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Scarlett sank back onto the sofa. She had been prepared for the Council. She had answered to them and faced their wrath plenty of times. She had been beaten and locked in cells for days, food being withheld.

The Council didn’t worry her nearly as much as being summoned privately by the Assassin Lord,especially after their encounter a few hours ago.

He knew her. His brands of punishment were carefully planned to inflict the most damage. The display today had been nothing. He had forced her to watch while he had beaten Cassius unconscious, then forbidden her to tend to him, chaining her to the wall while Cassius lay before her. He had dumped her into the icy sea waters in the middle of winter and made her find her own way back to the Fellowship in the dark and cold. He had shoved her into a cage of propriety, containing her wildness and forcing her to hide in plain sight. Again.

He knew how to break her, and doing so had nothing to do with physical pain. She had also shown him preciselywhocould be used against her on that deserted street today.

Gods, she was such a fucking idiot.

“Will you be there?” Scarlett whispered around the lump in her throat.

Cassius’s teeth clenched, and a muscle worked in his jaw. “No, but I am to remain within summoning range.”

Scarlett closed her eyes, swallowing again. Sorin remained silent.

“Come,” Cassius said to her. “I will escort you back to the manor. Lord Tyndell has inquired after you since you have not been at dinner the last four nights.”

Scarlett opened her eyes. “No. I am not ready to return there yet. Sorin and I need to discuss some things we learned today.”

Again Cassius glanced between her and Sorin before he said, “Lord Tyndell has demanded you return home, Scarlett.”

“That isnotmy home,” she snapped.

Cassius stilled. “Do not displease him. Not right now, Scarlett. Not when you are to see the Assassin Lord tomorrow. Do not make this worse than it already is.”

“Lord Tyndell does not own me,” she replied coolly.

“Of course he doesn’t,” he said slowly, “but you were sent there by the Assassin Lord who…”

He trailed off. Scarlett knew what he had been about to say.Who does. Who does own you.

“I will return to the manor at some point tonight,” she answered with a dismissive wave of her hand. “I’m sure General Renwell will be happy to escort me.”

“I am fairly certain you do not need any type of escort,” Sorin murmured from his spot near the hearth that he had quietly made his way to, watching them carefully.

Cassius ignored him, staring at Scarlett. His eyes were assessing and calculating. He kept the distance between them as he ventured, “Scarlett, do not make the Assassin Lord come collect you himself. Again. If I have to watch—”

“He already beat her in the Syndicate today,” Sorin said flatly. “What more does he want from her?”

Cassius’s eyes widened as Scarlett whirled to face Sorin. “Stay out of this, General,” she seethed.

“Scarlett.” Cassius was already closing the distance between them. He reached for her tunic, already knowing exactly what the Assassin Lord would have done. Why he would have inflicted those exact injuries.

She jerked back from him. “I am fine, Cass,” she bit out. “They barely hurt.”

“Seastar,” Cassius said, his tone softening. “I know you miss her. I know you want retribution. I know that you feel guilt every day for her death. I know that you think by defying him you are—”

“You are dismissed, Cassius,” she said, cutting him off and jerking her chin to the door. “Take your leave.”

His eyes flew open wide in disbelief. “You cannot be serious!” When she said nothing, his tone turned slightly pleading. “Scarlett, talk to me. Please don’t do this.”

When she still said nothing, his face turned hard with frustration and anger. Cassius took a vial from his pocket and slammed it down on the table beside him. “Your tonic,” he seethed. Again, he glanced between her and Sorin. “Be aware that he has instructed Sybil to cease putting your daily contraceptive into it.” He raised a brow and gave a pointed glance at Sorin, as if he knew exactly what had been occurring before he arrived. He likely did. Sorin stiffened at the implication.

“Get the fuck out,” Scarlett said dangerously under breath.

“Gladly,” Cassius snarled, crossing to the door. He didn’t even look back over his shoulder as he slammed the door behind him.

Scarlett let her face fall into her hands, her elbows braced on her knees. What a huge godsdamn mess this had become. The silence was thick in the room. Sorin hadn’t moved from his place near the hearth.