotating scrubber brush, and we’d have ourselves a human car wash.” I choked off a maniacal giggle.

“You’re doing it again,” he said, and I turned around to find his shirt and pants folded neatly on the counter. “Every time I bring up our bond, you make jokes. Stop it.”

“I, umm…” I swallowed hard, unclasping my bra and letting it fall to the floor. I could do this. I could let myself feel. “Please continue. Why else do you treasure me?”

His pupils dilated until only a thin ring of purple remained. “When you love someone, you love deeply and completely, and if you will have me, I would be honored to love you the same way in return.”

My tongue slipped out to lick my lips against my will, and his gaze locked on my mouth, making my stomach flutter.

“I am your soulmate, Ember. It’s time you accept it.” He slipped off his underwear and stepped past me, into the shower.