Page 48 of The Ember and the Emerald

“Let’s just forget my Smurf makeover for now,” I said. “Do you think Ian’s father found the Ember during his renovation?” Ian could’ve used it to travel back. Could’ve gathered the monstra crystals after Andrea killed them, then brought them here and revived them. “Maybe he righted everything his way.”

That still didn’t explain how Ian cloned himself as monstra.

“Perhaps he did,” Jasher said, “but I still think you’re missing something.”

“I think I’m missing a lot of somethings,” I grumbled.

Kevin spoke from within the backpack. “You survived today. That counts for nothing.”

“I love him,” Jasher stated with a grin.

He could win me over with that look alone.

“We weren’t allowed toys as children,” he admitted. “That would’ve encouraged individuality. Individuality was punished. Harshly.” As soon as he realized he’s shared a tidbit about himself, he pressed his lips into a thin line.

Too bad. Information about him was my catnip. I strode to the bag, withdrew the awful toy, and tossed it to Jasher. “Here, he’s all yours. Regifting isn’t allowed.”

Like the coin, he caught the toy with ease, then looked over his new “treasure.”

Watching him, my mind went quiet and my heart shed important defenses, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. This wasn’t attraction, though that was prevalent. This was…affection. The kind that snuck in while you were distracted. It lowered your weapons without permission and left you exposed to feelings before you even realized what happened. Maybe I’d packed the ridiculous toy for this very reason. Jasher might have been raised by Emma, but he’d never gotten to be a boy. He’d always been a clone with a purpose.

“I always wanted siblings,” I admitted. He’d shared something about his life; I could do no less. “I struggled to make friends, and I imagined my sisters and brothers would be forced to love me.”

Seconds passed in silence. Then, “They are worth every hardship.”

It was then, that moment, that we both remembered I’d forced him to kill one of his brethren. Tension snapped between us.

With a huff, he returned his attention to the toy. “Say something else, Kevin.”

Kevin obeyed. “You’re doing great. If I’m grading on a curve.”

My Tinman patted his head like a proud papa. “Such a good boy.”

I sighed and withdrew two stones. “Do you know what these are?”

Jasher cast me the barest glance before refocusing on Kevin. “You’ll have to let me examine them.” Bored tone.

A little too bored? Should I trust him? He did want to find the Ember.

“Maybe later.” I’d think about it. I returned the stones to the bag and withdrew the crumpled note, reading it again.

Kangaroos invade lava libraries. Mangoes adopt lost kittens; oceans moo. Ostriches rehearse. Donuts invent eclipses.

A code, yes. It must be. But what kind?

With a sigh, I tossed it back in and—gasped. The journal. Though I’d thrown it in a fire pit, it now occupied the same pocket as before, completely unharmed.

Breathing deep, I clutched the leather binding close. “How?” I asked it. Then I glanced at the crackling hearth and wondered…

Could the journal not be burned?

Maybe I should sit down and read while I had the chance, but curiosity got the better of me. If it had returned once; it might do so again, like Jasher’s axes. I needed to know. Needed to see how the pages reacted to flame.

Determined, I marched over, tossed the precious tome into the hearth, and watched.

“That could’ve gone worse,” Kevin said.

“Agreed,” Jasher replied. “I admit, I didn’t expect it.”