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“Hello to you, too,” Nuri grumbled, her arms crossed over her chest. Sorin only gave her a pointed look. She sighed. “Yes, she came out. Yes, she’s eaten. Yes, we spoke. No, we’re not fine, but we’re fine enough for this evening.”

Sorin only nodded and made to cross the room, but Nuri spoke again. “I…” She blew out a huff of frustration. “I haven’t fed since yesterday and can’t leave.” Sorin raised a brow, a smirk creeping over his mouth. “I don’t know what tonight will lead to,” she snapped. “I need to be at the top of my game.”

“Whatever you need to tell yourself, Nuri dear,” Sorin said, rolling up his sleeve.

Nuri gave him a vulgar gesture as he extended his arm. She drank for a good minute or two before leaning back, visibly more relaxed. There was even slight color to her pale cheeks. “Make sure she’s ready for tonight,” she said with a jerk of her chin to the bedroom.

Sorin crossed the room, knocked lightly once, and let himself in. Scarlett was sitting on his bed. She was dressed fully in her black attire, weapons in place, including her shirastone dagger. Her sword lay on the bed beside her. Her knees were pulled up tightly to her chest, her arms wrapped around them. She was staring out the window that was open wide.

“I know the window should be closed,” she said softly as the door clicked shut behind him. “But I wanted to make sure they came out tonight. The stars.”

“The light can always be found in the darkness, Scarlett, even if you have to make your own,”he answered, coming around the bed to look into her face. He leaned against the wall, and she brought her eyes to his. Haunted eyes full of pain and bitterness. “How did you get your attire?”

“Tava delivered it. Under the guise of a gift for her father’s general,” she answered. She held out her hand to him. In her palm lay her mother’s ring. “You should wear this tonight. In case we need your gifts.”

“You are sure?” he asked, taking a tentative step towards her.

She merely nodded. When he reached to take it, his fingers brushed hers, and she wrapped her own around them. He paused, bringing his eyes back to hers. He couldn’t get over how muted and dull they were, absent of their normal glimmer. “You are dreading this evening,” he said, sitting down beside her as he slid the ring onto his finger.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Do you need to talk about it? I know I’m not Cassius, but…”

She turned to him at the words, studying his face. Then she sighed, looking back out the window. “Those of us from the Black Syndicate are called wicked and cunning and cruel for a reason, Sorin. Tonight I shall be all three, but not with blood and steel. I was raised in the darkness. It’s why I find it more comfortable there, but it’s easy to get lost in it.”

Sorin turned to look out the window before them, where a few stars had indeed started to appear. “In the Fae lands, amongst the four Courts, one particular Court is said to be…darker than the others,” he said. “One would even say their prince is wicked and cunning and cruel.” Slowly, Scarlett’s head turned to him. “The people of the Fire Court could be said to be the same.

“It is expected of them as it is expected of those who come from the Black Syndicate. We are a feared Court, probably only rivaled by one other, but there are still areas of light there. The people of the Fire Court know what they guard and protect so valiantly and do not mind being called such things. There is still love and loyalty and laughter in the darkness if you know where to look, even if others do not believe it exists.”

“When you described your home, nothing sounded dark about it.”

“Because I know where to look,” he replied, the corner of his mouth turning up slightly.

“And you may be a pain in my ass sometimes, but I would never call you wicked. I would never fear you,” she said.

Sorin cocked his head to the side. “You may be one of the only people who have said that and meant it,” he replied, “but I will do what is necessary to keep those I care for protected and safe.”

“Are you as high ranking there as you are here?”

“Something like that.”

“Do you answer to the Fire Prince?”

“I currently answer to the Fae Queen.”

Scarlett fell silent again, and Sorin studied her out of the corner of his eye. Her braided silver plait fell over her shoulder. She had a look on her face that reminded him of Fae when they were tunneling down into their power.

“No matter what you see tonight, no matter who I am, promise me you’ll…,” she swallowed, her eyes closing.

“I will find the light, Scarlett,” he said softly.

She didn’t look at him with those words. Only nodded her head once.

They sat in silence for the next hour, and when the front door opened, when they heard Cassius say “Where is she?,” he did not entirely recognize the woman that stood from his bed.

Death’s Maiden indeed.

CHAPTER 30