Girl in Gold

Chapter 25 ~ Amber Marigold

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CHAPTER 25

Amber Marigold

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If she had the choice, she would be heading straight back. She would walk right up to the cyng of the North and kill him. But before he could take his last breath, she would make it hurt. Hurt like nothing before. For her parents... For Lynch...

"Amber?"

"Huh?"

She looked up, grip threatening to shatter her mug. Calvin sat on the couch across from her, the hearth's fire flickering across his bruised skin.

"You haven't touched your coffee," he said.

"Oh."

"If you're not going to drink it, can I have your biscuits?"

Amber almost smiled and pushed her plate over. Recalling how they met earlier that night, her grip eased. The guy sure loved his sweets. Bringing a biscuit to his mouth, his hand trembled.

"You worried for Lynch and Enrique?" she asked, craning her neck back to glance at the hallway. A sharp light came from the medic room. They had not heard news for over three hours now.

"Why'd he come back?" Calvin asked. "He should've left us."

He kept his head down while he ate. Amber's brow puckered. When it clicked, the girl leaned back and let go of a weighted breath.

"Matt's from the East, yet he still saved you. Maybe there's hope for you bloodlines," she said but realised her wording was wrong.

There was no more 'you bloodlines'. She was no innocent bystander. Her parents were a part of it. She was a part of it.

A headache threatened whenever she dwelled on it for too long.

"You need another jacket?"

Blake trudged into the room, dressed casually. She looked down at the clothes he had given her earlier. Sweatpants and a hoodie.

"I'm fine, thanks."

Steps sounded from the hallway, and everyone turned to Uncle Anton as he closed the door behind him. He looked older. Older than she had ever seen him. Walking over, he wiped his glasses and blinked the tiredness from his eyes. At the sound, Jessy rushed in with the rest of the group, also in borrowed clothes.

"Are they okay?" she asked her dad.

Uncle Anton stood before the group, all eyes on him.

"It's turned out well for the most part," he said. A breath of relief collectively left everyone. "Both boys will recover after a couple of months' rest. They'll sleep for another few hours. The small one lost a lot of blood, so keep an eye on him."

"Does he need a transfusion?" Amber asked.

"No," Blake answered.

She looked over, but the cyng did not look back.

Uncle Anton fiddled with his fingers. "I don't think it should be necessary. Luckily." He kept shifting his weight from one leg to the other. "Uh, Jessy, I'll be heading home now, if..."

"We're coming with you, Father," she said. "Amber, get your stuff. We're leaving in five."

Uncle Anton left to pack his appliances while Jessy gathered her own things. Amber stood completely still. Her legs were unsure of what to do.