"Get your hands off me!" The human's voice rang through the festival grounds, raw with terror.
Gasps rippled through the crowd as Xeylan shoved the man back onto the stone pavement, his silver hair wild, his chest heaving with rage. The human coughed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Kaelith was the first to step forward, eyes sharp. "Xeylan, that's enough."
The king raised a hand, his voice calm but firm. "Let this go."
But Xeylan didn't move. His fists were clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. "Let it go? Is that what we do now, Father? We let things go? We let strangers disrupt our world, pretend they belong?" His head snapped toward Ember, his piercing silver eyes narrowing.
"This is all because of you."
Ember flinched. "What?"
"You shouldn't be here," Xeylan spat. "You should've never been here. Ever since you arrived, things have been falling apart. And now look…" he gestured to the injured human, "...even our own festival is tainted because of you."
Ember's chest tightened.
"I didn't…"
"Of course you didn't," Xeylan sneered. "You never do anything, do you? Just like before. Just like with Isaac."
The breath left Ember's lungs.
Xeylan took a step closer, his voice turning low, dangerous. "You let him destroy you. You let him tell you what you were worth, and you believed it. Do you know why? Because he was right."
Ember's world tilted.
"You'll never be good enough for anyone."
The festival was silent.
Then….
"You know what? You're right."
Her voice cut through the air, trembling but strong. Xeylan's smirk faltered.
Ember swallowed back the lump in her throat, her fingers curling into fists. "I must've been so stupid to think I could stay here."
She turned, her eyes scanning the faces around her. "Look around me," she said, her voice rising. "Even amongst my own kind, I never really belonged. Why the hell did I think I could belong amongst gods?"
Her hands shook as she reached for the delicate silver chain around her neck. With one sharp tug, she tore the necklace free.
The crowd gasped as she held it out to the king.
"Take it back."
The king didn't move.
Her throat burned as she blinked through the tears blurring her vision. "Don't worry, Xeylan. You'll never have to see me again in this lifetime of mine."
She turned to glare at him, but for the first time, he had nothing to say.
Kaelith shifted, but Ember wasn't done. She let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head.
"You blame everybody but yourselves." Her voice cracked, but she refused to falter. "Look at you all. Nobody needs to tear your family apart….you've already done it yourselves."
Kaelith's jaw tightened.
"When was the last time you sat at a table together? Ate and laughed? When was the last time you hugged each other, listened to each other's heartaches?" She let out a sharp, humorless laugh, wiping at the tears streaking down her face. "You don't need enemies. You are your own ruin."
Silence.
Then she turned on her heel and shoved past the stunned crowd.
The king found her by the palace gates, already changed into the clothes she had arrived in. Her old backpack was slung over her shoulder.
Kaelith stood in front of her, arms spread wide, blocking her way.
"Ember, just stop and listen."
"No!" She shoved him hard, fury flashing in her wet eyes. "If you touch me or try to stop me one more time, I swear to God, I will lose my mind!"
Kaelith hesitated, his hands clenching at his sides.
The king stepped forward. "Let me take you home."
Ember didn't even look at him. She walked right past, shoulders stiff, her breath uneven.
The king watched her go, the weight of his silence heavier than the night itself.
Kaelith turned, his gaze dark.
"This isn't over."
And then…..
A low growl cut through the air.
The ground trembled beneath them.
A shadow loomed from the treeline beyond the palace.
Something was coming.
Something ancient.
Something angry.
And Ember was walking straight toward it.
"Almost there… just keep walking."
Ember's voice was barely a whisper as she pressed forward through the forest, her pulse hammering in her ears. The night air was thick, heavy, as if something unseen was pressing against her skin.
A rustling sound.
Her breath hitched.
Don't look back. Don't look back.
A twig snapped.
Fear clawed up her spine, and suddenly, she bolted, feet pounding against the damp earth. Her lungs burned as she pushed herself forward, the trees blurring around her….
Then she hit something solid.
No….someone.
A strong arm caught her before she could fall, fingers cold against her bare skin.
"Hello, beautiful."
The voice was smooth, rich like honey laced with venom.
Ember's eyes snapped up.
The man before her was breathtaking in the most unnerving way. His skin was pale…almost pearlescent in the moonlight…his sharp, elegant features marred only by the eerie glow of his blood-red eyes. His lips curled into a smirk, revealing the faintest hint of fangs.
A slow shiver ran down her spine.
"You're cold," she murmured, instinctively trying to pull away.
His grip tightened. "Maybe you can warm me up."
His voice was deep, smooth…dangerously alluring.
A sharp pain twisted in her chest. Her breath hitched.
No. Not now.
Her body trembled as her illness seized her, stealing the strength from her legs.
The man caught her easily, his lips ghosting near her ear. "Can I kiss you?"
Her head swam. She couldn't think, couldn't move…
"Don't you dare!"
Kaelith's voice cut through the air like a blade.
The man turned his head lazily, a wicked smile playing on his lips.
"I'm trying to save her. What's your problem?" he mused, his voice dripping with mock innocence.
Kaelith's fists clenched. "Don't touch what's mine."
Ember sucked in a shaky breath. "I'm not yours." Her voice was weak, but her words still lashed out like a whip.
Kaelith flinched.
The air shifted. A new presence descended upon them, crackling with authority.
"Varethian."
The king's voice was cold, commanding.
The pale man….Varethian…turned, his smirk widening. "Ah, Your Majesty. Or should I say… old friend?"
The tension in the air thickened.
"Ember," the king said, his voice softer now. "Come. I'll take you home."
Ember shook her head, still clinging to Varethian's arm. "No… I told you….I don't want anything to do with any of you again."
Varethian chuckled, brushing a stray curl from her face. "You heard the lady."
The king's scowl deepened.
Another wave of energy swept over the forest as more figures arrived.
Veyron cursed under his breath. "Shit."
Selene and Ilzara flanked him, their expressions dark.
Ilzara's voice was urgent. "Ember, darling, please. You do not want to go with that man."
Varethian's smirk never faltered. He leaned down, his breath warm against Ember's ear. "Don't worry, little star. I'll take you home."
Ember's head lolled against his chest as she nodded weakly.
"Would've loved to stay longer for the family reunion," Varethian mused, his grin turning sharper. "But I've got to get my bride home."
And with that, he stepped backward..
Straight into a swirling portal of darkness.
Ember vanished with him.
The wind howled in the silence that followed.
Kaelith cursed violently, his fists trembling. "Shit! Shit, shit!"
Ilzara turned, her golden eyes burning as she fixed Xeylan with a glare.
"This is all your fault."
Xeylan's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. Ilzara didn't wait for a response…she shot into the air, disappearing into the night.
The weight of what had just happened settled over them.
Veyron exhaled. "What do we do now?"
The king turned, his expression unreadable.
"Why are you so bothered?" His voice was quiet, yet it cut through them all. "Didn't you all want her gone? Well, she's gone now."
And with that, he walked away, ascending into the sky.
A cold wind swept through the forest.
None of them spoke.
For the first time, they had no idea what to do.