Her brows furrow, and I stroke her face.
“The council is getting restless. They’re demanding to interview you again.”
Her eyes widen in shock and fear. This wasn’t part of the plan. I was supposed to figure out how to get the council off our backs while she and her friends work on making sure the Slayer doesn’t kill me.
She swallows thickly, untangling herself from her familiar, who barely stirs.
“What if they don’t believe me? What if they can tell I’m lying?” she says, looking at me for guidance.
I glance down at her ring and shake the idea away immediately. There’s no way I’m leaving her vulnerable with them.
“Do you know any spells to calm your nerves?” I ask, rubbing my hands up and down her arms.
“We’re waiting!” Joyce screams from the sitting room.
Ember nods her head sharply, holding her wand and doing a small incantation.
“Should I get changed?” she asks. She’s wearing one of my shirts. I shake my head, at war with myself over them seeing her like that, but realize it’s a good thing.
“No. I’ll protect you, above anything else. You're safe with me, okay? Just do your best to answer their questions like you’re being compelled, alright sunshine?”
She nods, some of her nerves fading away from whatever spell she cast on herself.
I grab her by the waist and walk her barefoot, messy-haired self, to the sitting room. It’s reminiscent of the night they showed up, and I do exactly what I did that night, plopping her on my lap.
“Do what you must, Joyce. I’m ready to go home. You know I have my favorite little blood bags waiting for me,” Magnus says.
Magnus stands with his back to the wall, Justin and Beatrix sit boredly on a couch together. Samantha and Sebastianare exceptionally close together as Joyce paces, staring down Ember.
“Ember, have you seen the Slayer?” she asks.
“No,” Ember says a little too robotically, and I rub her thigh, giving her reassurance.
“So you can not say whether Warin was injured by one?”
“I just know that I removed the stake from his stomach,” Ember says.
“I see. And has Warin given you his blood?” Joyce asks.
“Why in the fuck is this relevant?” I ask.
“I’d like to know as well,” Magnus chimes in.
“Only to heal wounds,” Ember says.
“Never directly on your tongue? Never to use it for a spell, perhaps?” Joyce asks.
“No.”
Joyce snatches Ember’s wrist, and I can’t help the hiss that rips out of my throat.
“Simmer down, War. Just checking your little pink toy’s pulse.”
Joyce does just that, her fingertips dangerously close to where Ember’s protection ring sits on her finger.
“Does Warin drink from you?”
“Yes.”
