A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire 1)

Her shoulders tightened. “As I said before, it was the only place I knew would be safe.”

Left unsettled, I didn’t stop her as she left. While I found relief in the knowledge that she felt safe here, how secure could it be when those who liked to push the Primal of Death had strung those gods to the wall?

That was roughly about the time I realized that Ash hadn’t told me who had done that to the gods.

I turned back to the wardrobe. The undergarments were nothing more than scraps of lace I imagined most would find indecent. I flipped past the gowns, finding a narrow leather strap beside the remaining clothing. I grabbed a sweater and breeches, changing into them.

After I found a comb and spent an ungodly amount of time working out the numerous knots in my hair, I braided it, remembering what Ash had said. Hair that looked like spun moonlight.

That was such a silly thing to say.

Returning to the bedchamber, I found myself staring at the chamber door.

Was I locked in my room?

Oh, gods, if they’d imprisoned me, I would—I didn’t even know what I would do, but it would probably involve finding the closest blunt object and knocking Ash over the head with it.

My heart hammered as I went to the door, bare feet whispering over the cool stone. I placed my hand on the brass knob. I took a deep breath and turned.

It wasn’t locked.

Relief shuddered through me, and I opened the door—

I gasped. A light-haired and fair-skinned god stood in the middle of the hall, facing my room. He was dressed as before, in black adorned with silver scrollwork across the chest, a short sword strapped to his side.

“Ector,” I squeaked. “Hi.”

“Hello.”

“Can I help you with something?”

He shook his head, remaining exactly where he stood, feet planted in the center of the hall like an unmovable tree.

Wait…

I inhaled sharply. “I doubt you’re standing there because you have nothing better to do, correct?”

“I have many, many better things I could be doing,” he replied.

“And yet, you’re standing guard outside my chamber?”

“Sure appears that way.”

Anger simmered, threatening to boil over. What good did an unlocked door do when he placed a guard outside my room? “You’re here to make sure I don’t leave my chambers.”

“I’m here for your safety,” Ector corrected. “I’ve also heard you tend to wander off into dangerous areas.”

“I don’t have a habit of roaming.”

“I’m sorry. Maybe I misheard and it’s that you have a habit of entering places without making sure they’re secure.”

“Oh, well, now I know you spoke to Ash.”

“Ash?” Ector repeated. His brows rose. “I didn’t know you two were on that kind of name basis.”

And he wasn’t? I am not that to you. That was what Ash had said when I’d called him Nyktos.

I blew out an aggravated breath. It didn’t matter. “If I wanted to leave my room right now, would you stop me?”

“At the moment, yes.”

“Why?”

“Because if something were to happen to you, I imagine Nyktos would probably be displeased.”

“Probably?”

Ector shrugged.

“What about later?” I demanded.

“That will be different, and we would have to see.”

“Have to see?” I laughed harshly. Unbelievable. “Where is he?”

“He’s busy at the moment.”

“And I imagine he can’t be interrupted?”

Ector nodded.

“So, what am I supposed to do?” I asked. “Stay in my room until he isn’t busy?”

“I’m not entirely sure what you’re supposed to do.” Amber eyes met mine. “And to be honest, I don’t think even he knows what to do with you.”

Chapter 26

The following morning, I jerked upright in bed, wrinkled and dazed as a woman strolled into my bedchamber after knocking once.

“Brought you something to eat,” she announced, stalking past the bed in a rapid clip, her short, honey-brown hair snapping at her rounded, reddish-brown chin.

I blinked slowly, still half asleep. The long, flowing sleeves of her white blouse slid up her arms as she placed a covered dish and a pitcher on the table, revealing a slender, black-bladed dagger affixed to her forearm. That wasn’t the only one. She had another strapped to her breeches-clad thigh. I tensed as the cobwebs of sleep vanished at the sight of the weapons. “Who are you?” I demanded.

“Davina is my name. Most call me Dav.” She whipped around. “And I suppose I should call you meyaah Liessa.”

My lips parted as goosebumps spread across my scalp. It wasn’t her words that drew the reaction. It was her eyes.

A shade of vibrant blue that rivaled the Stroud Sea stood out in stark contrast to her black, vertical pupils.

Pupils that reminded me of the draken I’d seen on the road on our way into the Shadowlands, but his eyes had been red.

She stared unblinkingly at me. “Are you all right?”

“Are you a draken?” I blurted.

One eyebrow rose. “That was kind of a rude question. But, yes, I am.”