Ember Read Online Free PDF Page A

other.” It was apparent.
    “Some get lucky.” He smiled, but it was touched with sadness. I wondered who he was thinking about.
    I’m not sure how long we danced, effortlessly gliding and flowing around one another, but I never got tired. It had to have been hours, but my feet felt as though they only wanted more. The only thing that marked the time was the sun. Before I knew it, it was setting. My body couldn’t get enough of the music. No one existed, but us, until I heard his voice.
    “You seem to be making yourself right at home.” I stiffened and turned. “Don’t let me interrupt. I just thought I should officially commend you. You made it through the first day unscathed.”
    I finally found my voice. “Hello, Kai. How nice of you to join the festivities.”
    “How could I miss them? You can hear them from miles away. I could have simply enjoyed the party from my home.”
    “And why didn’t you?” Declan asked with a raised eyebrow, but no malice.
    “And miss this ?” He spread his arms out. “The opportunity to officially shake the hand of our new Queen on the day of her Dawning?” He held his hand out to me. I took it, but not without hesitation. It was impossible to ignore the tingling that followed, sprouting up my arm and spreading through the rest of my veins. “I couldn’t miss this,” he muttered, though I couldn’t tell if it was irritation or sincerity in his voice.
    “Allura was looking for you,” I managed to get out as I continued to sway with the music.
    He lowered our hands, but didn’t let me go. I should have, but a part of me wasn’t ready to. It had been so long since we’d last touched. “What can I say? I’m a wanted man. No one can live without me.” His deep eyes grazed mine pointedly.
    “You’re awfully full of yourself today,” I commented.
    He squeezed my hand gently before letting go. “I like to think of myself as more confident than conceited, but think what you will. I’ll let you two carry on.”
    I didn’t feel much like dancing anymore. Now that I’d slowed down I realized how tired I truly was. My feet were tender, my arms sore. My whole body ached. And Kai’s aggravating appearance spoiled whatever kind of time I was having.
    “Declan, would it be all right if I left before the celebration ended? Will anyone be offended or think I’m being disrespectful to tradition or something?”
    “No, no … I think fae have already started to head to their homes for the night. I’ll escort you to your room if you are ready.”
    I nodded. “Thank you.”
    There was a faint smirk on Kai’s face when I turned to say goodnight. I couldn’t tell if it was out of amusement or triumph. He had to know the effect he had on me.
    “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, Kai.”
    “Oh, the night is still young,” he remarked with a tilt of his lips. “I can make no promises.”
    “Kai!” I heard a female voice call to him. All of our eyes found a blonde dancing in the center of the crowd, waving him over. Her long shiny hair streamed over her light purple wings and a flirtatious grin touched her lips.
    “And if I didn’t do anything you wouldn’t do, that wouldn’t get me very far now would it, Your Highness?” His eyes lingered on Purple Wings until he addressed me personally.
    I scowled, and he winked before dashing into the dancing swarm of faeries.
    My body felt weighed down while I watched him go. I could play the feeling off as exhaustion, but deep down I knew it was something entirely different.
    A guy in Purple Wings’ group patted Kai’s shoulder before playfully shoving him into her grasp. She grabbed his hand and twirled herself in circles before spinning into his arms. The moment a smirk lined his lips as he peered down at her, I looked away with a queasy twinge in my stomach.
    Suddenly the music abruptly stopped and a hush fell over the fae. Declan and I looked to one another, then around the meadow, to see what was going on. Everyone turned