Page 12 of The Spark that Ignites (Shattered Soul #1)

A s they walked in silence along the ocean shoreline, Emmery’s mind tumble back to those seemingly endless years after Fionn and her had parted ways.

She’d travelled east toward the mountains separating the two territories, thinking the distance from home and the kingdom capital would provide her with some illusion of safety.

Or at least relieve some of the ghosts following her wherever she ran.

She had been terribly wrong. The law was the same everywhere. Those with magic, bearing the scars, were sentenced to death. No exceptions.

Vesper’s gaze repeatedly slid to her, though she pretended not to notice. In the silence she plotted, deciphering how she would play this. If she was too friendly, he would surely grow suspicious of her plans. Perhaps aloof and distant would be best.

“Since we're on such a tight timeline, I guess you didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to your family,” he said.

Emmery studied the sandy ground to look anywhere but at him as she admitted, “I don’t have any family left.”

“Friends then?”

She suppressed the urge to snort. “What friends?”

He tilted his head. “Surely you have at least one.”

“That’s presumptuous to assume.”

“I mean ... you are a bit prickly.” He kicked a rock, sending it skittering along the path as he shoved his hands in his pockets. “But I’m sure you’re not all bad.”

Emmery rubbed her aching eyes and exhaled a hot breath. “That’s not what I meant. Living among humans wasn’t exactly a joy. Everyone has been out to murder me for the last century, remember?”

“I can see this is a sore subject,” he said softly before mumbling something about her hostile tone. A beat of silence passed before he asked, “What was it like? Life with humans .” He feigned a shudder on the last word.

“I wouldn’t recommend it. Unless you get a thrill from the daily threat of death.”

Vesper blinked curiously. “And you never made any friends to help you?”

Emmery drew her cloak closer though she wasn’t cold. “One of my last friends tried to kill me,” she said under her breath and Vesper’s gaze bore into the side of her face though she didn’t spare him a glance.

Shortly after she had met Fionn and it was a sort of silver lining amongst a black sodden cloud of despair.

When she first stepped inside his bookstore, she had been drowning in grief, but it wasn’t the cheery doorbell, soothing scent of parchment, or the endless stories offering escape that saved her.

It was Fionn who helped her come back to life.

He had given Emmery a handwritten novel bound in black leather by an unknown author.

Whether it was to distract from her own pain or a way to commiserate with the story of love, loss, and longing, she wasn’t sure, but it quickly became her favourite.

She cursed herself for losing the book long ago, along with Fionn.

Now all she had left of him was this dagger and ring—both empty items compared to his company.

Emmery never knew if he had survived the war or given his life along with the other soldiers.

Perhaps he hadn’t returned to her for a reason.

Whatever the case, to this day she still mulled over scenarios.

If they hadn't separated or even if they planned to find each other again, maybe things would be different. He was the last person she truly trusted after Maela passed and, despite knowing her secret, he’d kept her safe.

When she lost him, she lost a little part of herself too.

It was a loneliness she never wanted to feel again.

“I’m, uhm—” Vesper fidgeted with the strap on his glove. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

Emmery’s gut twisted thinking of Fionn, Maela, and her whole plan of stealing the items. But mostly how to keep her heart safe. “We don’t have to do this,” she said, the words wheezing out of her.

Vesper studied her. “Do what?”

“ This .” She gestured between them. “Make small talk. Get to know each other. We don’t have to be friends.”

“I’m just making polite conversation.” There was a challenge in that infuriating smirk. “Who said I wanted to be your friend anyway?”

Her cheeks pinked but she didn’t look away. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. “Exactly. This can be a business transaction between us. No complications. No messy feelings.”

“Messy feelings? That’s a bit dramatic.” Vesper shrugged as if it meant nothing to him at all. “It’s your loss. I’m an excellent friend. Not the type to cause messy feelings.”

Of course he would think that.

“I’ll take my chances,” she lobbed back though the whole situation stung a bit, leaving her stomach in knots, though she couldn’t explain why.

As they walked, silence swelled between them, disturbed only by the crashing waves, whispering wind, and rustling leaves in nearby trees. Beside her, Vesper fidgeted with his weapons belt, the clang of metal severing the peace of nature. “Are we just going to walk in silence then?” he asked.

Emmery’s lips twitched. “Doesn’t that sound nice?”

“No.” Vesper twisted his mouth to the side. “I hate silence.”

“You hate silence? The most peaceful thing in this world?” A mock smile spread across her mouth, and she couldn't help herself. “Reason number one why we can’t be friends.”

Vesper narrowed his eyes. “You’re mean for such a small thing.”

Emmery shot him a glare, which he ignored, and proceeded to fidget the entire way—unclipping sharp things from his belt, adjusting his pack straps, stuffing hands in and out of his pockets, and flipping his hair from side to side.

He really hadn’t been joking and between the fidgeting, he filled the silence with a mix of humming or whistling.

While the melody should have been pleasant, his inability to carry a tune grated on Emmery’s nerves.

Glaring at him sideways, she gritted her teeth. “Do you have to do that? Gods, my ears are bleeding .”

“Ha-ha, very funny.” He grinned and whistled louder.

Clenching her fists to restrain from punching him, she pondered the bargain terms. It didn’t say anything about her harming him .

But the further they walked, the louder Emmery’s feet protested—the new boots already chafing in an unsavoury way. What kind of person buys their friend uncomfortable boots? She stifled a groan as the skin rubbed raw and yet, they continued, heading gods only knew where.

When the sun reached mid-sky, they neared a small bay, merely a pocket of water swept away from the sea. Despite the thrashing ocean, the crisp blue water was still, unmoving and not a single wave or ripple disturbed the delicate glassy surface.

It was the strangest thing. Like a mirror.

Emmery caught her reflection and winced. Her swollen eye and throat were now a mottled blob of blues and purples, and it was no wonder Vesper had been staring. Good gods, she resembled a battered grape.

“The portal is here. It’ll take us to the gate,” he said, and, without warning, Vesper stepped out into the water—or rather onto it. Ripples surrounded his feet, but he didn’t sink. “Follow me.”

Eyes wide, Emmery lingered at the shore, the water edging the toes of her boots as fear iced over her limbs and prickled her spine.

Even if she found the portal to the gate all those years ago, she wouldn’t have been able to cross it.

Yet, it’d been right under her nose, mocking her all this time.

And they were only a few hours from her family cottage.

This was some cruel joke.

Vesper sauntered along the open water, throwing over his shoulder, “Are you coming?”

Her reflection stared back at her, a teasing, taunting admission of how cowardly she truly was. Because of course it had to be water.

When Vesper caught her expression, his steps halted. Emmery’s unblinking eyes brimmed with tears and not wanting him to see, she tucked her chin.

She couldn’t do it. Couldn’t get her damn legs to move. How utterly and completely pathetic.

Vesper tiptoed to her, as if she may dart into the brush like some spooked animal and disappear into the wild. But honestly, the prospect didn’t sound terrible. Anything to keep her off that depthless blue.

He reached for her shoulder, thought better of it, and dropped his hand, his brows pinched as he asked, “What’s wrong?”

Emmery shook her head, finally tearing her eyes up to meet his. The high sun scorched like hot coals, and her vision blurred.

“I—” She swallowed the lump in her throat, that mocking burn reminding her she was worthless. “I can’t.”

How could she tell him? Not explain but admit how the water affected her.

Flashing sinister images that lived in her bones and under her skin.

After all those years, she had never truly recovered from the grief that left her heart a crumpled thing in her chest. The loss, agony, crippling devastation—

But that wasn’t all. Emmery glanced back as if she could see her cottage.

She was leaving her entire life behind. Everything familiar would be a thing of the past and she didn’t know how to process it all.

What if Karynthia wasn’t that magical place she dreamed of?

What if she failed the trial? What if she couldn’t bring Maela back?

What if the gods were truly punishing her?

There were too many unknowns. Too many risks.

Vesper’s brows furrowed as he saw her pain, recognized it, and matched it with patience. With kindness. He offered a gloved hand. “Trust me?”

Emmery’s lungs constricted, her mind a conflicted riot of thoughts and unwelcome emotions.

Warmth flickered in her chest from the small act, like a tulip opening to golden sun rays, but she smothered it, blinking it away and killing that bit of growth.

It was too daunting. Too tempting to allow that warmth in.

Hadn’t she just told him they couldn’t be friends?

But how long had she been on her own? For all these years she had only had herself and named everyone else an enemy.

It would be easier not to trust Vesper and keep him at arm's length.

With her plans, she needed to keep the wall up.

To build them higher. Her sister was what mattered, and for her sister she would do anything.

Regardless of all her tangled thoughts, Emmery took his hand, and his steady hold pierced her panic. On a long exhale, she said, “No, but I don’t suppose I really have a choice at this point.”

Thankfully Vesper didn’t flinch from her harshness and instead offered a small smile as she breathed through the fear. His fingers wrapped around hers. “You will.”

Emmery squeezed her eyes shut as she stepped out. Relief washed over her, a sigh escaping as she found solid footing. “Why does that sound like a threat?”

She stepped wearily, as if at any moment the water’s depths would claim her. Not once did she dare look down as Vesper tugged her along behind him, like a merchant carting his goods. Because that was what he was doing. He needed her.

“Maybe it is,” he said and kept his eyes on her, his brows knitting. When Vesper halted, Emmery collided with his back and the air thrust from her chest.

“Now, was that so bad?” he teased.

Emmery cracked an eyelid, finding them at the center of the bay. Her stomach plummeted as she stared into the infinite ocean depths, both of their cloaks flapping in the rampant sea breeze. “Don’t mistake this for weakness,” she snarled but it was brittle. “I will punch you.”

“Don’t tempt me with a good time.” Vesper released a breathless laugh and tapped his toe in the glassy water until it came away wet. He shot her a look she couldn’t decipher and said, “Hold your breath.”

Emmery didn’t get the chance to respond before Vesper grabbed her waist and plunged them headfirst into the water.