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Cyrus just stared at her, a new admiration on his face, as he slapped three silver coins into her waiting hand. Sorin had never been worried about Scarlett and Cyrus getting along. No, he had not been entirely lying when he’d told Scarlett he dreaded them meeting.

They had all finally called it a night and walked back up to the private quarters with Briar portaling back to the Water Court. When they entered his chambers, Cyrus and Rayner headed straight to the liquor cart, but he had seen Scarlett wince slightly out of the corner of his eye.

“They do not have to stay,” he’d said quietly.

She had merely smiled up at him, a smile she never gave anyone else, not even Cassius, and said, “You’ve watched me sleep enough, Prince. Go be with your family.” She had bid them all good night and slipped into the bedroom.

“So you get sent on a fool’s errand and come home with a secret princess?” Cyrus asked, sipping at his drink.

“Cyrus,” Rayner said, his grey eyes swirling with the warning in his tone.

“Oh, relax,” Cyrus said dismissively. “I’m not trying to start anything. That’s just quite a difference, and the story of how it happened must be riveting.” He looked expectantly at Sorin.

So Sorin told them everything, or almost everything. He left out the part about her being pissed at him for over a month. Telling the bastards that would result in endless taunting at his own expense, and he didn’t reveal any of Scarlett’s personal history.

“She has not asked about the Mark?” Rayner asked when he was finished, nodding to Sorin’s left hand. Sorin looked down at the Mark that covered the back of his hand, thumb, and index finger.

“She has commented on it, but she does not know what it is or what it means,”Sorin answered. “I had to take it. It was the only way I could figure out where she was in the Lairwood House. Through the connection.”

“Does she even know what a twin flame is?” Cyrus asked.

“She knows about the idea of the twin flame,” Sorin answered, rubbing his temples. “Whether she believes it or not, I do not know. We only discussed it once.”

“You haven’t told her that she is yours?” Cyrus questioned in disbelief.

Sorin winced. “The timing hasn’t been right. She wasn’t allowed to make any of her own choices in the human lands. I didn’t want to take a choice like this away from her.”

“She deserves to know,” Rayner said, his voice low. He was always the sensible one of the group, likely because he kept his emotions locked down at all times. “By not telling her, you are taking away that very right to choose.”

“I know, but I cannot force it on her. She has had too much of that already,” Sorin sighed, draining the last of his liquor.

“Forget that,” Cyrus snapped, annoyance heavy in his tone. “Let’s talk about the risk of taking that Mark without a companion Mark.”

Before Sorin could reply, though, all three of them were on their feet. They had all felt it. She was here. She had crossed their wards. They all crossed the room, stalking to the door, flames licked up and down Sorin’s entire body, and when they were gone, he was dressed in dark charcoal clothing, the color of soot and ashes. Fighting leathers lay over the top of the clothes while twin blades appeared at his back. An assortment of knives and daggers were sheathed and secured in various places. Cyrus and Rayner wore nearly identical attire. Cyrus had a bow and quiver full of arrows. Rayner had vambraces at his wrists.

They entered the hall where Eliza met them. Her fighting leathers held more daggers than Sorin’s own. “Always in the fucking middle of the night,” she muttered, finishing the braid she was quickly working into her hair. Her elegant sword, Flamethrower, was sheathed down her back.

Sorin raised a hand before him and a fire portal opened. As one, they entered and stepped onto the grounds in front of the palace gates. The portal snapped shut behind them.

“She is alone,” Rayner said, his eyes entirely swirling with smoke now.

“Luan will not be far behind,” Sorin replied grimly, sliding his hands into his pockets.

They all went silent as they waited. Cyrus flanked his left while Eliza was on his right with Rayner beside her. A few moments later, Talwyn stepped from the trees. Her hair was flowing on her winds, moonlight reflecting off it. Three shields of flame and a shield of smoke instantly snapped into place.

Talwyn stopped several feet away from them, a vindictive smile on her lips. She wore her usual brown pants with a white tunic. A moment later, Azrael Luan stepped out of the air to her side. He took them all in and gave a snort of disgust.

“Prince Aditya, you return home,” Talwyn said, her voice soft yet severe.

“You gave me permission to do so,” Sorin replied nonchalantly, with a shrug.

“I told you to come home weeks ago,” Talwyn snapped, displeasure ringing in her tone. “But you begged to stay because you had discovered something.” Her eyes narrowed as she continued. “Where is my ring?”

“I do believe your ring adorns your finger.”

“Do not be a smart ass,” Talwyn growled, taking a step towards them. “Tell me, who bears that ring now?” When Sorin didn’t answer, she took another step towards them. “I have seen her, Sorin. She came to the Forest. I have seen it upon her finger. Does she even know what it is?”

“You told me to return with the ring and I have. I have fulfilled my oath to you,” Sorin answered with an icy calm.