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“Really,Renwell?” came a drawling voice from the doorway. “Hiding her in plain sight was not the best move, unless that was not your plan at all? Unless you decided to accept my offer and deliver her to me on your own?”

Scarlett and Sorin both shot off the piano bench, Sorin shoving her behind him. Mikale stood there with two guards and a snake’s smile on his face.

“What offer?” Scarlett asked from behind Sorin.

“He did not tell you?” Mikale replied with a raise of his brows. Then he clicked his tongue. “Has he continued to keep such secrets from you? Even after he managed to steal you from my house? I am beginning to wonder if thegeneraldid indeed come to accept my offer, considering his alliance with the Water Court seems to have been mended. Tell me, did you bring your counterpart along to help control her?”

“What is he talking about, Sorin? Briar is here?”

At her words, Briar emerged from the bedroom, his sword drawn. His normally dark skin had slightly paled as he tried to adjust to being without his magic.

“Mikale somehow appeared near the chalet yesterday,” Sorin started.

“Yes, that was most entertaining,” Mikale cut in smoothly. “You seem to have caused quite the rift among two long-time allies, my pet. I particularly enjoyed seeing the Water Prince land a nice blow to the face of the Fire Prince.”

Scarlett whirled back to Sorin, her eyes darting to Briar. “We took care of it, Scarlett. I was going to tell you. Once we had… Once things were better—”

“Were you though?” Mikale asked, stepping farther into the room, the guards flanking him and more filing in behind them.

“What was the offer?” Scarlett demanded, stepping from behind him to Sorin’s side. He reached for her hand, but she jerked it out of reach.

“He said if I brought you back to him, he would focus his efforts elsewhere, away from the Fire Court.”

“What efforts?”

“He did not specify, and I did not ask. I told him the same thing I will tell him now: He can go to hell,” Sorin snarled at the man.

“What have you done?” she hissed quietly to Mikale.

“I have done nothing…yet.” The smile that filled his face was wicked and horrifying.

“What will you do?”

“To get you back where you belong, my pet? I have been authorized to do whatever it takes.”

“By who?”

“I gave you a hint. Have you not figured it out yet?”

“I took care of the bastard who killed my mother. Years ago. I would love to give you a demonstration as to how,” Scarlett said quietly, violence glittering in her eyes.

“But not the one who ordered her killing,” Mikale purred in reply.

“Why? Why am I so important to you?”

He clicked his tongue again, taking a step towards her. Her shadows coiled around her, preparing to strike like snakes. “Come with me, and I will tell you everything. I will keep nothing from you.” He held out a hand to her.

Sorin watched, with no small amount of horror, as her shadows slowly slithered from her, reaching tentatively towards him as if curious.

“Scarlett.” Sorin said, his tone full of warning.

“Interesting, isn’t it,General?” Although Mikale addressed him, his eyes were fixed on Scarlett’s. She stared back, her head tilting slightly to the side at his words.

Sorin glanced at Briar, but two of the guards blocked his access to them. Briar’s eyes were wide with terror as he watched Mikale and Scarlett. “What is interesting?” he snapped at Mikale.

“That shadows always return to the darkness,” Mikale crooned.

Scarlett took another step towards him. Her shadows swirled around her. “What does that mean?” she asked quietly.