facing the music
@emberangmar
Dorian had thought in the days following the reveal that Ember would come to him. That she would want to explain herself. Make peace. But she kept herself apart, hiding it seemed from him, and it irked Dorian. How could anything be resolved this way? Ember had been a queen, she should face challenges head on, and seek to explain herself. Dorian had nothing to explain. He had not hidden away a child or lied by omission about its very existence. He had not decided to reveal a great family secret while on a diplomatic mission. He had not disturbed the family peace, and shaken all of them to their core.
So why did he then have to seek her out? He wasn’t keen on making it seem as if he were hunting her down for an explanation, but enough was enough. She had managed to avoid him up until now, but now they were on a boat and there was nowhere to go. It was time to end this silly game of cat and mouse.
Dorian was not going to devour her. He might have a dragon’s rage, but she was family, and he did not unleash his fury upon those he cared about. He still held a great deal of respect for his brother’s widow. Or he had up until now. His annoyance was currently chipping away at it, but that did not erase the affection he still held for the woman. And he trusted his wife enough that when she said that this had to be done, he would accept that. But that didn’t mean that Ember got to act as the wounded party, hiding herself away to lick her perceived wounds.
Striding across the deck, Dorian bounded down the stairs to the cabins. Raising his fist, he knocked decisively on the door.
“Ember, come on. There’s no use in avoiding me any longer.”