The Ember In The Dark
Ch. 18

A full blooded siren. I had never met one before, but it explains why I feel so weird. Sirens mess withyour head and your emotions and usually you're not even aware it's happening or that it has beendone. A real mind fuck.

I nodded my head and linked Ash letting him know. Rachel apparently already knew, which makessense since she's seen this band many times before. I wonder if the crowd goes even crazier fortheir band because Dex is on stage.

I kept my gaze averted from Dex the rest of the evening.

"So do you guys go to the same high school as us?" Ash asked, making friendly conversation.

"Dex goes to our school, he's just absent a lot. Tris is homeschooled, and Killian here goes to aschool for the gifted.” Josh answered him. Killian gave me a little smirk, being boastful about wherehe goes to school.

"That's cool. So how did you guys meet then?" Ash was being very curious.

"Online." Tris answered. "Josh posted tryouts for a band.”

"Really? That's cool." Ash took a drink of the beer he'd been holding a while. He fought the grimaceas the bitter taste hit him.

"Hey why don't you guys go and get us all a new round of drinks?" Dex asked Killian and Tris,staring deeply at them.

"Yeah, sounds good." Killian said melodically as he stood with Tris closely behind.

"Ash, you wanna help me? If you come, we'd have an easier way of getting to the bar.” Killian askedhim.

"Uh, yeah sure.” Ash looked at Rachel unsure, since he's supposed to be her buddy all night.

"I'll come too. I feel like dancing a bit. Josh wanna join me?" She smiled at him, holding her handout.

Josh looked at me for a moment before he took Rachel's hand. Just like that Toni and I were leftalone with Dex. I am not sure how things turned out like that.

"How about we go dance too?" Toni asked me. He clearly didn't like the idea of us being left alonewith Dex.

"And leave me all alone here?" Dex asked, feigning offense.

Toni tensed up and grabbed my hand. Dex raised an eyebrow, curious for a moment.

"You two a thing?" He asked Toni.

Toni was silent for a moment.

"Not yet." He answered through gritted teeth. He really didn't want to tell him that for some reasonDex hummed in response.

"Hey Ember?” Dex called my name and I couldn't help my involuntary reaction of looking at aperson when they call my name.

My eyes met his and I knew I had just fucked up. Something felt strange in me. I couldn't place it,but the more I tried to place it the more normal it felt. In fact, I think it was in me all along.

I was lost in a sea of gray. My mind felt foggy, but nice all at the same time. I could feel myselfmoving, but I am not sure where I am going. Everything felt different and yet totally normal all thesame time.

A hand reached around me and placed itself on my lower back, fingers grazing the top of my ass.Another hand wrapped around the back of my neck, a large thumb at my jawline. I don't remembertelling him to touch me and yet it felt like something I had asked for.

Dex's face was near mine, those gray eyes holding me captive. I couldn't look away even if I wanted,which I didn't. I heard a growl but it sounded so distant as all my attention was kept on those darkgray irises.

Suddenly a burst of fireworks erupted through my skin. A hot sensation coming from my bicep. Icouldn't help, but look away from the dark gray as the fireworks increased in me at that spot. A tanhand was wrapped around it, and pulled me away from Dex.

I crashed against Toni's chest, only causing my body to feel hot like magma. My heart felt like it wascrashing against my chest. My mind felt a bit weird but I wasn't sure why. What was I doing amoment ago?

"Ember?" Toni's voice called me.

"Yes?" I looked at that melted chocolate he calls eyes.

"You okay?" He asked, brushing my hair out of my face. His fingertips leaving goosebumps in theirwake.

"I think so." I answered honestly. Nothing felt wrong, but at the same time it did.

“Guard your mind. You just let a siren control you.’ Talia let me know. “Without the mate bond Toniwouldn't have been able to break the spell."

I remembered what mom had told us about protecting your mind. I thought back to the lessons shehad taught us. I focused on the image of a bubble and placed it around my brain creating a smallbarrier.

“Good, now keep it there." Talia told me.

"Come with me." Toni grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the room.

"So not together, but fated?" Dex asked from behind me.

Toni stopped in his tracks, he turned around and looked at me.

"Don’t turn around.” He told me as he walked past me back to Dex.

I heard a punch.

"Try that bullshit again and I'll kill you. I fucking hate sirens.” This had been the angriest I have everheard him.

I hadn't realized the hate he has for sirens, for his other half. Toni grabbed my hand again, hisknuckles red from the punch. He pulled me out of the room and down the stairs. He led me past thedance floor and the bar. I could see Ash talking with Killian and Tris, as Rachel and Josh jumpedaround the dance floor.

Toni pushed the door open to the club. The fresh cool air whipped around my face. The stars lookedso beautiful against the dark sky.

Toni kept walking for a moment and I just followed him, letting him take me where he wanted. Icould tell he needed a minute to cool off. When we got about a block away from the club, heslowed his pace. He was breathing quickly and his body was tense with anger.

"Ember I need-"

I cut him off, wrapping my arms around his neck and squeezing him tightly against me. I want himso much right now. I want to trust and I want to let go, but I'm so scared. I won't survive anotherheartbreak. I won't.

Toni wrapped his arms around my waist, squeezing me tight. His nose rested at the nape of my neckas he inhaled my scent. I inhaled him too, trying to ease my fears and worries.

I shook my head against the nape of his neck. I squeezed him tighter, needing to feel every muscleof his against my own. I can't keep doing this to Toni. It's not fair to him. Just because I have trustissues. If I were any other wolf I would have his mark on me already.

Toni and I embraced like that for almost 5 minutes. He had calmed down a while ago now, but Icouldn't seem to let him go. I needed more comfort than him, it seems. I want to let him in.