Tarnished Embers Book Novels & Stories

she vowed. Together, they watched the last flickers die—not in darkness, but in the promise of dawn yet to come Epilogue The Ember That Remains The embers pulsed low in the ceremonial brazier, casting soft golden light across the stone walls of the newly built Ember Hall. Around them, shelves filled with reclaimed manuscripts and recovered sigils whispered of ancient wisdom not hoarded, but shared. A circle of chairs stood unoccupied for now, waiting not for secrecy, but for seekers.

Tears welled up, and she turned and fled down the hallway, the sound of her bare feet slapping against the hardwood fading into the distance. Lucas stared at the empty doorway, the echo of his own voice ringing in his ears. A wave of guilt washed over him, mixing with the hot anger that had been simmering all night. He took another swig, then another, and another. He lost count of how many bottles he emptied. The room started to spin, the edges blurring. He pushed himself to his feet, the world tilting precariously. He lurched forward, his hand outstretched, searching for something to hold onto.

And if that blade was unsheathed too quickly, without guidance, without grounding It would cut through everything. Even those she loved. Even herself. - Ember rose, continuing through the ghost paths old wolves once used, past trees marked with moon sigils, past the place where Ariya had fallen. A broken altar under a weeping cedar, its sap dripping like slow tears. Ember crouched, pressing her palm to the frozen earth, breathing in the cold. “Come back whole,” she whispered, letting her breath warm the frost. “Come back not as fury alone, but as the Queen we lost.

The air trembled, heat rippling through it like a heartbeat. My eyes snapped open just as the magic ignited. Fire erupted beneath me, racing up the walls, devouring the air. I stumbled up, choking on smoke. Ember stood in the center of the room, framed by the blaze, her silhouette sharp and perfect against the light. Her eyes burned with both colors now—black and gold—and her smile was something beautiful and terrifying. “You should’ve never trusted the flame.”

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.”

"Gina told me. She's told me of most of the mercenary groups. Of Greenbush, and Hedgeshadow. Of Pondgrass, and Merriway. All powerful, deceptive, and fierce in battle. Yet, none as powerful as the Night Witch." Talks like this made Karl hard, but thanks to the heat of Lexi's cherry, it provided just enough heat to keep him from aching out in pain, and thanks to her tender ministration, and the rhythmic movement of her body against him. Slow and steady. "I like this beautiful feel of you," Karl said. "I am holding back my pleasure." "And you are driving me mad." ***

The Keeper’s Ember pulsed gently at her side. “This fire,” she said softly, “has passed through hands bloodied by war, cracked by grief, and strengthened by love.” She looked from face to face. “But now, it passes into yours.” One by one, she approached the carriers, touching the orb gently to their flames. Each ember grew—not with force, but with resonance, a subtle harmony of light and memory. When she reached the final carrier, a boy no older than twelve from the Southern Caverns, he leaned forward and whispered, “I will remember you.”

Erya fell on the ground with a thud and there came a point where she opened her eyes but never got to close them again on her own. Cia's glossy eyes flooded with tears by watching another person turning lifeless before her. Why did their love have to cost them so many lives? Why was it tainting them so badly? Shutting her eyes, she buried herself in his arms. Zale, whose eyes were fixed on Erya's soulless eyes, finally darted towards Cia when she caged him firmly. A vulnerable sigh escaped from his mouth because now he himself didn't know that was that game of getting tainted with the blood of their closed ones was ever going to end or it was going to end only with their own blood?

Once we got home, Jeremy thoughtfully helped me put my bag on a hook, change into slippers, and brought me to the dining hall to show me that he had cooked a feast for me. “I called my mom to ask about what’s good. These foods are very nourishing for people who’ve just had a miscarriage. Have a taste.” I pushed away the cutlery he gave me and snorted before mocking him, “You’re thinking about taking care of me now that the baby died? You should have done this before.” “I got stuck on an insignificant problem. Joy was right. What’s important is us properly spending the rest of our lives together.” I sneered. Joy really was the one pitching him ideas.

I knew I was safe, I could finally rest knowing I had found Orion. "Hope Embers, I see you're still alive," Orion said. "Men, chain and throw this traitor in the dungeon. Make sure she doesn't receive any medical attention." My blood turned cold instantly.