From the Embers (Ember Society Book 3)

by AR Colbert

  Meeting her eyes again, I pretended not to be distracted by the mark and what I knew it meant. Everything I said to her would be recorded and probably analyzed by strangers in the highest levels of our government. No pressure.

  A few more guests were arriving then, drawing my attention back to the doorway. “Well, I’m honored to have you here at my party. Perhaps we can chat more later,” I said as Everett guided me to meet our new arrivals.

  Cynthia didn’t respond, but I felt her cold stare on my back as I greeted the other guests. In fact, I could’ve sworn I felt her gaze throughout the rest of the pre-dinner mixer. But every time I turned to locate her, she was nowhere to be found. Even so, I knew I should be on my best behavior so she would have nothing to report back to the Supreme Leadership. There was no telling what Justice Hines might have been saying about me back in Classen City, and I certainly didn’t need to add anything to make a case for myself.

  Everett poured himself another drink—I’d lost count of how many he’d had at that point—and gleefully escorted me into the dining room as a new wave of guests were arriving for the dinner. His hand slid a little lower on my back to where the lace of my dress met the satin, and I wriggled free from him as soon as we stepped into the large dining room.

  I made my way toward my designated chair next to Everett’s at the head of the table, politely greeting the multitude of new faces around me. I never liked being in crowded rooms like this. My nerves were on edge already from my interaction with Cynthia, but surrounding myself with so much excitement and the oceans of emotions flowing over me from our guests was overwhelming.

  Behind my seat sat a table piled nearly to the twelve-foot ceiling with gifts. Each package was beautifully wrapped with shiny paper and ribbons. Brightly colored cards were scattered across the table as well, and I couldn’t imagine one single thing in those gifts that I might actually need. It was such an extravagant waste.

  I inhaled deeply, finding it hard to focus under all the pressure building up around me. Noise from mindless chatter reverberated from the walls. The lace on my back was itching and the waist was cinched in too tight. I couldn’t breathe. The weight of everyone’s thoughts and feelings was growing heavier and heavier, and I realized I was panting—gasping for air. I turned quickly on my heels and exited the dining room through a side set of doors. I had to get out of there, just for a second before the dinner began. I was overstimulated. It was too much. I needed to breathe.

  On the other side of the doors, I found myself standing in an attendants’ hall. Several of Everett’s staff members scurried here and there carrying large silver trays covered in appetizers and drinks. They were all too rushed to pay me much attention as I scampered past them, deeper down the hall and around a corner to a quieter place in the house. I kept walking, wishing now that I had taken Joy up on her offer of a tour before. The halls all looked the same, and after a few more turns I wondered if I’d be able to find my way back to the dinner.

  Finally, I rounded into a dimly lit office. The desk was cluttered with papers, and a bar cart in the corner held a multitude of glass bottles. But what really drew my attention was the mahogany door behind Everett’s desk. A warm glow emanated from the crack beneath the wood, and my curiosity got the best of me. I tiptoed over to the door, somehow knowing it was wrong but too tempted by the sterling silver knob to stop. I gripped the cool metal and turned it, but I was met with resistance. It was locked. I considered looking for a key, but the thought was quickly exterminated by the sound of a throat being cleared behind me.

  I smelled the whiskey on his breath before I could turn and see his chilling grin. Everett ran his fingers down the side of my neck and over my bare shoulder, smoothing out the goosebumps that dotted my skin.

  “I would love nothing more than to show you what I keep in there,” he whispered breathlessly. “But it will have to wait for another day. We don’t want to keep our guests waiting.”

  CHAPTER 12

  “I’m sorry,” I stammered. “I just wanted a minute to catch my breath... I—I’m not sure how I ended up here.”

  Everett inched toward me with every step I took away from him. He was broad shouldered like his son, and I’d never felt as small next to him as I did in that moment. He could overpower me without even batting his eyes.

  My heart pounded wildly against my chest, and I wasn’t sure what it was about him that was ringing the alarm bells in my ears. Maybe it was the whiskey. Maybe it was the way his dark blue eyes had turned almost stormy with intensity. Whatever it was, I didn’t feel safe. I wanted desperately to get back into the crowded dining room full of strangers.

  Everett smiled, twisting knots in my stomach with the curl of his lip. “There’s no need to apologize. I could never be mad at you in that dress.”

  I faked a laugh, hoping it might hide the fear creeping up inside. “It really is something.” Aware that his eyes were glued to me, I gave a little spin, playing to his senses while simultaneously moving myself closer to the doorway. “I’m glad you’re not upset. I’ll be sure to stay out of your office from now on.” I intentionally kept my eyes away from the doorway. With any luck he’d forget all about me snooping around and trying to get into locked doors.

  “What’s mine is yours. And what’s yours... is mine.” He dropped his voice as he followed me to the exit. My spin had put enough space between us to allow me to move ahead without him trapping me near the wall. I didn’t want anything of his. I just wanted to get back to the comforts of company.

  Back in the hall, I could see the foyer up ahead. I’d done a circle through the house, and relief flooded my veins as I quickened my pace back to familiar territory. “Let’s get back to those guests,” I called out over my shoulder as I trotted back toward the party.

  Dodging an attendant pulling open the door for a new set of guests, I turned to the dining room without even glancing to see if Everett was following.

  “Claren!” A deep voice called out from the foyer behind me. I quickened my pace. Not only did Everett hold a slight resemblance to his son tonight, but he sounded an awful lot like him when he called my name as well. I hated it. It wasn’t fair that a man as good and kind as Felix could come from such strange and discomforting genes. It was messing with my mind.

  “Claren!” he called again. “Wait up.”

  I paused and allowed myself a tiny peek behind me. I didn’t want to get up my hopes because it was foolish to think that it could be him. But—

  “Felix!” My vision immediately blurred with tears as I ran into his strong arms. Whatever emotions I’d been trying to stuff inside flowed freely now. I was safe. Felix was here.

  He pulled me into a strong embrace and I buried my face in his chest. He smelled clean and strong. He smelled like home. I wiped the tears from my eyes, hoping they didn’t do too much damage to all the work Olivia put in on my face and stared up into the face of the man who had quickly filled the role of my best friend in this new life. But he wasn’t smiling back down at me.

  Felix’s jaw was tight as he looked over my shoulder into the hall.

  “Hello, son. I wasn’t expecting to see you here tonight.” Everett was approaching our little reunion in the foyer.

  “Sorry I didn’t RSVP.” Felix’s tone was smooth, charismatic as always. But he was boiling inside. “My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail.” His jaw twitched a fraction of an inch.

  “Ah, that’s too bad. Well, it looks like you arrived just in time for dinner.” Everett reached out for my hand, but Felix turned his body just enough to shield me from his father. “Come along, Claren. Everyone must be waiting for you.” Everett’s shell was cracking. Maybe not on the outside, but he couldn’t hide it from me.

  “We’ll be just a moment. I’ll bring her in as soon as we finish our hellos.” Felix’s voice was firm. Commanding. It was rather attractive hearing him speak to his father in that way, especially since I could feel his hesitation. Felix was fighting through his fe
ar. For me.

  Everett didn’t move right away. Their eyes were locked onto each other, in some sort of silent power play. Not wanting to get caught in their games, I looked away and saw another familiar face standing in the entryway. Rider gave me a soft smile and the tiniest nod of reassurance.

  After a long pause, Everett finally relented and moved toward the dining room. “You have two minutes,” he said looking down at his watch. “It would leave quite the negative impression if Claren was late to the first course of her own birthday dinner.” He lifted his chin high as he made his way out of the room.

  I hugged Felix again, my voice sounding muffled against the fabric of his suit. “I’m so glad you’re here. I had no idea you were coming.”

  Felix pulled back with a frown. “Didn’t you get my gift?” He elaborated after seeing my confusion. “I sent you a painting. And a note.”

  “The embers?” I fought against the feeling of disappointment rising inside. It was thoughtful of him. I’d just hoped it might have been the start of something new. A symbol from the Outside.

  “I know how much you loved the one in your room back home.” He quieted as he said “home” and the pain in his eyes sent a dagger through my heart. Poor Felix. The last time I said goodbye it was because I was leaving for the Outside. I never mentioned I was moving in with his father—I didn’t know it until I got here. He must have thought I was a total liar.

  “Thank you.” I reached for his hand, but he pulled it away.

  “We better get in there for dinner. My father won’t be happy if you’re late.”

  I looked to Rider for some help, but he stood still, hands behind his back and eyes fixed on the wall ahead. Clearly he wasn’t interested in stepping into this.

  “Felix—” I started, but he was already halfway across the foyer.

  The dining room was full of new faces who all looked like caricatures. Wide smiles. Overdone cosmetics. Formal suits with stiff collars. Several of them had the same drunken glaze in their eyes as Everett, but none played it off as well as he did.

  “Ah, our guest of honor has arrived!” Everett shot a triumphant glance over at Felix, who took one of the last remaining chairs at the opposite end of the table from me. He tapped the side of his glass with a spoon, sending high pitched tings through the air.

  He launched into an elaborate speech as I took my spot beside him at the head of the table, making me sound much more qualified than I actually was. I barely heard him over the internal monologue that just wouldn’t shut up in my brain. I had finally gotten to a point where I was satisfied with my lot here in Louisburg. The painting gave me hope when I thought it was a sign from the Embers. But now that I knew it was just a birthday gift from Felix, I couldn’t stop wondering what I was doing here.

  These weren’t my people. The parties. The luxury. The flamboyance and utter disregard for other people’s welfare. I could look past it if I knew I had a mission to eradicate it. But I hadn’t heard a word from the Embers. Not unless I counted Raf’s surprise visit... which I didn’t.

  Though I tried to fake an interest in Everett’s stories and the guests immediately surrounding me through the dinner, I couldn’t help but shoot glances down at Felix and Rider on the other side of the room. Felix avoided my gaze. There were too many people in the room for me to get a good feel of his emotions, but the look on his face and his avoidance made it pretty clear he was unhappy. Rider kept a flat affect, as usual, though once I could have sworn I saw a flash of remorse in his eyes.

  Everett cleared his throat roughly beside me, shaking me from the stupor of my thoughts. An attendant stood between us, passing out beautiful chocolate tortes, dusted in powdered sugar and garnished with raspberries, served on gorgeous blue and white vintage china dessert plates. My stomach rumbled quietly, and I couldn’t remember if I’d taken a single bite of the braised duck she’d just removed from my previous course.

  Everett’s smile was full of charm, but I knew he wasn’t happy with me. I must not have been performing to his standards. The air between us was cold, and I got the sense he would have appeared a lot less even-tempered if we hadn’t been surrounded by forty of his closest friends. He obviously didn’t get what he’d expected by forcing me to play a part I wasn’t made for.

  But despite his frustration—even fueled by whiskey—he certainly knew how to play his part well. It was no wonder he’d excelled in politics. With a wide smile, he pinned me with a glare, a clear warning radiating from his stormy blue eyes.

  “As I was saying,” he glanced back at Cynthia George, whose blue tattoo was almost the same deep foreboding color as Everett’s eyes in this light. “I think Claren will be a wonderful asset here in Louisburg. She’ll be able to tame the crowds and maintain peace among the people while I’m reporting to the Supreme Leadership, and she will definitely boost morale among the current Leadership.”

  I smiled at the woman, but she seemed to be carved from stone. Unmoving. Though I got the sense she wasn’t uninterested. On the contrary, she seemed to take great interest in me. Uncertain of her empathic abilities, I worked to block my mind from her as much as possible. Between the awkward encounter with Everett, the mystery of the door in his office, and a surprise visit by Felix, there was no telling what kind of information she could glean from my emotions.

  Everett made a solid effort to include me in conversation through dessert, but to my dismay, the party wasn’t over after the plates were removed. The gathering moved back into the foyer and library, glasses of port being passed around like candy. Everett downed at least two cups full of the deep red dessert wine. It was a wonder his teeth weren’t purple.

  I stayed near him, though my eyes were constantly on Felix. He was almost as popular at the party as his father, and arguably more charismatic. The women flocked to him like moths to a flame, all giggles and flirty touches. The sight made me tense and uncomfortable, yet I couldn’t look away. I didn’t want them fawning over my friend like that. I needed to talk to him.

  After an hour or so, I managed to detach myself from Everett’s side and post up against a wall of the library. My feet were begging to slip out of my heels, and my dry eyes craved sleep. But I couldn’t go yet. Scanning the room again for probably the hundredth time that night, I finally spotted him. Felix locked his eyes on me, the corners of his mouth turning slightly down. He was fatigued. He didn’t want to be here any more than I did.

  Pretending I didn’t see Everett approaching from my periphery, I started forward, determined to catch Felix before he left. He never let his eyes drift from me, but he must have seen his father, too. He straightened tall, his frown more defined and resolute as I reached him.

  “Felix,” I whispered hurriedly. Everett was hot on my heels, so I didn’t have much time to make my proposition. “Will you stay tonight? Here at the house?”

  His eyes cut behind me, focusing briefly on his father who had to be close now. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Please.” I hated the desperation in my voice, but not as much as I would hate to leave on bad terms with him. He was one of the only friends I had. And an idea had occurred to me, one that Felix may have been able to help me with.

  He looked down at me, his hand reaching toward me almost of its own accord. There was something behind his softened features—almost a sadness. Don’t be sad, I thought. Just stay. I can explain everything.

  “Felix, you’re still here.” Everett placed a hand on my back as he took a spot beside me. Rider approached our small group as well, standing across from Everett with a fierceness only he could possess. “It’s getting late. Would you like me to have my driver pull a car around for you?”

  Felix pulled his gaze from mine, something shifting within him. “No, actually. You’re right. It’s late. Too late for a flight back in to Classen. Mind if I stay here tonight?”

  Everett stiffened. “There is some wonderful lodging just down the road. Top of the line. Wouldn’t you be more comfortable th
ere?”

  “I wouldn’t want you to go through the trouble of arranging that for me. Not when you have plenty of guest rooms here. Wouldn’t it be easier for me to stay with my own father?”

  Everett’s fingers curled slightly on my back, pulling me just a touch closer to his side. I could see his jaw clenching from the corner of my eye. Rider’s sharp gaze was laser focused on Everett’s arm, and the tension was so thick between us that I found it difficult to breathe.

  The alcohol lessened Everett’s charisma. His forced smile seemed noticeably more plastic somehow, the glaze in his eyes unable to hide the disdain in his stare. I shifted uncomfortably under his grasp, summoning enough courage to lean in closer to him.

  The scent of wine on his breath caught in the back of my throat, threatening to gag me as I whispered in his ear. He leaned in, almost brushing his cheek against my lips before I pulled back enough to keep some distance between us. “You are surrounded by Leadership. Show them how flexible and accommodating you can be. Build their trust in you, so one day they might be able to rely on you as well.”

  Everett pulled away, his eyes cold as they trailed up and down my figure again. Felix clenched his hands at his sides, but remained silent as Everett thought over my suggestion. Abruptly, he pulled me almost flush against him, his breath hot as he leaned down to whisper back to me. “If he stays, we won’t be able to explore the room you were curious about earlier.”

  Something about the way he slurred the words sent a cold chill down my spine. I smiled despite it, and whispered back. “You hired me to help with appearances. Trust me on this. We can explore another day.”

  His cold eyes grew hot as he squeezed me before turning back to his son. “You can stay tonight, but you’ll take the first plane out of here tomorrow. I’ll arrange for your departure at dawn.”