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“I am,” he said softly, brushing her hair back. “I am fine, Love.”

She pulled back slightly, glancing around at the others and up at Briar before her eyes came back to his. “Come back with me. I need you.”

“Of course,” he replied. He stood in a fluid motion, gathering her carefully into his arms. She cradled her arm, and tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. “Put her back to sleep.”

“No,” she gasped again. “Not until you are back.”

“I am right here, Scarlett.” He stepped through a fire portal, not caring if the others followed.

“You are not all right. Something is wrong,” she said softly. Despite the exhaustion in her eyes, there was a clarity. He set her gingerly on the bed, flinching at her slight grimace. He stood and saw Cyrus…and the mortal prince.

His lip pulled back from his teeth and a low growl rose in his throat. Cyrus stepped between them, but before he could say a word, she spoke again.

“Sorin, I need you,” she whispered, her hand reaching up and brushing his.

That was all it took. He understood now. He understood on the deepest of levels how Thia had so thoroughly wrapped Cyrus around her finger.He understood why seeing Scarlett in mortal danger had driven him to a brawl with his General. He understood the utter insanity that encompassed Cyrus for years when Thia had died. He understood that it did not matter that the person who put Scarlett in such danger stood in this room. She needed him, and his entire world revolved around that need.

Without a word, without another glance at Callan or his guards, Sorin toed off his boots. Water licked down his body, erasing the blood and sweat courtesy of Briar. He walked to the other side of the bed, laying down beside her. She reached out her hand once more. He took it gently, pressing a soft kiss to her fingertips, and placed it against his chest.

“Your heart is racing,” she said around another grimace.

“Please let Beatrix help you sleep again.”

She turned her head, looking into his eyes. He could hear the question in them.

Are you back?

“You brought me back, Love. Now rest,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple.

“You will stay?” she asked cautiously, suspicion etching along her features.

“Always,” he whispered, running his nose down the length of hers.

Beatrix pressed her hand to her cheek, and Scarlett seemed to sigh in relief as she slipped back to sleep.

“Get out. All of you,” he growled to the room. He didn’t look away from the princess sleeping next to him to see if they obeyed or not. It did not matter.

CHAPTER 19

CALLAN

Callan felt a tug at his elbow at the Prince’s growled order. He looked down to find a female hand there. Eliza had a grim look on her face, jerking her head to the door. His feet felt like lead as he followed her from the room. His mind was reeling from the events of the last hour.

The Fae Queen had asked for his help in obtaining an audience with Scarlett. She had said she had been trying to speak with her since her arrival, but Sorin had been interfering. She had explained that the ring was a family heirloom and incredibly valuable to her family. She only wished to know how Scarlett had come across it. Then she had asked if Scarlett had any tattoos. When Callan had told her no and that he indeed had knowledge to know if there were any hidden ones, the queen had become somewhat more withdrawn. She had also asked about Sorin’s tattoos, but he had so many visible now that he couldn’t tell her if any were new or not.

Callan had not known her plan until minutes before. They had eaten breakfast at her home. The White Halls, she had called it. When she returned to bring them back to the Fire Court without warning, she had trapped them in some sort of soundless prison and portaled them. He could hear nothing of what was going on outside the inaudible bubble.He could see the screaming and yelling. He watched as Scarlett was shoved into a swirling vortex, her eyes wide in terror.

But when Scarlett had exploded with her magic, his own terror shifted from terror for her to fear of her. She had wielded those flames as if they were extensions of her. She had threatened a godsdamned queen for him. Her concern had been for him and his safety. Even when she was writhing in pain, she questioned ifhewas hurt.

They all walked into the sitting room in silence, Briar gently closing the door behind them.

“Bold move, bringing her down into that,” Eliza said softly.

“It was the only move we could make,” Cyrus replied gravely.

The Water Prince was standing off to the side and looking nearly as livid as Sorin had before Eliza had tackled him through a portal. His eyes were as hard as chips of ice as he stared at Callan.

“Drayce,” Eliza warned. “Perhaps it would be wise to go speak with Sawyer and make sure Talwyn doesn’t make a similar visit to your own Court.”