Page 4

“I apologize,” Cethin said tightly.

“I do not want your apology. I want an explanation, and your sister will demand one when she learns of this.”

“You speak as if you know any of what I have done for my kingdom, for this realm,” Cethin retorted, his back straightening. Darkness flowed from him again, pooling around his feet, but he kept control of it this time. “You think I did not try to fix this myself? You think I wanted this all placed on her shoulders? Do not speak of the sacrifices I have made when you know nothing of them. When you know nothing of the guilt I carry because I added to her responsibilities. When my choices put the people I love in danger daily. When my choices put my own kingdom in danger daily.”

Sorin stared back at him. “What does that mean?”

“It means if I could take her place, I would, Sorin,” Cethin said, his shoulders dropping a fraction. “I would trade places with her in a heartbeat.”

“That does not answer my question. We have been here for weeks. You have had every opportunity to tell us these things. Furthermore,mypeople are here, and you are just now speaking of a danger to your kingdom? We were under the impression we were safe here,” Sorin said, taking a few steps towards the Avonleyan King. Rayner moved with him, staying at his side, his shield of smoke still swirling.

“I did not wish to add to the weight she already carries,” Cethin said. “Defeating the Maraans and finding the lock will fix everything. It did not seem necessary to add to her burden.”

“You mean you did not wish for her to know of your mistakes.”

Cethin’s lips pressed to a thin line, his gaze darting back to the fire for a moment before he nodded sharply. “Perhaps that was part of it. But I must also continue to protect my people and the ones I love. My Inner Court has kept these secrets for years. It is second nature to us.”

Sorin could understand that to an extent. There were plenty of things his Inner Court had kept from their people, taking care of business without ever needing to worry or involve them. Allowing his people to simply live their lives and let him take care of their safety was one of his greatest missions in life. But this was clearly bigger, and the moment it had involved Scarlett, it had involved him and their Courts by default.

The darkness suddenly thickened around them, tendrils of shadows reaching for him. Rayner’s shield swirled faster, ashes drifting among it again, but the shadows brushed them aside.

“Get control of it,” Rayner growled at Cethin.

But even before Cethin said, “That is not me,” Sorin already knew.

He could tell by the way the shadows slowly coiled around him, stroked down his cheek, drifted through his hair.

His eyes widened as the shadows swirled and converged until a figure stepped from them. The shadows clung to her, white embers flitting through silver hair. She was all in black, just as Cethin had said she’d been, but she was barefoot. Her crown floated above her head, and her silver eyes were glowing. Shirina, the black panther that was the spirit animal of Saylah, was at her side, and Sorin suddenly wondered how that worked. How had the animal bonded with Scarlett when Saylah had been in this world this entire time?

But perhaps even more perplexing was the phoenix at her shoulder. Amaré, the spirit animal of Anala, goddess of day, sun, and fire. The spirit animal that had been bonded to him when he had been the Fire Prince. They had not seen much of the spirit animals since coming to Avonleya. Cethin had said they were resting, preparing for war like the rest of them, but Sorin had assumed this would be another cost of coming back from the After. He assumed his bond with the phoenix would be another sacrifice he would be forced to make. But the bird cooed softly, nipping affectionately at Scarlett’s ear before taking flight. He naturally lifted his arm as he had done thousands of times in the past, the phoenix’s taloned feet clamping lightly around his forearm. He swallowed thickly, unable to say anything around the lump in his throat.

“Prince,” Scarlett said, her voice a sensual purr that skittered along his flesh, making him shiver for an entirely different reason than the cold he’d woken up to. Now he was suddenly too warm as he met her gaze. Before him stood Death’s Maiden.

No.

Before him stood a queen.

The Queen of the Fae Courts even though she was not Fae.

Not just the Western Courts. Not since she had stripped Talwyn of her crown.

But even ‘queen’ did not do her justice. Not with the way she held herself. Not with the look in her eyes. Not with her shadows and fire and ice worshipping her as they moved around her.

She looked every bit a goddess. Sorin had never seen one. But if he had, he imagined one would look exactly as his wife did in this moment.

Then her eyes slid to her brother. Her features sharpened, her eyes hardening, and her voice was that of death itself when she said, “I met our mother.”

Chapter2

Scarlett

Cethin did not say anything to her in response, wisely remaining silent. She watched his eyes move over her, taking in the shadows, the crown, the spirit animals. She smiled—a sharp, wicked thing—when the hoot of an owl broke through the tense silence. Both males turned to the window as a golden owl soared through, landing in the place Amaré had vacated.

Paja. The spirit animal of Falein, goddess of wisdom and cleverness. The spirit animal who had once been bonded to Eliné.

Sorin cleared his throat, Amaré moving to his shoulder. “Love… I do not know what to ask here. Are you still bonded to Shirina? And what is Paja doing here? I have not seen him since before Queen Henna was killed…”

He trailed off when Scarlett shrugged lightly, not wanting to disturb the owl. She was still watching her brother. His lips were pressed into a tight line as he continued to watch her, and when he still did not speak, she moved to the alcohol cart, pouring herself a measure of liquor. Shirina sat where they’d appeared, her tail switching as she tracked the males.