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Nuri’s eyes widened, and she turned on Sorin, pulling her scimitars as she did.

“What is she talking about, General?” Cassius said, falling back to Scarlett’s side. The three of them were now facing Sorin, weapons drawn.

“I swear to you I do not know,” Sorin answered. His eyes were on Scarlett’s as he said, “Talk to me, Scarlett. Tell me what he told you.”

“What he told me, General, is thatyousend soldiers from your High Force on missions at night intomySyndicate. He learned there is a contact in the Black Syndicate that tells you where our children are hidden. Who is your contact there?”

“Scarlett, I swear to you, I know nothing of this,” Sorin said again, raising his hands before him placatingly.

“Stop lying to me!” Scarlett cried as she flipped her shirastone dagger so she was holding it by the blade and hurled it at him. His eyes widened as he jumped to the side, but the blade sliced a shallow gash along his arm before it embedded itself in the wall near him. He hissed at the contact, his eyes flaring gold.

“Stop it, Scarlett,” he snapped. “Talk to me.”

“I’m done talking,” she said, and she lunged for him, pulling a second dagger, this one of steel.

Sorin met her blow with his own sword. “Scarlett, look at me. I know nothing of this.”

“You have lied to me since I met you!” she cried, swinging again and again. He blocked her and matched every thrust and lunge. He managed to make her drop her dagger, but her sword kept swinging. She could hear Cassius swearing viciously as she pushed Sorin back. He was nearly to the wall.

“Then let me tell you a truth right now, Scarlett,” he said through clenched teeth. He was panting as she continued to rain down blow after blow.

“I can trust nothing that comes from your mouth,” she spat.

With maddening ease, Sorin spun behind her, and she found herself now backed against the wall.“Control that rage, Love, and maybe you will land a blow,” he smirked.

He wasteasingher! That arrogant son of a—

She threw her sword to the ground, and the confusion that crossed Sorin’s face was the only pause she needed. She struck with her fist, landing a blow to his jaw. His lip split and a drop of blood appeared.

“That was a nice distraction,” he said, his tongue flicking out to lick up the drop of blood. “But all you would have had to do to distract me is find a better use for your tongue.”

Scarlett screamed in rage and lurched towards him, but he stuck out his foot, looping it around her ankle. She went careening to the floor, and she braced herself for the pain of face-planting, but it never came. An arm came around her waist, and she landed on top of Sorin. She sucked in a breath as the air was knocked from her lungs.

“Scarlett!” Cassius yelled. Her eyes snapped to his as he started forward.

“No!” she snarled. “He is mine.”

Cassius froze, and Nuri burst out into laughter. “Yes,” she smirked. “Yes, he is. My money is on you, by the way, Sister.”

“Scarlett.” Sorin’s voice brought her eyes snapping back to his. “I swear to you that I have never been to the Black Syndicate.”

“No,” she sneered. “You just send those beneath you in to do your dirty work, and usemeto get even more information.”

Scarlett brought her fist back to punch him in the face again, but he was so damn fast. He caught her wrist, and then the other when she brought that one back as well.

“No, Love. I would never hurt innocent children.”

“Don’t call me that!” she shrieked. She brought her knee up to strike him in the groin, but he rolled her before she made contact, until he was on top of her, pinning her hands above her head.

“Apparently we need to work more on your hand-to-hand combat skills,” he smirked, bringing his face close to hers.

Scarlett met his gaze as she ran her tongue over her lips. His golden eyes shot to her mouth.“Apparently,” she replied, her lips brushing over his cheek as she spoke. “You are easily distracted.”

She snapped her head up, cracking him in the nose.

“Dammit!” he barked, his hands releasing her wrists to cup his nose where blood now gushed from it.

With all her strength, she flipped him off of her, and he rolled to the side. She was on her feet in an instant, bringing her foot back to kick him in the side, but he caught her boot. “Don’t. I will not break your fall this time, Love.”