Page 28 of The Spark that Ignites (Shattered Soul #1)

A fter leaving the Skyborne Temple, they barrelled through the lush forests. The shady cave, hidden away by brush, appeared untouched as Vesper cut it away with his sword.

Aera snuggled into Emmery's neck, her skin prickling as tiny skittering creatures bumped her boot. Only her makeshift torch lit the way in the damp stone tunnel, but the knot in her chest tightened as the golden flame flickered. More than once, she had lost control, and it couldn’t happen again. But she didn’t know how to tame it.

Emmery tiptoed at Vesper’s side, his thick cloak occasionally brushing her arm.

His unusual silence was a rope around her neck, waiting for the floor to drop, and Emmery debated if speaking would diffuse the situation or feed it.

They couldn’t be friends with her plan to steal the resurrection items but there was a connection between them she couldn’t deny.

And after he had opened up to her and all they’d been through, she was unsure how to proceed.

Each time her gaze wandered to his scorched arm, a pang of guilt sang through her and palpable tension filled the air. She didn’t believe he forgave her, especially with his reservation to let her anywhere near the wound. Her fingers itched to fix it, bandage, or—

She didn’t know. But it was unbearable.

When they reached the end of the tunnel, Emmery’s breath caught.

Toadstools and dandelions thrice her height, towered over them in bio-luminescent violets, turquoise, and soft greens.

Naked, black trees with glowing threads lined the path, fireflies dancing to a secret song among them. They seemed to whisper, welcome home .

She had read about bioluminescence in a novel once, and now she could put an image to it.

This place was somehow familiar, like she had visited once in a dream but that was impossible.

And while the place emitted an ancient sacred hum, the magic here soothed her veins rather than ravaged like the Whispering Spring.

Aera hurled herself from Emmery’s neck, luminescent pollen and seeds puffing from the brush as she crashed through it.

It latched onto her thick white fur and with a yip, she rolled on her back, clawing at the air.

A smile tugged at Emmery’s lips, her fox’s joy spreading like warm honey in her chest.

Vesper’s insistent stare lingered on her cheek, and she hid her birthmark under her hand.

“Maela would love it here,” she mused. “My sister had this cloak she wore every day, that exact shade of purple.” She pointed to the colour threading the dark wood.

His gaze didn’t waver. “That’s a unique name. It sounds Sellidic.”

Plucking a twig from Aera’s fur, she said, “I would be surprised. I think my mother picked my name on a whim.”

“If it helps, my father chose mine to honour our crest.” He fingered his cloak insignia of the wolf howling at the night sky. “Vesper means brightest star.”

“Well, it’s probably the first and only time anyone has called you bright.” Emmery shot him a smirk but her attempt to crack Vesper’s cold expression was unsuccessful. “And your sister?”

“Izora means guiding moon.” He quieted again.

“If only my father had known she would be the wolf. But she was taken too soon to prove herself.” Vesper stared ahead, lost in memories.

“This was one of our favourite places as children. The Sacred Lands were used for rejuvenation, to restore magic, and exist in stillness. But now it’s off limits. ”

Glancing behind her like she’d find someone following them, she asked, “What happens if we trespass?”

“Not sure. Maybe the gods will smite us?” At her unimpressed side eye he added, “Relax. We’ll be fine. The gods haven’t walked the earth in hundreds of years, and they’ve been silent since they ordered the gate closed.”

So that must have been what he meant about the gods abandoning them like the Waking Wood. Between the gate being sealed and the flame going out, it was no wonder he felt that way.

Vesper jerked his chin at the forking path. “There’s an impassable barrier up ahead, I need you to break it down with your magic.”

“So, what we’re doing is illegal.” Emmery chewed her lip nervously. “And immoral.”

“There’s a flower we need. I wouldn’t ask you if there was another way.” Vesper pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders though the cavern wasn’t cold.

“What’s this flower?”

“It’s called a celestial trumpet.” Vesper pulled a dagger from his belt. “They don’t grow anywhere else, and Kahlia kept them locked up once she realized what people were using them for. Only a few grow in a human lifetime so they’re pretty valuable.”

“What were people doing with it?”

“It’s a potent aphrodisiac.” While he would have normally punctuated that with a fiendish smirk, his expression was impassable. “But we’re obviously not using it for that.”

Emmery’s face reddened and she fidgeted with the clasp on her cloak. Anything to busy her hands. “But we are stealing it.”

Waving his dagger in the air, he said, “Stealing is a harsh word. I prefer the term borrowing. Indefinitely.” He shrugged. “It can only be used once, anyway.”

“Yes, but stealing is wrong. Unless Kenna values are opposite humans. Which I doubt.”

“If I remember correctly, you were the one who stole that coin pouch.”

Guilt twinged her gut. “That was different. It was my first time, and I was desperate.”

Vesper tilted his head. “Who says I’m not desperate?”

Unsure what she was looking for, she searched his face. Perhaps for something that would justify this situation. “You don’t seem the type.”

His jaw hardened. “You should know, I would do anything for my family.”

“Like defy the gods and make questionable bargains?” She raised a brow.

He tossed the dagger and snatched it from the air. “Exactly.”

Emmery could barely look at him as they walked in silence, her stomach twisting into knots a hundred times over. And she couldn’t let it rest anymore. “Are you still angry with me?”

His dark brows drew together. “Angry? For what?”

“For that.” She gestured to his burned arm.

Vesper’s mouth twisted. “This tiny thing? Why would you think that?”

The fear she’d seen in his eyes was unmistakable and her cheeks heated. “I don’t blame you. I ... hurt you.”

“It’s not your fault.” He speared a hand through his hair and exhaled a long, hot breath. “I told you it’s fine , Emmery. Bloody Hollow, let it go.”

“It’s not fine,” she argued. “If it’s fine then why are you acting like that?”

His eyes narrowed. “Acting like what exactly?”

“All broody and silent.” Emmery’s nails bit into her palms. “I thought you hated silence.”

“I do.” The answer was short, simple, and infuriating.

Emmery cursed and stalked beside him with heavy footfalls. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“I told you, I’m not angry with you .” Vesper’s lips pressed together, his pace quickening. After an impossibly long silence in which she basically chased him down, he admitted, “I’m angry with myself, alright?”

He was angry with himself . In what universe did that make sense? Emmery huffed a breath, her steps meeting his with great effort. “For what? I was the one who burned you.”

“This”—he pointed at the melted armour—“is nothing. You didn’t even hurt me.” His face was hard, unreadable. “I dropped all this shit on you about the prophecy and the khaos flame at the worst time, but I didn’t know what else to do, and I ... I don’t know how to help you, Emmery.”

She shrugged, her shoulders tight. “It’s not your job to help me.”

“It is.” He shook his head. “I should be able to give you some guidance. Help you train your magic or ... I don’t bloody know. At least offer something. Do something.”

Her fingers dipped along their pactum scar.

“It’s not part of our bargain. You don’t owe me anything.

You got me across the gate and helped me pass the trial.

You’ve done your part.” She paused, traitorous thoughts brewing in her head.

Was he worried she couldn’t break down the barrier and that’s why he was angry?

Because she was undoubtedly useless and had proven that time and time again.

“Don’t worry, as long as I’m in one piece I’ll fulfil my part of our little deal.

I’ll try not to lose control and burn us both to a crisp. ”

“Come on.” His eyes narrowed. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

She shrugged but her hands fisted at her side. Why did she care if he thought she was a danger? That he was scared and flinched away from her magic. He was right to do so.

“You’re infuriating, you know that? One of the tiniest, most infuriating people I’ve ever met.” Vesper raked a hand through his hair, letting it stand on end. “You always assume the worst of people, don’t you?”

“Maybe.” She whistled between her teeth and Aera sprinted from the brush, covered in pollen. Emmery perched the fox on her shoulder. “But it’s kept me alive this long, hasn’t it?”

“But it’s made you miserable, Emmery. Even I can see that.”

His words stopped her dead in her tracks and her stomach filled with lead. This was more than just her magic and the prophecy. Vesper clearly wanted more than companionship and sounded like he genuinely cared. A tiny voice inside her told her she cared too but she clamped a hand over it.

Maybe she could pretend to be his friend. Put on a pretty smile and fool him. The more trust she built between them, the easier it would be to swindle him out of the items and then she could keep herself safe.

She could do that. She could pretend.

“Look, I’m ... sorry.” Emmery choked out the word and stared at her feet to up the show. “People have never shown me their good sides. I’ve been burned every time I trust someone. I’ll ... try harder.” She plastered a delicate smile on her face. “Be patient with me.”

Vesper gaped at her like she’d flashed him. He muttered something along the lines of “ that was easy" and said, “Uhm, yeah ... alright.”

And just like that, he bought her packaged lie tied with a pretty bow, though she knew the truth laid beneath the surface. Yet, as they descended into the belly of the Sacred Lands, guilt bridled her.