Page 52 of Into Ember

“Muffin.” He looks down at me. “Muffin. Yes, you do.”

“We don’t.”

I move closer.

“You will now.”

He opens his mouth to argue. Then he stops. Sniffs — one small breath, like he caught something — and looks at Gunnar. Then back at me.

And Leif, commander of the most respected military unit in the realm, goes red to the ears and nods.

I don’t know what just happened. I know I won.

“Just what I thought,” I say.

Leif looks like he’s not entirely sure what just happened to him either.

Gunnar grins, then flat-out laughs. Brock is grinning too — he’s clearly trying not to and losing.

“What’s wrong, Erik?” Gunnar calls. “Don’t like sharing?”

I look over, and Erik is red — but he doesn’t look angry.

He looks a little sad.

I cross to him before I decide to. “Hey.”

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing—”

I raise an eyebrow.

“It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

“Okaaay. If you say so.”

It’s not nothing. I know it’s not nothing. I’m coming back to that after this Vestry nonsense.

Then a sound rolls through the air behind me — low, tearing, familiar in a way that makes my skin prickle — and I turn as a crossing opens in the middle of the yard. Vick’s doing. He didn’t even move.

He looks at me and inclines his head, offering his arm like we’re at a ball.

“Ladies first.”

“Oh, absolutely not, Pops.” Gunnar jogs up, hooks my arm through his, and grins at both of us.

And walks us straight through the hole in the air.

I don’t even hesitate.

Choosing not to examine that either.

At least I didn’t fall through it this time.

Chapter 20

Brock