The Ember In The Dark

"What was that?" Ash teased.

"I shouldn't have let him." I was mostly telling myself that.

"He's your mate, Ember. You know how that is. Just look at mom. She and dad can never keep their hands off one another.” He added.

"Yeah. She can't keep her hands off with Eryn or Charles either.” I rolled my eyes.

"Well yeah, but it's her and dad that are the most in love." Ash always likes to pretend that it is just Mom and Dad and that Eryn and Charles were nothing more than old friends to mom. It shatters his delusion of hopefully having one mate.

"You're right Ash.” I agreed, not wanting to argue right now. "Let's just get home. Will you open the portal please?"

Ash placed his hand over a tree in the nearby woods and the scent that came out was 100 times worse than before. Now I understood why everyone else hated it so much. I had thought they were all being babies, but no I just wasn't smelling it as well as them. We came out of the tunnel in the kingdom.

"We need to hurry and tell mom. Come on!"

Ash seems more excited than I am to tell her. He pulled me towards the palace so fast I almost tripped. He didn't relent until we saw mom in the main room. She was having a meeting of sorts, but dismissed it as soon as she saw us. She threw her arms around us both.

"Okay so who's sharing first?” Mom asked. She always had this thing where we had to take turns telling her about our days so that we don't talk at the same time.

"I think Ember should share first." Ash smiled at me. Mom looked at me inquisitively. Her rose gold hair was up in a bun showing off her beautiful face more.

"It went great. I made a few friends already. A couple of them are actually from Charles’ pack." I told her.

I feel kind of clammy. I don't know if I want to tell mom about Talia yet. She'll want to start testing or training me or hell even coming into my brain to meet Talia herself. I'm not sure I'm ready for that.

"That's great sweetheart! My little fire starter. I'm glad this school is treating you better.” I could tell mom was feeling guilty about the whole elf school treating me shitty. I don't blame her though. "Ash, what about you?" She asked him.

He looked at me confused. He couldn't understand why I didn't tell her. I know he'll probably do it for me, but I hope not.

"I had a fun time. I made a new friend and I really enjoyed observing the humans. They are kind of funny.” Ash smiled.

“Thank you' I linked him.

'I really think you should tell her. She can help Ember.’ His voice sounded sad, like he couldn't understand why I wouldn't tell her.

I love mom, I do. I just feel this immense pressure to be something amazing from her. I don't think she realizes she's doing it though. I internally sighed.

"My tater tot!" Dad yelled from behind. His arms wrapped around my waist, lifting me up and spinning me. He's always called me tater tot because of my blonde hair and shorter stature. He put me down and patted Ash on the back. "My big man!" He smiled at us both as he wrapped his arm around mom's waist. His hand gripped her hip tightly. "My wife." He kissed her sweetly.

I do love seeing them in love. Dad's always so sweet to mom.

"Are you guys ready for training?" Dad asked, his eyes lighting up. He always liked training us. It was his form of bonding with us.

"Yup. Let's go!" Ash smiled excitedly.

I started to follow them out, but mom grabbed my hand.

"Hold on, my little fire starter. I want to talk to you for just a second.” She looked at me seriously, but not in the "I'm in trouble’ sense."She'll catch up with you guys soon.” Mom yelled at Dad and Ash and they continued up to the roof.

"What's up?" I asked her.

"Ember," She started, squeezing my hand. "I feel I've let you down. I just want you to know that I love you the way you are. No matter if you get your wolf or dragon or magic. You are still the most amazing person. I just didn't want to believe that because your father and I are different species that you didn't get a wolf or dragon. Heli is my best friend, and I just wanted that for you too."

Mom had tears in her eyes. What prompted this? I scrunch my eyebrows at her confused. She rubbed my hands tenderly.

"I just feel you pulling away from me more and more here lately, and I'm not sure why. I'm here for you Ember. You and your brother, whatever you need.” She gave me a small smile, looking a little down.

She had the most beautiful smile, it doesn't adorn her face much anymore. My heart stung a little to see her tears because of me. I hadn't noticed I was hurting her. I wrapped my arms around her and we embraced each other for a moment. The baby bump was large between us. Mom held me tightly, pressing her fingers deep in me. She didn't want to let go. She inhaled my scent. “Everything is going to be okay. She's going to be okay. She will be happy even without her wolf or dragon.’ I heard mom's voice in my head.

What the fuck? That's new. I doubt she linked that to my mind on purpose.

I just held her tighter. I'll tell Mom about Talia after she and I get to talk more about the barrier in me. I need to have answers before Mom starts asking questions.

"I love you, Mom." I told her as I pulled away.

"I love you too." She smiled at me, wrinkling up her eyes.

I headed up to the roof, meeting up with Ash and Dad. Dad always trained Ash on how to use his fire, all forms of his fire. I always watched and listened so that if I ever got my dragon I would know. I also used this time to mediate and try to find the tree of life in me. I never did find it. I guess because of that barrier.

We trained for a couple hours before all of us had dinner together. Eryn and Charles tried to join us as often as possible. Charles couldn't join today though.

Eric's adorable self was sitting next to Ash as usual. His hair was a light blonde, almost white like Eryn's. He also had Eryn's dark blue eyes but mom's slightly darker complexion. His ears pointed a bit, being more elf than werewolf. Eric sadly didn't get a wolf, just like me, but he at least has elven magic. He turned 10 this year and got to touch the tree of life and receive his gift.

Eryn looked exhausted, something to do with some political meeting. Apparently all elven kings and queens will be having a summit in a couple weeks, and we're the ones hosting it.

“Larminiel will be coming from the north. Did you know he had a daughter?” Eryn told mom. "Really? Since when?"

"She's 17 now. A well kept secret it seems. He found his chosen one around the time the ancient ones showed up. She was an elf that had run away from a southern kingdom. He let her stay in his kingdom and they got to know each other better before he finally tied himself to her.” Eryn smiled as he told the story.

It seemed Mom and Eryn were happy for their old friend. I had only ever met Larminiel a handful of times, whenever mom had business with the council. We stopped going around the time I was 9. I'm not sure why though.

"It's crazy he was able to keep his daughter a secret for so long.” Mom nodded. "I'm so happy for him."

"He deserves that happiness.” Dad added. Larminiel was like an uncle to dad in a way. Apparently he and grandpa are super close. It's hard to picture, grandpa is always so serious and Larminiel is always so playful.

We finished dinner quickly and Ash and I went up to our room. We had separate rooms, but they had a joining door that we used daily. I took a quick shower and dressed in some comfy pj's. Then went to Ash's room. He had just finished taking a shower himself. His hair was still dripping wet. He's the worst about drying his hair. I grabbed the towel he left on the dresser and sat by him drying his hair for him.

Eric was off with his friends. Unlike Ash and I, Eric was accepted by the elves fully. Eric always defended us when he could. He's a good boy.

"Why didn't you tell mom?" Ash asked me immediately.

"I want to talk with Talia before I do. I want to understand what's happening to me before I tell her.” I explained and he made a face like he didn't understand.

"Mom could help with that, you know. You don't give mom enough credit.” He shook his head and I grabbed it with my hands, holding it still

"I'll tell her as soon as I talk with Talia." I finished drying his hair and threw the towel at him. "You're going to get sick one of these days because you don't dry your hair." I rolled my eyes at him. He just gave me that big childish yet adorable smile of his.

"But you're here to dry it for me."

"I won't always be." I reminded him of the most depressing subject between us.

The day we won't be side by side anymore. Not having Ash in my life every day seems like the most foreign concept ever. He sighed.

"Don’t remind me. Hopefully by then I'll have a mate that can do it instead.” He smiled again and I just rolled my eyes.

"Not how you should look at that.” Such a child.

"I really hope I find my mate soon.” Ash laid back staring at the ceiling. He was feeling down about it. I plopped beside him.

"You'll find her soon. I'm sure of it." I encouraged him.