Half of Ruby

Chapter 34

Ember spluttered as Ronan yanked her into the street, slamming the door shut behind them. 

"Where are you taking me?" 

"Away," came the response. "And we need to talk. Elizabeth—I mean, Elyvera—she told me a few things about Ombretroix Coven and your visit to Princess Vyella." 

Ember's eyes widened. "She told you about that?" 

Ronan nodded, slowing down as they sped away from the mansion. How often had she walked these streets in the past week with him? "Ember, Elizabeth...she told me about the concept of regeneration." 

Regeneration? Ember frowned, eyes darting towards him. "What do you—oh! The clone thing? The story of—"

"—of Constance, yes." Ronan sighed, eyes straying down the street. "And about how you can't fall in love. How you're controlled by that...Ruby." 

Ember blinked as unexpected anger flickered through his gaze, no, rage. His grip tightened around hers, hot and fiery. 

"I'm not going to let her treat you that way," said Ronan, voice low and furious. "I'll never let anyone treat you that way." 

She halted, right in the middle of the street. He started, hand nearly flying off her wrist as pedestrians yelped, whirling past them with disgruntled snorts and swirls of silk and finery. 

For a moment, they could only stare at each other. Surprise flashed through her gold eyes as a blush crept up his cheeks. 

"I mean," stammered Ronan, "I'm just defensive—"

A grin burst across Ember's face, and a lump rose up her throat right afterwards, bearing with it the unbearable urge to cry. No, no, don't let him—

But her lips trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision as she stared down at the ground. Shame burned the tips of her ears as he walked closer to her, never letting go of her wrists. 

"Why are you crying?" 

"You're...you're an idiot." Ember took a deep breath, swiping away her tears. "Oh, I'm so stupid to cry—"

"No!" protested Ronan. "I completely understand. It's just—"

"I don't need your protection," she said, and he blinked, startled. "No," she amended hurriedly. "I didn't mean it like that. I just find it so...touching...how you said that. Th-thank you." 

Oh, god, the stammer's back. Embarrassment swept through her as a cheeky grin crossed his lips. 

"I was just being honest." 

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, stop it, you. Weren't you talking about Vyella and Elyvera?" 

He hesitated uncertainly, sighing as he spoke grudgingly. "Well, yes. They want you to stop Constance. Apparently Ruby's trying to save her lover, which...won't happen anytime soon. And if she does that, Queen Thyrema, the current Giant Queen, will be furious." 

"All right, and that means...?" 

"Thyrema knows that Constance is Delcah's daughter and the rightful heir to the Giant throne. She wants to dispose of Constance, reclaim her...she just needs proof that Constance is Delcah's offspring." 

"And how does she have that?" 

"That's the problem—she doesn't. Heritage can only be traced through blood. Each family had a type of magic engraved in their lineage—Constance bears Delcah's." 

Ember's eyes widened as they turned a corner. "And...Vyella drew my blood." 

"Yes, she did. But Ember, she did it to prove that Constance is not Delcah's daughter."