Trimarked by C.K. Sorens

Author:C.K. Sorens [Sorens, C.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Carrie Sorensen
Published: 2020-12-06T06:00:00+00:00

14

Ember

Ember matched Aaron’s reluctant pace. He scuffed his toes in the dust and pain outlined his face, clear even in the tunnel’s gloom.

Ember swallowed and averted her eyes, tried to remember she didn’t care what this human boy thought or felt.

“He did that to you?” The constriction in his words cut through her, and she jerked out a nod. “Fade, Ember, I’m so sorry.”

“Not your fault. No reason to apologize.”

“If I hadn’t let Brandt go off half-cocked, or if I’d kept him at the party…. I guess Nicu doesn’t babysit you.”

Ember choked out a pained laugh and stopped her steps, turned her back to Aaron and pressed her palms over her cheeks.

“It was nice to see you have friends, though.” There he went, taking it one step further.

“Nicu is not my friend.”

“No, I meant Chase.”

Ember faced him, her brow furrowed. “You have the wrong idea. Chase and I have a business relationship. Right now I am in his debt.”

“Is that why you didn’t finish the water he gave you?”

Ember shrugged against the tension in her neck. The hair on her arms raised as an uncomfortable buzz crawled over her skin. Aaron saw too much. That meant she should get him out of here, send him home, away from her as fast as possible.

At the exit, Ember threw her weight into the bar and thrust it open. She took the time to scan the hillside despite her agitation before she let Aaron follow.

“Will you forgive me?” he asked.

The handle slipped out of Ember’s grip and the door slammed.

“What?”

“For Brandt. For not stopping him last night. Forgive me?”

Bile burned Ember’s tongue. She looked toward the forest, uncertain of how to act.

“What if I said I need you to?”

Ember jerked her attention to the impossible boy before her. He took it as an invitation to step closer, curled his shoulders to draw in his height and leaned forward.

Ember’s stomach twisted. She angled away from him, not understanding what his game was.

“I can’t help you find Brandt.”

“I know.” Aaron stood still, his eyes danced across her features.

“Go home, Aaron.”

“I need you to.”

Ember moved backward. The icy steel door blocked her escape.

“Ember, I—” He closed the distance between them. Ember raised her hands to ward him off, stomach sucked in on an inhale. Aaron’s hand gripped her wrist.

Power slipped between their skin, separated his touch from hers with a hard, invisible shield. Dust flew up around them in an artificial burst of wind. Dirt struck Aaron’s eyes, pressured him to move away.

He threw up an arm, letting her go. Air settled back into stagnant movement, the only sounds were their heavy breathing. Blue light sparked between spread fingers and drew both their attention to the beautiful death sentence.

Ember trembled, her entire body primed for fight or flight.

Except she couldn’t run. He might tell someone.

Except she couldn’t fight. She might give herself away and make Aaron aware of her ability to open the barrier.

“Verge,” she choked. The door supported her. Aaron shifted to block anyone’s view

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