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“Callan was one of those people in an odd way, and I miss the others. Especially today.”

“The male that Sorin brought weeks ago?”

“Cassius. Yes. I miss him most of all,” Scarlett whispered. She leaned her head on Eliza’s shoulder. “Sorin eases that heartache most days. Most days, just being around him gives me the strength to push through. He… I don't know how to explain what he is for me. Most days, though, he is a rock that steadies me in a storm that does not cease. Today was not one of those days.”

“Some days are hard. Sometimes simply making it through the hard days is enough,” Eliza said, leaning her own head against Scarlett’s. That little bit of contact from a friend who understood just how hard some days could be eased the ache in her chest slightly. The knowledge that sometimes just surviving was enough for one day almost made her sigh in relief.

“Tomorrow will be hard, too,” Scarlett murmured.

“No matter how tomorrow goes, you are not alone,” Eliza replied, “and I do not mean Sorin.”

“Thank you,” Scarlett whispered, squeezing Eliza’s hand.

SORIN

The main door creaked as it opened, and Sorin was instantly on his feet in the sitting room, but it was Cyrus.

“She’s training with Eliza in the private pits,” he said by way of greeting, leaning against the door with his arms crossed. “You look like shit.”

Sorin had hardly slept. He’d been up since before the sun, watching the clock tick by the minutes, then the hours. The bruise on his cheek had healed completely overnight. He’d gone over so many things he wanted to say to her and played out every scenario of how she would respond. Then, of course, there had been the dinner with Callan. What had transpired there? Not that it was his business. They were not bonded. She was free to find release elsewhere. She had basically told him she would find him his own release if he needed it.

When he all but called her a whore.

“I hope you plan to do more than stand there in stone-cold silence when she finally comes back,” Cyrus drawled.

Sorin snorted. “If she does not kick me out on my ass first.”

“You’d deserve it, you know,” Cyrus retorted.

“I am well aware.”

Cyrus stared at him for a moment before saying, “Briar said the mortal who tried to keep her managed to appear to you two.”

“He did,” Sorin admitted, sitting back down on the sofa. “Although I am starting to believe he is not a mortal at all, which would make his desire for Scarlett and her bloodline a lot more logical. Mixing her bloodline with human blood would not do much, but combining it with another magic wielder would be tempting to say the least.”

“Why not approach Talwyn, though? If his desire is more power?”

“I do not know. Perhaps he has heard of our benevolent queen,” Sorin sneered.

“You let her get to you yesterday,” Cyrus said quietly. “Why?”

“She is upset with me. I am keeping Scarlett from her. She is worried about something, so she is lashing out at me, and she knows exactly where to strike,” Sorin answered tightly.

“You let her come between you and Scarlett. She was right there, Sorin. She all but said the Claiming Rite.”

“You think I don’t know that?” Sorin snapped. “I do not need you to remind me of my failures. Talwyn did that enough yesterday.”

Cyrus's lips formed a thin line, a muscle feathering in his jaw. “What do you need from me?”

“Tell Rayner to check in with our spies in the mortal lands, especially the Windonelle capital. See if he can learn anything about Mikale. We are going to need to inform Talwyn soon if we cannot figure it out. Ashtine will need to be sent in,” Sorin said. “Keep it quiet. I do not want her to know unless we have to.”

“Anything else?”

“Try to keep the mortal prince occupied today,” he ground out.

“I’ll see what I can do,” Cyrus answered. “Send word if you need something.”

Sorin nodded, staring into the darkened hearth before him as Cyrus left the rooms. The minutes began to tick by again. He stood, pacing in front of the fireplace. He was about to just go up to the training room and beg on his knees for her to speak to him when the door opened again, and she slipped in.