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Sorin could hear the dread in his voice, and he didn’t know how to react to it.

“Saylah is her mother,” he said. “She has not seen her since she was five. One would think she would be happy to see her. Why do you sound anxious about this meeting? Frankly, it is one that should have happened as soon as we arrived here.”

“She is a goddess,” Cethin said, dragging a hand down his face this time. “She is a goddess first and a mother second. She is not used to being disobeyed. She has her own plans, her own ends to meet, and Scarlett going there before she is summoned is not part of those plans.”

“I think you better start explaining these plans of hers that involve my wife,” Sorin said, his tone going dark and steely.

“I do not know them all. She confides in no one. Not since the last Fae Queen died.”

“Talwyn lives.”

“She is not one of the original queens. Saylah does not care for the daughter of Henna.”

“But you know some of Saylah’s plans?” Sorin pushed.

“I know that the fate of not only my own kingdom but this entire realm depends on Scarlett,” Cethin answered.

“Why? Why would she place that kind of burden on Scarlett without preparing her for any of it?”

“It is my understanding that Eliné was to prepare her for her destiny. Why do you think she was raised in the Black Syndicate? Eliné knew exactly what she was doing when she had her trained to take life. Whether or not she knew the master she was entrusted to was a Maraan, I do not know. Saylah has never divulged that information to me,” Cethin said.

“She was a godsdamnchild,” Sorin seethed. He knew if he’d still had his magic there would be embers in his vision and flames winding around his arms. “In the life of a Fae, of an Avonleyan—fuck, in the life of agod—she is still a child.”

“You think I do not know that?” Cethin snapped, getting back to his feet. “I am older than you are, Fae King.”

“And yet you could not solve the problems of your own kingdom without placing the burden on someone who has scarcely lived,” Sorin spat in derision. “She has sacrificed more than you ever will.”

Darkness exploded out of Cethin, stinging cuts welling with blood instantly where it touched Sorin’s skin. He brought up an arm to protect his face. There was nothing he could do except stand there and allow the magic to have its way. It was not as if he could shield against it.

But there was a shield surrounding him. One of ashes and smoke.

Sorin lowered his arm a fraction to find Rayner at his side, his hands raised and ashes pouring out of them. His role of personal guard had been ingrained in him in the Southern Islands. He’d been employed by Sorin’s father off and on before Sorin was born and even a few times when Sorin was a child. That was before Rayner had gone back to seek his revenge. It was how Sorin had known of him to seek him out when he was having issues with a thief in the Fire Court. Rayner’s jaw was tense as he worked to shield against Cethin’s magic.

“What the fuck is going on?” Rayner gritted out.

“We are having a disagreement.”

“No shit,” the Ash Rider muttered.

“How did you know to come here?” Sorin asked.

“Scarlett sent me a fire message in the night.”

Sorin jerked his head in his direction. “What?”

“She said she was going to see someone and wasn’t sure when she’d be back, but she asked that I watch out for you as you adjust to being without your magic.”

Sorin blinked, reaching to rub at his eyes. The smoke and ashes swirling around him were causing his eyes to water and itch. Now he’d made it worse by rubbing them, and they burned.

“But I was on my way to speak with you anyway,” Rayner continued. Then his voice dropped so low Sorin could only catch bits and pieces of what he was saying without his Fae hearing. “I…following Queen…like you… We need…discuss…hunts in the night.”

“When Cethin is gone,” Sorin gritted out, raising his hand to swipe it down his face again before stopping himself at the last second.

Where the fuck was Scarlett?

It was another few seconds before he saw the tension ease on Rayner’s face. Cethin was clearly getting himself under control, and a moment later, Rayner lowered the shield. Smoke still swirled lightly around them though.

“What the fuck was that?” Sorin demanded.