The Ember In The Dark novel Chapter 27

We made it back around 8. I felt pretty tired from all the flying. It was really beautiful though to be up in the sky while the stars were shining.

"I love you Tater tot." Dad gave me a big hug

"I love you too Dad."

We went our separate ways after landing. I headed to Ash's room knowing he was there.

"Ashy ash. Where are you?" I playfully sang as I entered his room.

"Knock much?" He snapped as he pulled his pants over his underwear.

"My bad." I shielded my eyes.

"It's safe now." He sounded a bit annoyed.

"What's up with you?" He's usually happy to see me after we've been apart.

"Just cranky. It's nothing." He smiled at me, but it wasn't his usual smile. 'They won't accept me as king. They all told Eryn they wouldn't hold the meeting with me there.'

The faces of sour elders came to my mind and my heart shattered into a million pieces.

"One sec. I actually forgot something. I'll be right back." I backed out of the room and closed the door.

Those fuckers. How dare they deny him? I ran down the hall and down the stairs. I headed straight for the grand meeting room. I was on a mission. Smoke was blowing from my nose and mouth and it was an odd feeling trying to control that for once.

I passed by mom who saw me seething and got up slowly from her chair. She was trying to chase after me, but at her stage of pregnancy she could only waddle quickly behind me. She realized where I was headed and stopped following. She didn't try to stop me though. Her way of giving me permission because she couldn't do it herself.

I pushed the doors open wide and hard, letting them hit the wall behind them. Everyone's eyes landed on me quickly. Eryn's face said it all. He was pissed too but as the king he really can't say anything without igniting a war or breaking an alliance. As the black sheep of the family, this is where I can shine.

"You sons of bitches." I seethed. The smoke I had been holding back came out of my mouth. I slammed my hand down on the table and ice spread through the table. A frost covered everything. "How dare you say you won't hold a meeting with the future king here? Do you plan to no longer hold an alliance with us once my mother and Eryn step down? Tell me Lyric, will your small kingdom survive without our protection? What about you Dryden? Your kingdom wouldn't have survived without our medical help."

I eyed two of the older members here. I may not be taking over, but I listen and watch and know everything that is happening here.

"Stop acting like children and throwing a fit just because you don't like our dragon sides. Fucking deal with it!" I slammed my fist down again.

I have never been this mad before. I expect to be treated badly. I've always been treated with disdain, but I'll be damned if I let it happen to Ash.

"If I were you I would apologize to the future king and invite him to the next meeting. No matter how much you protest, Ash will be the king, so you better come to terms with it now."

They looked flabbergasted. They couldn't compose themselves fast enough to say something back to me. I huffed grabbing the doors and backing out of the room. I slammed them closed, feeling pretty good about myself.

"Ember?" Ash's voice surprised me. "What just happened?"

I was caught.

"I'm sorry Ash. I heard your thoughts and I couldn't stand it." Ash looked at me a bit surprised, but he gave me the biggest smile.

"Ember, did you just tell them all off for me?" He laughed.

I blushed a bit, a little embarrassed by my outlash.

"Yeah"

He continued laughing for a moment before he brought me in for a tight hug.

"Thanks. It's odd being protected by you for a change. " I heard your voice through his chest as he continued to hug me. Something wet hit my scalp and I realized he was crying.

"Hey, it's okay. Don't let those idiots get to you. You're amazing." I made sure to look him deep in the eyes when I told him. He doesn't need to feel small because of some idiocy.

"It's not that. You aren't going to need me to defend you much anymore. You're growing up, Ember." He was smiling, but his eyes were still misted over. I felt a pain in my chest as his words registered.

"I'll always need you Ash. You're my big brother. My womb buddy. My Twinkie. Now you can focus on your mate hunting more, not having to worry about keeping me safe." I lightly punched his arm.

"That does sound tempting. Gods I hope I find her soon." He looked up, as if saying a prayer.

"Let's go back to the room. I want to talk to you." I told him.

We walked back, play fighting along the way. We weren't exactly being quiet. When we got to the room we were both laughing.

"So what's up?" Ash plopped on his bed.

"I got my dragon." I smiled real big at him.

"No fucking way. Seriously?" I could read the excitement all over his face.

I told him the whole story and the kind of dragon I have. I told him about the ice magic and magma eating. I even told him about having all my magic now.

"How do you feel?" He finally asked after processing everything I told him.

"Freaking ecstatic. The magic seems like a lot. I have a lot going on inside me right now, but it's under control for the most part. A lot of new things I need to get used to though." I thought of the smoke earlier when I got mad. I can't do that at school.

"I'm so happy for you." Ash meant it too. I could feel it.

"Ash I'm sorry that you never got to tell me about the time you received your magic. I should have gotten over myself and asked you about it. I feel I cheated you out of those moments." I picked at a string on my pants as I spoke.

"No, Ember. You didn't cheat me out of anything. That was my choice not to tell you about it. Besides, Mom did a good job of celebrating for me."

That's why they're so much closer.

"Good. I hope you know that you can share anything with me." I looked into those sky blue eyes of his.

"Okay I will. Actually…" He paused for a moment and my phone buzzed.

"Oh fuck, what time is it? I told Toni I'd meet him after his patrol." I panicked, looking at my phone and seeing his message.

Toni: I'm at the outskirts of the kingdom. West side.

Me: Be there in 5.

"Hurry up and go!" He pushed my back lightly, sending me out.

"Are you sure? I thought you were going to tell me something?" I looked at him concerned.

"It can wait. Go and have fun." He winked.

It's crazy that just this morning I had rumors spread about me, fell into a siren spell, and got trapped in a mind. Now here I stand with my wolf, dragon, and all my magic able to apply everything I've learned over the years by observing. I have to tell Toni.