Page 95

“Darkness is not a bad thing, Scarlett, but do not let it overtake the stars.”

Scarlett awoke an hour or two later. The sun hadn’t even started to rise yet if the darkness around the curtains indicated anything. The only light was the fire that was still burning in the hearth. She wasn’t sure when they had fallen asleep. They had gone silent after she had told Sorin of how she had learned to play the piano, each left to their own thoughts. She could feel his arm draped casually over her, and she turned to find him sleeping as well. It was comforting in its own way. He always seemed like he had an endless reserve of energy and didn’t need sleep. At some point, he had managed to get her a pillow and a blanket, her head resting in his lap. The harshness of his face was softened as he slept.

As much as she wanted to stay nestled in the cocoon of warmth he’d created for her, she really needed to use the bathroom. As carefully as she could, she attempted to slide his arm off her, but his eyes flew open at the first movement.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“Are you are all right? Is something wrong?” he asked, concern in his eyes.

She laughed under her breath. “Nothing is wrong. Just a full bladder.”

When she returned, there were several candles lit around the room,and Sorin was coming from the kitchen with a plate of fruit, bread, and more tea. Scarlett made for the table, where books and papers littered every surface. Sorin cleared a spot and set the plate down, handing her the cup of fresh tea.

“Thank you,” she said, pulling a scroll towards her. Then she added, “If you need to sleep more, I understand. I’ll be fine.”

“I do not need to sleep more,” Sorin replied, leaning against the table and crossing his arms.

“How much sleep do Fae actually need?” Scarlett asked.

“It depends on how much energy is expended on magic,” Sorin answered, shrugging. “When I do not have regular access to it, very little.”

“I see,” Scarlett replied, running her fingers along various books on the table. “Tell me about Cassius.”

“Cassius?” She could hear the surprise in his voice. “You would rather know of Cassius and not about yourself?”

“Yes,” Scarlett replied simply. “There will be plenty of time to discuss what you know ofmypast.”

“Will there now?”

“Of course. When we train,” she replied, not even looking up from the scroll. It was a more detailed map of the one Sorin had shown her earlier. There was information written on it about each realm, including who their leaders were, what powers and magic they possessed, and any other notable people of the area.

Sorin pulled the scroll to himself, rolling it up quickly as he said casually, “Oh? We are doing that again now, are we?”

Scarlett could hear the smirk in his tone as she turned to look at him. “Oh yes,” she replied, the same faint amusement filling her own voice. “I suspect it shall be even more entertaining from this point forward.”

The two faced off for a moment, neither willing to give in and break the stare. Scarlett was sure he was about to lean in and kiss her any second when she turned back to the table and said simply, “Cassius?”

She could feel him still staring at her. There would certainly be plenty to discuss and figure out at their training sessions from here on out and not only about her past.If she were being honest with herself,shehad almost kissedhima few seconds ago, and where that would lead, she wasn’t quite ready to go.

Sorin finally turned back to the table and unrolled a different scroll, coming closer to her to point out areas of the map. He brushed against her side, and she could hardly focus as the smell of ash and cedar filled her bones.

“We know Cassius is not human because he possesses the ability to do spell work,” Sorin said, pointing to the mortal realm, “so he cannot be completely of the human lands.”

“What do you mean completely?” Scarlett asked.

“He could be part mortal, I suppose, but what little I know of his magic, he seems too powerful to be half mortal,” Sorin replied. Scarlett could hear the contemplation as he spoke, clearly still trying to figure Cassius out. “Night Children also do not possess any ability to do magic or spell work,” Sorin went on, moving his finger to their realm. “He is not Fae—”

“How do you know?” Scarlett asked, interrupting him.

“Fae…” Sorin seemed to hesitate. “While we can do spell work, it takes Fae years of training to do spells as complicated as the ones he is doing, and he is doing them with little training. Even more so, only the more powerful Fae can do the spells he is doing. He is also missing many Fae traits.”

“So are you,” Scarlett argued. When Sorin raised his brows in question, she continued. “I am trained in killing your kind. I know what characteristics Fae possess. Where are your pointed ears and longer canines?”

“There are spells that can glamour one’s appearance, but there is always a cost,” Sorin answered. Something crossed his face that Scarlett wasn’t sure what to do with. Was it hesitancy? Puzzlement?

“What kind of cost?”

“It depends on what is being done in the spell, but magic always has a cost. When I use my fire magic, the cost is a drain on my energy reserves. If I deplete it too quickly and without allowing it to refill,I would be weakened to a point of near death. It is why when Fae are coming into their powers, they are taught control and how to properly tunnel down into their magic and safely release it,” Sorin explained. He was watching her, studying her like something was about to happen.