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“How did he know where to find me?”

Ignoring her question, Rayner asked, “Does anyone know you are here? Have you been spotted?”

But before Scarlett could answer and press about how Sorin knew how to find her, the door to the room flung open. The High Witch stalked into the room, her violet eyes glowing with ire. Her voice was cold and unforgiving as she hissed, “Do you know what we do to males who come to my lands, who enter my home, without permission, Ash Rider?” She drew the sword that was strapped to her back as she finished speaking, leveling the blade with his throat.

“Forgive me, High Witch,” Rayner replied, bowing low at the waist. Scarlett was somewhat shocked at the deep level of respect from someone just as terrifying as the High Witch. “I come on an errand of my Prince.”

“Your Prince should know better than to send males here without warning. You shall be his reminder,” she snarled as she made to step towards Rayner.

Without giving herself a chance to think about what she was doing, Scarlett stepped in front of Rayner. Her voice was authoritative, commanding, and her eyes glowed blue with flames, her shadows poised to strike. “He came at my request. He is one of mine.”

The High Witch studied her with those violet eyes for a moment, seeming to consider something. “You claim him?”

“I do. He is my family,” Scarlett answered.

“Intriguing,” the High Witch said, studying her a moment longer. “Follow me. The Oracle is expecting you.”

Shirina stood at the words and padded after the High Witch. She paused at the door, looking back over her shoulder as if beckoning Scarlett to follow. Scarlett had only taken a step when she felt Rayner grab her elbow. She slowly looked down at his fingers on her arm and dragged her eyes up to his, biting back on the snarl at that grip.

“You are going to the Oracle?” he asked darkly.

“It would appear so,” Scarlett answered. She tugged her arm, and Rayner let go at once. She again began to follow Hazel and Shirina, and Rayner fell into step beside her.

“Who does the High Witch think you are?” he whispered as they walked along a corridor. They were several feet behind the High Witch,and Scarlett wondered if a Witch’s hearing was as keen as the Fae and Night Children. Based on Juliette, if she had indeed been a Witch, she could only assume it was.

“She called me a queen. I didn’t think it wise to correct the High Witch,” Scarlett whispered back.

“The Oracle is not someone to be trifled with,” Rayner warned as they rounded a corner.

“Then it’s a good thing I’m not planning on fighting her,” Scarlett drawled. “Is it a her?”

“No one knows. We assume so since it is a Witch,” Rayner replied, “but it appears differently to everyone.”

“What do you mean?” They were outside now, walking down a snow-covered dirt path to the forest that sprawled behind the High Witch’s castle.

“I mean how she appears to me, she will not appear to you. You might see an old blind woman, hunched over and walking with a cane, while I might see a great bird.”

Rayner caught her by the waist as she tripped over a fallen branch, and she threw him an appreciative glance. Once he had steadied her, a plume of smoke appeared before them and from it he drew the same sword that Eliza had summoned for her in the courtyard the day Talwyn had appeared there. “Here,” he said, handing it to Scarlett. “Eliza sent this for you.”

Scarlett gave him an appreciative nod and slid it into the sheath along the back of her leathers. They walked for at least another five miles, traversing through the trees and across babbling brooks not yet frozen over by the winter weather. The High Witch never once looked back to see if they were still behind her, but Scarlett had the feeling she could indeed hear every word they were saying.

“What is she when you see her?” she asked Rayner.

“I have never seen her.”

“Never?” Scarlett turned to him in surprise.

He shook his head. “Very few have ever seen the Oracle. So few, in fact, that some believe it is only a legend.”

Scarlett only nodded as they continued on. They had begun to climb a steep cliff-side, and Scarlett found herself even more grateful for the clothing Hazel had provided for her.The boots were excellent for gripping the rocks. Shirina was bounding ahead of them, back and forth, up the rocky slope, a shadow of night against the snow. Hazel had clearly climbed this cliff-side many times, knowing exactly where to step and grip to make quick work of the climb. Rayner had gone before Scarlett and helped her up onto a cliff edge where Hazel stood waiting beside a cave opening.

“The Oracle lives here?” Scarlett asked, peering around Rayner into the dark of the cave before her.

“You are not permitted to take weapons in with you,” Hazel replied in answer.

Scarlett glanced at Rayner, uncertain of what to say to that. He had placed himself between her and the High Witch, and he straightened to his full, towering height as he said, “You expect my Queen to enter a cave unarmed?”

“If she wishes to see the Oracle, I do,” Hazel retorted harshly.