Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things (Dead Things Series Book 1) (26 page)

41

MACE

I
n the harsh morning light things seemed much different. He had no idea why he’d chosen to be so honest with her. Maybe this bond with her had even more effect than he’d first believed. With Ember curled up against him, he’d let himself believe his honesty was a ploy to further his own agenda.

He’d told himself, she needed to trust him for this plan to work and telling her not to trust him or others seemed like the perfect way to make her see he was on her side. Besides, it wasn’t an entirely unpleasant way to spend an evening, if he didn’t dwell on the way her body fit against his or how her hair smelled like lemons. Now it just seemed like an incredibly stupid move on his part and he didn’t make stupid moves.

He knew she’d felt the difference, too. As the sun broke through the tree line, she’d stiffened, pulling away from him and lurching to her feet. Her hair was a mess, eyes bleary. She’d mumbled something about needing to get in the shower and called the mutt to follow. Their parting of ways felt less like progress and more like the end of the world’s most awkward first date.

Now, he stared at the back of her head, fixated on the plastic contraption confining all but the few errant strands of her hair hiding her birthmark. His fingers itched to touch it. He hadn’t been lying when he told her he couldn’t love her. Yet, he was feeling things. It had to be the magic, this invisible noose he’d wrapped around his own throat. There was no other explanation. Her magic was merging with his, somehow making him feel things he didn’t; making him say things he shouldn’t. It was the only possible explanation.

At the front of the room, Ember’s uncle was scribbling out their French homework on the board covering for the Madam Krug without explanation. It had been hours and Ember had barely spoken to him. They’d shared several classes and lunch and the only time she’d spoken to him was when her pen ran out of ink.

Now she was covertly tapping out a text to somebody on her phone. Probably the boy reaper, they were quite chummy. She most likely wanted to know if they had delivered her message. She seemed oblivious to the way her uncle repeatedly looked to her, as if hoping to make eye contact. She also missed the way the witch-Stella, he thought-stared, eyes narrow, jaw clenched. It seemed hostile for a person he’d never seen interact with Ember.

Mace pulled his phone from his pocket.

What did you do to piss off Snow White over there?

Ember’s head shot up, the other girl didn’t even have the decency to look embarrassed. She gave Ember one last snotty look before turning towards Ember’s uncle, red lips bleeding into a smile. Alex smiled back and the girl tapped her pen against her lips in a way Mace found…inappropriate.

She appears to have a crush on our teacher? Don’t you think?

Don’t know. Don’t care.

Her uncle looked up, catching her eye and smiling, “Ember, you want to take a stab at answering this one?”

Ember panicked, phone clattering against her desk, “Um, sorry, no. Maybe next time?”

A few students snickered. Ember seemed to have all the witches’ attention now, not just Stella’s. The three students the group referred to as ‘the triplets’ were now watching Ember with unwavering interest, especially the girl, Lola.

“Put the phone away, Ember or I’ll have to take if from you.”

She nodded, sliding it to her lap but not putting it into the pack at her feet.

You seem to be garnering quite a bit of attention from the witches, Luv. Careful.

Ember’s eyes dropped to the screen for a moment before returning to the board. His phone vibrated against his thigh.

Tristin says the triplets are part of my uncle’s pack…coven, whatever but I think Stella just hates reapers.

You should make nice with your uncle. He could be useful. If the Grove comes, you may find you need as many allies as possible to stand for you.

I’ll take my chances.

Will you be so cavalier about your cousins’ chances? They may face repercussions from the Grove as well.

Low blow. It’s hard to worry about this Grove everybody talks about when literally nobody has ever seen them. Did you ever consider they are just the boogeymen the witches use to keep people in line?

Ember, Luv, I assure you, the Grove exists. I’ve been on the other side of their displeasure. None of you want that, I promise. What is the worst that could happen if you met for coffee? At least give the man a chance?

Why are you campaigning so hard for him? What on earth could you possibly gain from me bonding with my uncle?

This isn’t about me, it’s about you. It’s about keeping you safe. No easy feat. Besides, you can ask him about Romero’s paw.

She paused, turning to look at him with narrowed eyes.

Ugh, fine. I’ll talk to him, but not outside of school. Not yet.

Fine.

His phone vibrated with another message but it wasn’t Ember this time.

The package is ready for transport.

He flinched at that, suddenly uneasy. He didn’t trust the witch could do as he said. He didn’t think he’d be able to block the pull of Ember’s magic.

Okay. What about the other thing I asked about?

We can talk about that tonight. If you are still looking to talk to a reaper, Cael is in town.

He sighed. Of course, she called Cael. Of all the reapers Shelby must know, she chose him. He needed a vehicle and a good excuse to leave Belle Haven.

He fired off a text to the human.
Find what you needed in New Orleans?

Sort of, but not really. More questions than answers.

Would an audience with an actual reaper help?

There was a long pause before Quinn’s response.
Um, I don’t know. It couldn’t hurt. How would we manage a meeting with a reaper? We are being watched all the time. Kai will never let me go anywhere alone with you.

Let me worry about the how of it. You just need to make sure we don’t get caught by the little alpha.

I’ll see what I can do.

He fired off a text to his supplier

We will be there tonight.

As Mace sat there, staring at the back of Ember’s neck he couldn’t help but think this was a very bad idea.

42

EMBER

E
mber stood outside the door of the classroom with Neoma and Donovan. Mace had excused himself from her meeting with the witch. She was fine with it. She didn’t really want to see him anyway and, for once, her magic seemed to acquiesce to her demands. She could still feel the power, pacing inside her, restless, but it didn’t flare out of control when he left her sight.

“Sure you don’t want us to wait for you?” Donovan asked.

“No, I’ll walk home afterwards.”

Neoma bit her lip, “What are you going to say to him?”

She shrugged, “Um, hey Uncle Alex can you fix my dead but not dead dogs foot?”

Neoma stifled a giggle and Donovan laughed, “I guess that’s one way to go about it.” After a beat, he looked her in the eye, mouth hitched in a grimace, “Don’t trust him, Ember. I know he’s your blood and all, but witches can’t be trusted. It sucks but that’s just how it is.”

She nodded once, “I’ll see you guys at home.” Her stomach still flip-flopped at the word. It still felt false on her tongue.

“Not me, I’m leaving for a few days but I’ll be back,” Donovan told her. They nodded and walked off, Neoma following Donovan as he twirled the car keys in some elaborate spin.

“Well if it isn’t the queen of the damned.”

Ember sucked in a breath, whipping around. Astrid stood in the now open doorway, eyebrow raised, a sneer marring her otherwise perfect face. “What do you want?”

It was so strange to see Quinn’s whiskey brown eyes looking back at her with so much hostility. Astrid may have inherited the magic but Quinn got the personality.

“Astrid, how nice to see you again,” she lied, tight smile in place.

Stella appeared over the other girl’s shoulder. There were three others in the room. The triplets, Ember thought. She’d learned from Neoma their names were actually Lola, Keegan and Kieran. She’d also learned that while the girl wasn’t related to either of them, the two boys were cousins. Not as horrifying as dating your brothers but still strange in Ember’s eyes. Lola sat on the desk, one boy perched on either side of her like bookends.

She pulled a face as she watched Ember, “What’s she doing here?”

Ember was already in a bad mood. She didn’t plan to cater to Astrid or her bitchy friends, “And here I thought trolls only guarded bridges? Is there a riddle I have to answer to pass?”

Stella seethed but Astrid rolled her eyes not rising to the bait, “You sound like your idiot cousin.”

Stella’s eyes lit up then, “Yes, how is your cousin? Has he come to terms with his impending untimely demise?”

Astrid cut her eyes at the girl, shocked, “Stella!”

“What?” the girl asked, blinking wide innocent eyes. “Oh, I’m sorry? Is that insensitive?” she pouted.

The two boys snickered behind her but Lola said nothing, just watching her. Ember clutched her backpack, “What are you talking about?”

“You didn’t think he was just going to walk away from this, did you?”

Ember looked back and forth between the two of them. She had no idea what she meant, “Kai? What do you mean?”

Stella cackled and walked behind her forcing her to turn her back on Astrid. Stella was clearly the bigger threat, “Oh my God. Are you really this stupid? No wonder your magic is so out of control.”

When Ember said nothing, Stella sighed, “When your cousin saved you he upset the balance. You were supposed to die. You were fated to die.” The other girl spit the words at her like bullets, “Now your cousin has sacrificed his life for yours, though I can’t imagine it was his plan at the time. That cousin of yours is all heart and no brains.” She smiled smugly, “Looks like it runs in the family.”

Ember felt sick. Her hands shook, her magic stirring as fear gripped her, “Sacrificed his life?” She swallowed hard to keep her lunch down, “What?”

It made no sense. If Kai had sacrificed himself for her, somebody would have said something. She would have known. Her eyes widened. Tristin’s hostility suddenly made perfect sense. Tristin blamed her for Kai. No wonder she hated her.

Stella wasn’t paying her any attention really, now pandering to the room like the villain in a movie, “Everybody knows what he did. Everybody. The Grove is coming for him any day now and when they do?” She sighed wistfully, “It will be the reaper who’s collected. If he’s lucky.”

Ember fought to keep her shaking hands still. She wouldn’t give this bitch the satisfaction. Stella advanced on Ember, eyes narrowed and glinting, a nasty smile on her face, forcing Ember backwards into the classroom.

“How do you think your little pack will hold up without him? Hmm? What about poor Tristin? They say when you lose a sibling, you’re never the same. I bet it’s even worse for twins.”

Ember swallowed hard, her throat tight. She put her hand to her collar, trying to catch her breath, “I bet Rhys will be devastated.” Stella ran a fingernail down her own cheek and Ember swore she could feel the sharp sting on her own face. It took everything not to reach up and feel for herself if there was a welt, “But tell your cousin not to worry, I’ll take excellent care of him. I know just what he likes.”

Ember couldn’t breathe. She was choking, airway constricting with every word. Her magic flared to the surface causing a ripple through the room. The triplets sat, spine straight, eyes snapping towards the door. She didn’t have to be supernatural to sense their unease. She just didn’t know if they were afraid for her or worried about getting busted using magic.

“Stella, stop,” Astrid shoved the other girl hard. Stella’s eyes darted to Astrid, only relaxing when she saw Astrid’s panicked face. “Anyway,” Stella continued casually, as if they discussed the weather, “the Grove is coming and they will deal with all of you.”

Stella waved a hand and suddenly Ember could breathe again. She sucked air into her lungs, barely containing the energy boiling under the surface, “Where’s my Uncle?” she ground out.

Stella shrugged with a smirk, “Don’t know.”

Ember flexed her fingers, dropping the tenuous control she’d managed with Mace at her side. She flinched as her magic surged forward, power sparking from her fingertips. A shiver ran through her as she stopped trying to hold back. She was done with girls like Stella. If the whole pack was going down for saving her, did control really matter anyway? She took a deep breath, calling it forth with intention, attempting to control her breathing like Mace showed her. She didn’t care anymore.

Pictures rattled on the wall, and chalk jumped from its tray on the board. She held her hands out, sparks building until it formed a pulsing ball of light in her palm. She couldn’t help but look at the others, confirming they could see it too. She tried to sound casual as she said, “This looks dangerous. You might want to run.”

The five of them gawked at her and then each other. Stella snatched up a bag and shoved it at Astrid, before grabbing a flowery backpack. She flung it over one shoulder, never taking her eyes off Ember. “You’re crazy. Just like the rest of your little orphan crew. Let’s go.”

The triplets followed, giving her a wide berth as they passed.

Ember stood alone, energy thrumming through her with no filter, staring at this strange ball of light she’d created from nothing. She felt giddy, euphoric. This was so much better than trying to control it. There was no pain. There was just this rush. It just needed an outlet. Just like in the cemetery when she remembered her mother. Her power just wanted to be free.

The door creaked on its hinges and she looked up to see her Uncle.

“Ember?” He moved towards her slowly, hands up, “What’s going on?”