Stolen

Chapter Twenty-Six

Ember

Days passed by in a blur. The only person I allowed into my room was Maya and only so that Knox wouldn't break the door down to make sure I was alive. Maya had tried to assure me that Knox would come nowhere near me, but I didn't believe her. I found myself silently wishing he was here and then chastising myself for it. I felt like I was two people and one of them loved Knox. I shook my head as I stood in front of the full length mirror like it would shake away the thoughts but it didn't. I had slipped the dress that Carrson had gifted me on and was admiring the way it hugged my curves when the thought popped into my head, "I wonder if Knox will like it". Guilt continued to wreck me as I pinned my hair in place, allowing the soft delicate curls to flow freely down my back. Maya had spent hours on my hair alone and it looked amazing.

"Tonight is the celebration of time." Maya had said, "Everyone will be dressed up. It's a way to celebrate graduation for the recruits and the members going into Phase II. We get to dance and drink and just let loose for one night before the actual ceremonies begin tomorrow." When I'd pulled the dress from the small closet her eyes had gone wide. "Where did you get that!" She pulled the sheer fabric between her fingers in admiration and I had lied to her. My stomach twisted as I said, "It was with the things of mine that you collected after...after I woke up." But from the look in her eyes, she knew that wasn't the truth. Even now I could see the distrust that had laced her delicate features. I turned away from the mirror as the memories threatened to make me skip the whole night. Things were shaky in my mind. I didn't know what was real anymore. I slipped the strappy black heels onto my feet and headed for the door before I could change my mind.

The academy was celebrating in the ballroom, something I didn't even know we had. I walked carefully down the stone steps as music flooded the small cramped stairwell I was in. There were a few recruits coming up as I was going down but for the most part, it seemed as though everyone was already in there. I reached the bottom without falling and pulled the door open. The door opened into a large room with a glass ceiling that revealed the most spectacular view of the night sky I had ever seen. It was as if the stars shined brighter tonight for the celebration of time. I tore my eyes away from the ceiling to take in the rest of the room. Tall tables of glass had been scattered throughout the room as recruits gathered around them with flutes of golden liquid in their hands. There was a long wall of glass windows that looked out into the massive gardens below. Everything was breathtaking.

I stepped forward into the room and immediately felt it. When I turned to look to my right, he was there, a flute of the liquid paused halfway to his lips as his eyes raked over me with hunger. It caused my stomach to flip and coil in response. Knox was wearing an all black suit that strained against the hard muscles of his chest and shoulders. The last time I'd seen him I had told him I wanted nothing to do with him anymore. But standing here, seeing him in front of me, my resolve was cracking. Rhett chatted idly by his side until he realized that Knox was not paying him any attention anymore.

Rhett followed his gaze to where I stood before understanding came over his face. He nodded to me, a quick gesture that no one would have noticed if they hadn't been looking right at him, and physically reached out and turned Knox away from me. Maya approached me before I could do something stupid like walk over to them and handed me a flute. She was wearing a floor length red gown that sparkled with every movement she made under the soft glow of the lights. Her hair was braided in a crown on her head, accentuating her sharp jaw and making her look regal. She was the walking definition of gorgeous.

"What's in it?" I asked her. The liquid shimmered in the soft lights of the room.

"Courage." She smiled, "Just drink it, it'll make you brave."