Page 12 of Dark Embers

I ran to the sink and filled the drawer with water. “Come on, come on, come on!”

When I had what I hoped was enough, I dashed to the other side of the room, throwing the contents on the flames. They sizzled and smoked, but the flames went out.

I sighed, willing my rapid pulse to slow. “Thank fuck for flame retardant material.”

I cast a wary glance at the ceiling, praying the sprinklers there wouldn’t go off. I’d already charred Julian’s drapes—the lastthing I needed was to recreate the flood scene from Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

After a few tense moments, I decided I was in the clear.

I collapsed to the floor, spreading out on my back and trying to catch my breath as I stared at the ceiling.

“Great. I have the book for two seconds and I’m already burning shit.”

My eyes rolled to the white curtains—and the large, black burn spot that now marred one. I groaned.

A beeping noise cut through the silence, and I sprang to my feet. The fridge. Dammit, I’d forgotten about that popping back open.

I covered my nose and mouth as I neared, hoping to keep the contents of my stomach right where they were as I neared the fridge. I hated blood—the sight, thought, and even the smell. Thankfully, whatever was sitting in the fridge wasn’t emitting a smell, but I still felt the need to breathe through my mouth.

I nudged the door closed, letting out another long sigh when the seal finally took.

I glared at the book sitting so innocently on the counter. “This is your fault.”

I slammed the grimoire closed, loaded it in my bookbag, and opened the door leading back to the hallway. I took one final backward glance, grimacing again at the curtains.

“At least it wasn’t the piano.”

I locked the door behind me and scurried out of the building, keeping my gaze on my feet. I might’ve been able to repair the curtains with a spell, but after that last fiasco, I wasn’t exactlyeager to try anything else just yet. I’d have to make sure to replace those curtains before the big bad vamp returned.

I just hoped I could do it before he came back and decided to take his thirst out on me instead of the disgusting bags in his fridge. He just might kill me yet.

Chapter 5

Caesar

By the time I’d climbed to the top of the apartment building near the subway exit, the sun had set below the skyline, and night was steadily creeping up from the east. My feathers ached for release beneath my flesh in anticipation of a shift, and I could hardly wait to kick off my clothes. I hastily bundled up my things and tucked them beside the large air conditioning unit on the roof.

After using this spot for several years, I knew that none of the residents of this building ever ventured up here, but still I scanned the rooftop to make sure.

Probably should have done thatbeforeI got naked, but my anxiety had made me careless.

When I was sure the place was secure, I willed my transformation. The stretching of my bones was a delicious ache, the sprouting of my feathers over the surface of my skin like a satisfying scratch to an incessant itch. Some shifters described their transformations as painful or uncomfortable, some even avoiding it entirely. But I always thought it felt more like cracking aching joints, offering a sense of relief.

My wings unfurled behind me within seconds, forcing me down on all fours. I shook my head as if to shake off the remnants of my human form, snapping my beak as I savored the feel of the faint breeze rustling through my wings.

The sky was now totally black but also a little too clear for my liking. Tapping into my weather-manipulation powers, I summoned the wind to blow the nearby clouds closer, lower. I needed their thickness to shield me from wandering eyes, though, with the bright street lights of the city acting as their own sort of veil, pedestrians were unlikely to spot me through them.

With a great slash of my wings and a thrust of my limbs, I took off, each flap shooting me higher and higher into the night sky. I ripped through a cloud in seconds, scattering puffs of foggy moisture all around me. Once concealed in the clouds, I allowed myself to soar just above them, coasting on the air that pushed beneath my wings.

Ah, this was exactly what I’d needed. Whenever I flew, it was like leaving my cares on the ground. I could be free for as long as I could stay airborne, and the elation it gave me was far better than any drug could offer. Maybe even better than sex.

The thought brought that vexing witch back into my mind, the flash of her green eyes suddenly all I could see.

Dammit, why won’t she leave me be!?

With a groan, I flapped my wings behind me as if I could banish her with the effort. This was supposed to be my happy place, my shelter, and her tempting presence still followed me.

I swooped through the clouds with an uncharacteristic aggression, chasing a nothingness I seemed unable to attain. Ugh, I could even smell her.

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