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There was a quiet cooing, and Scarlett jumped, nearly spilling her tea as Amaré flew in the open balcony door. “That bird. It was there.”

Sorin turned to look at the phoenix. “Is that so, my Friend? Care to share?”

Amaré merely clicked his beak and ruffled his feathers slightly.

“You can speak to it?”

“There is a bond that will form and strengthen,” Sorin explained, Amaré swooping to his shoulder and nipping his ear affectionately. “You will learn how to communicate with each other. This is Amaré. He is a phoenix and the animal of Anala.”

“Goddess of sun and fire,” Scarlett whispered softly as she studied the phoenix. Then, a little louder, she said, “There was a horse. It looked like Eirwen, but its mane and tail were like a cascading waterfall.”

Sorin smiled. “Abrax. He is Anahita’s and is bonded to Briar.”

“The silver hawk?’

“She is the wind goddess’ and is bonded to Princess Ashtine. Her name is Nasima. They are rarely seen apart. Was Ashtine there as well?”

“No. Only Talwyn,” Scarlett answered, setting her teacup on the low table and pulling the blanket up over her arms.

“Were there any others?”

“There was a red stag.”

“That was Rinji. Silas’s animal and is bonded with Prince Azrael of the Earth Court.”

All the Court Spirit Animals had been there? At one time? Along with her and Talwyn? That was indeed interesting. But not as interesting as the next words that came from her mouth.

“And the black eagle?”

“What?” Sorin’s head snapped to her.

“The black eagle,” she said cautiously. “There… There was a black eagle.”

“Altaria… Altaria is Temural’s Spirit Animal,” Sorin said quietly. “Like Shirina, he has not been seen in ages. Long before the Great War even occurred.”

“Why?”

“No one knows. They… Do you remember how Eliza reacted when you spoke of Saylah on our journey here?”

“She was surprised,” Scarlett answered. “I know that Saylah is not often spoken of, but my mother gave me my amulet, and I—”

“You owe no one any explanations, Scarlett,” he replied softly. “I’ve told you that.”

“But there are… I don’t think coincidences are as much of a thing as I once thought they were.” She sighed. “I mean, it can’t be a coincidence that I’ve worn Saylah’s amulet my entire life and am now apparently bonded with her Spirit Animal.”

“No, it likely is not a coincidence,” Sorin agreed. He took a deep breath, not entirely sure how she would take the next piece of information he was about to give her. “Shirina and Altaria, along with Ejder, who is Arius’s dragon, and Kilo, Serafina’s snake, are called the Dark Spirit Animals. To my knowledge, none of them have been seen in centuries.”

“Well, that is just…great,” Scarlett grumbled, leaning her head back into the armchair and closing her eyes.

“You know that Arius and Serafina and their children are…” Sorin clenched his jaw, not wanting to say the words.

“I know their family are the most feared among the gods, yes,” she finished for him. “Again, I don’t think there is any sort of coincidence happening here considering I am called Death’s Maiden and am feared among most of the continent.” After a long moment, she said quietly, “Who was my mother’s Spirit Animal? Which goddess was she supposedly bonded to?”

“Supposedly?” Sorin asked with a raise of his brow. “You’ve seen more Spirit Animals than anyone and you question the bonds?”

Scarlett’s eyes met his, and they were blazing gold as she hissed, “As far as I am concerned, the gods and the Fates are just another master coming to stake a claim on my life.”

Sorin stilled at the rawness and bitterness in her tone. “You do not have a master, Scarlett. Not any more.”