“She just turned ten and has the biggest crush on Klaus.” Lupine gives me a wink. “Then again, who wouldn’t.”
Klaus is no longer watching me but looking awkwardly down at the table. I want him to say something – anything – but he doesn’t. But Lupine fills the lull in conversation by telling us what we’re having for dinner.
Within minutes the kitchen is heaving, the table almost bending under the weight of all the food, and the children are elbowing each other out of their way to get their hands on the food.
Addie’s POV
Ember must think I’m thick as shit, transforming into someone else so she can hide from me. As if I hadn’t already seen her. Standing outside the orphanage that Ember grew up in, I consider what I’m going to do about her.
There’s no way I’m going to let her take my trophy. It’s mine and I won’t let her grubby fingers anywhere near it.
I step back into the shadows as the front door to the orphanage opens and Ember steps out. She’s not alone. There’s a man by her side, and more significantly there’s an orange web like magical trail between them.
He’s her mate.
My mind begins to whirl with possibilities for how I can use it against her. You probably think I’m a bitch and you wouldn’t be wrong. I’m the worst sort of bitch. The sort that will stop at nothing to win, who plays dirtier than a mud wrestler in a paddling pool of melted chocolate. Shit! That’s a terrible mental image.
Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I return my attention to Ember and her mate. There’s an awkwardness between them that tells me that they’ve not been mated for long. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ember isn’t even aware of the mating spell they’re under.
I can definitely use that to my advantage.
Hydroblading
Dominick’s POV
A very is insanely excited as she pulls on her skates. It’s her first skate lesson with Ember. The Fire Kitsune is currently standing on the ice in a black leotard and a tiny skirt that barely covers her arse.
She should look cold, but heat seems to radiate off her skin as she talks to Leith Rogowsky – only one of the coolest ice hockey players in Silver Springs – and jealousy burns in my chest.
I can barely keep my eyes off her but it’s not because of that short skirt or even because I’m jealous that she’s talking to Leith. It’s because of the magical strand connecting us. My eyes follow the delicate web from where it starts in the center of Ember’s chest, all the way to my own. But that’s not all. There’s an identical strand connecting her to my little brother.
Klaus and I exchange a look. He’s never been much of a talker, usually keeping his thoughts to himself and it’s hard not to worry about him.
Avery leaves us to go join the other kids that are waiting for the lesson to begin.
“Hi. I’m Avery,” she says with an impressive amount of confidence.
“I’m Kimberly,” one of the girls answers, “and this is Allie and Tanya.”
“Hello,” the other two girls say together.
Grateful that my daughter looks like she’s going to be okay, I focus my attention back on my brother. “So, you and Ember?”
Klaus doesn’t hurry to respond but when he does his words are harsh. “What about you?”
I don’t have an answer for that. My gaze moves to Ember. She’s no longer talking to Leith and has moved on to help a little girl put her skates on. She’s absolutely beautiful. I knew she was special the first time I saw her. The rink that had been crowded with people seemed to just dissolve around her and she had been all that I could see.
But I had no idea just how precious she was. In that moment, I had no idea that she was my mate. Or my brother’s, for that matter.
“I didn’t know,” I tell him honestly.
“Yeah, me neither.” Klaus hesitates before turning his head in my direction. “She was at the orphanage last night. I could barely say two words to her.”
“That’s hardly surprising. You’re not exactly talkative at the best of times.”
“That’s not what I meant. I mean I literally couldn’t speak. It’s like my brain lost its connection to my mouth.”
I’m supposed to be his big brother. I should have something encouraging to say, but I have zilch. Absolutely nothing.
“Do you think she knows?”
“Knows?”
“About the bond.”
“No. I don’t think so.”
We sit quietly as Ember gathers the children onto the ice. She’s a natural with them. I could watch her all day. The children are clumsy, falling over frequently, but Ember is so naturally graceful as she flits between them, giving them instructions.
“What are we going to do?”
“Dunno,” my little brother answers. “Right now, I’m just grateful that it’s you and not Holden.”
“Shit. That would be the worst.”
Neither of us say anything for a while, both too absorbed in our own thoughts.
“Is this seat taken?” The question catches me off guard, pulling my attention away to the beautiful figure skating currently telling the children how important it is that they protect their fingers. Looking up, I see a pretty woman standing in front of me.
“N-yes.” I try again, moving slightly closer to Klaus. “N-y-yes. Help yourself.”
“So, which one is yours?”
“Sorry?” I glance back at the woman.
“Which child? I presume one of them is yours.”
“Oh. Yeah, my daughter Avery is over there with the red hat on.”
“She’s young enough she might actually do well.”
“Excuse me?”
“I just mean if she wants to pursue a career in skating. I started when I was three.”
“Sorry. Who are you?”
“Addie Ravenwood. World champion.”
“So, you’re not one of the parents?”
“God no. I’m only here to see Ember. Assessing the competition.”
I don’t like the way she says that, and I have a strange desire to put myself between her and Ember. It’s a protective urge, one that I haven’t felt since my wife died. It’s unsettling. I barely know the woman and yet she’s making me feel things that I’ve not felt in the longest time.
Ember’s voice breaks me out of my reverie. “Elizabeth! Kellie! Pay attention.”
She’s amazing, stunning even, as she moves across the ice, and then she decides to show the children a spin and I swear she becomes a blur of orange and black, she’s moving so fast.
Ember’s POV
I should be giving the children my undivided attention. But that’s almost impossible when I can see Wart Face Ravenwood talking to Dominick. My palms are sweaty and I feel enraged. It’s not like I have any sort of claim to him and yet I want nothing more than to cross the rink, climb the steps to where they’re sitting and drag that bitch away from him.
But he’s not mine.
I hardly know him. And yet I feel like I do.
Addie is clearly flirting, resting a hand on his forearm. I’d happily remove that hand for her. I’m not usually a violent person but Addie Ravenwood has never brought out the best in me.