Swiftly I rise and move forward to the Ash King’s side. I reach out to the girl. “Embri’s your name, isn’t it? Take my hand, Embri.” Whimpering, she obeys, and golden wisps twine her fingers with mine. I can’t alter her emotions, but I can soothe the nausea in her stomach, slow her heart rate a bit, ease the panicked fight-or-flight responses of her body. Within a few seconds, she stops trembling. Cautiously I glance up at the Ash King. And in the violence of his scarlet eyes, I see my doom.
