Page 87 of Stealing Embers
Sable inclines her head toward Steel. “Okay, now that we have the Nova situation cleared up, let’s talk about this rumor. Is that something you started?” Disapproval is written all over her face.
I peek around Deacon’s frame. Steel shifts uncomfortably and slouches deeper into his chair.
“Hey, don’t look at me like that. This isn’t my fault. I didn’t say anything.”
“Well somehow the students got the impression you two are an item. It circulated rather quickly, I might add. Explain.”
Steel stares stone-faced at her for a full thirty seconds before confessing. “It’s because I’ve been shadowing her the last day, all right? People just got the wrong idea. I didn’t start the rumors.”
“You’ve been doing what?” Sable moves back a step, and her mouth falls open. The look on her face can only be described as dumbstruck. “We already had this conversation. I told you she’s safe on school grounds.”
“She’s a walking disaster waiting to happen.” Steel rakes a hand through his hair. His cool veneer is cracking. “I need to stay close to her to make sure no one else gets caught in the crossfire whenever the next monster comes after her. It’s been the Forsaken so far. What if the next time it’s an army of Fallen?”
“I think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself there.” Sable lifts her gaze skyward and pinches the bridge of her nose.
“It’s not an awful idea,” Deacon chimes in, his voice a low rumble.
“Excuse me?” I gape at his back.
Craning his neck, he gives me another once-over. “Are you cooled down yet? It would be nice to be able to address everyone in this room at the same time.”
Pressing my lips together, I offer him a curt nod. He gestures with his hand to the unoccupied chair. I gingerly grasp the armrest and move it farther away from Steel before sitting.
“Deacon, I have to agree with Emberly. Putting her in a position where she has to fake a relationship with Steel is not okay for so many reasons.”
“That’s not what I mean. I’m just saying,” Deacon goes on, “that Steel sticking close to Emberly while at the academy isn’t a bad idea. He can act as her bodyguard while on the grounds. And I could use his help during her supplemental training as well.”
I scoff. As if I need Steel to protect me.
Wait—supplemental training?
“Hmm.” To my horror, Sable appears to be second-guessing her earlier decision as she lowers herself into her seat.
“Supplemental training?” Steel’s words echo my unspoken question.
“Right.” Sable steeples her hands, refocusing on us. “Deacon and I discussed the situation and decided that since you’ve only ever morphed the one time, Emberly, it’s not imperative that we alert the Council just yet.”
Sweet.
“However, we are interested in getting you phasing on command and exploring what’s happening with you further. We don’t yet know what the Forsaken want from you, but we think figuring out some of your secrets is imperative to staying a step ahead of them.”
Not sure I’m liking where this is going.
“For the foreseeable future, when Deacon isn’t out on a mission, you’ll be training directly with him. We’re hoping the one-on-one attention will help you get caught up. And under supervision, we’ll find more answers.”
I eye Deacon. He’s standing next to Sable, but I’d somehow missed the movement. He was by the door a moment ago. His face looks like it’s cut from stone for all the emotion it reveals.
I briefly wonder how old he is. If he were human, I’d say early thirties, but being an angel-born, it’s anyone’s guess.
“And you want me to help?” Steel asks.
“I think we should give it a try,” Deacon confirms. “You were there the first time she morphed—maybe we can duplicate some of the elements to help her do it again. And if you’re sparring with her part of the time, that will give me a different vantage point to critique.”
I tilt my head in Steel’s direction. “You really want to take a chance sparring with me again?”
He clenches his jaw and lifts his top lip in an animalistic snarl. I grin, showcasing as many teeth as possible.
“I’m not sure what you two have going on—” Deacon says.