From The Embers Novels & Stories

It shimmered like heat seen through water. “This is a Hearthglass,” she explained, setting it carefully on the ground between them. “It was used in older Ember cultures—pre-Sterling eras—to reflect fire memories. Sometimes, firebinders forgot their most formative burns. This pulls echoes from their cells, blood, voice, even bone.” Emma frowned. “But if Irsi truly destroyed the memory—” “She didn’t,” Sarah cut in. “She twisted it. Muddied the link.” Steve nodded. “Which means the ember inside you still remembers. Even if your mind doesn’t.”

“Turns out her father is the beta from Crimson Moon. The same beta from the Embers pack.” “The Embers pack?” Dynamite Al groans out as if even saying the name brings him pain. “What the fuck do they have to do with all this?” “What do you know about the embers pack?” I asked Al, wondering what history he might have with them and if he would share that information.

I shout at Ash as another fireball streaks toward us. He dives, rolls, and comes up panting. We've been doing this dance for what feels like hours, dodging flames while Ember reorganizes her hoard with meticulous attention. She's currently debating whether a jeweled crown from the Second Age should go with the gold pile or the "historically significant artifacts" section.

When they arrived, the Heartfire flared softly, recognizing the rhythm in their steps. Arianne smiled. “You are the Children of Dawn,” she said. “Not because you were born in the light, but because you chose to walk out of the dark.” --- The Lesson of the Ember She led them to the base of the Heartfire, where its glow pooled like liquid gold on the stone. “Each of you holds an ember,” she said. “It is small, fragile, and eternal.” The apprentices knelt, cupping their lights between trembling hands. Arianne continued:

"My answer is still the same. You're not going." Her green eyes narrowed. There it was. That tiny flare of temper I had learned how to provoke simply because I liked watching it arrive. It appeared that losing her memories had not taken that from her. That was good. Ember planted both hands on her hips. "We need the winterbloom. And you need the cure." "I do." "And the winterbloom is beyond the Veil." "I am aware of all three facts, Ember. It doesn't change anything," I deadpan.

Aeris's mind suddenly drifted to Isla and Jessy and she gripped Declan's hand tighter. "I hope.. I just hope they're all fine back there" She said and Declan hummed a reply. ______ Back at Ember Wolves kingdom... The once chaotic kingdom had calmed and currently it was being renovated, the century old embroidery and thick stones were removed and replaced with glistening red rubys. The pillars were fallen and replaced with ruby pillars to sooth Logan's taste, he was currently walking out to address his people.. Yes his people now as he was the new Alpha.

"And the real version?" "The real version has a second half." Vell's eyes held Sera's, steady despite the fear Sera could see trembling just beneath the surface of her composure. "When the old fire returns, the old order burns. And in its ashes, she who was erased will choose what rises in its place." Sera felt the words land like a physical weight, settling somewhere deep in her chest. "She who was erased."

For once, Kira was grateful for a shitty work ethic. She couldn’t tell if they were gone yet, but the fire in her lungs from lack of oxygen forced her to act. Kira started to dig; the soil loose around her. It took effort to claw her way to freedom only because she was still healing from the bullet wound in her neck. Dizzy from lack of air and blood loss, she fought her way to the surface. When she finally broke through the dirt, heaving for breath, the cool mountain air seared her lungs as she coughed out dirt.

Rowan's POV One week later* It's been a week, a wonderful week since Ember healed up from being poisoned by wolfsbane. She was poisoned by that demon called Zara, who pretends to be a cool and kind lady in front of Thane. She's just using him. Well, that's not the point. The point is that the second Ember walks through those doors, I won't hesitate to embrace her, kiss her, and tell her how much I have always loved her, despite being rude and harsh to her.

And yet instead of being comforted, coldness crept up and down her body. She shook her head and opened the paper bag. Her hand raised a black bonnet, in which she placed on her head until only a pair of cold blue eyes gleamed under the moon. She picked a lighter out from her pocket and lit the the paper bag on fire. A plastic scent filled her nose, but it was quickly replaced by the smell of smoke and the scattered ashes. She blew on the lighter, and the flame went out, then she looked back up to the sky and glared.