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Chapter14

Sorin

They made their way up the path to the front gates of the castle. Kailia and Cassius had met them when Cethin had Traveled them all here, but the Avonleyan Queen had been watching him with Talwyn for the last two hours. It was one of the compromises he had made with Scarlett. She would concede to him going to speak with Talwyn, but only if Kailia would be guarding him from the smoke and ashes she moved among.

That and the nightstone had to stay in place on her wrists.

Considering Scarlett had not demanded to join him, he counted only two conditions a win. He still wasn’t certain if she had not made such a demand because she didn’t wish to see Talwyn, or if it was because she was saving her strength for when she faced Alaric tonight. He did not need their bond to know how she was feeling. She hid it well enough, but he knew her tells. It was in the way she carried herself, more tense than usual. It was in the tight way she spoke. It was in the way she was with them physically, but her mind was elsewhere. Planning. Scheming. Preparing. Riding an edge where her control was stretched tight and Death’s Maiden prowled just beneath the surface.

He knew her mother showing up was the last thing she wanted or needed right now, but she would deal with it. She would keep going, and when things were all said and done tonight, when she returned with Cyrus and fell into bed exhausted and spent, he would be there. He would be the one place she did not need to keep her masks in place. The one place she could breathe while saving the world. Together. Always together. If Saylah could not fulfill what Scarlett demanded of her, being that place for Scarlett would be enough. It would have to be.

Talwyn was being escorted by a guard behind them. He had promised she would not return to a cell, and he would not break another one to her. Her fate had not yet been decided, and Sorin had not broached the subject with Scarlett since their fight about it the day Scarlett had nearly killed her. Too many other things demanded her attention, but giving her back to Alaric? He knew it was their only option. Talwyn had said she wished to help, that she would not fight against this, but would the others trust her enough to believe she was on their side now? And after this was over, if she survived, he did not know what Talwyn’s future would hold.

When he had said Talwyn was to come with them and not returned to the cells, Scarlett had held his stare for a long moment, fire dancing in her silver eyes as she pursed her lips. But then her gaze had slid to Talwyn, who was still kneeling before them.

“You once told me I needed to prove myself to my Courts,” Scarlett had said coldly. “You were right, and I have. Nowyouneed to prove yourself tome, Talwyn Semiria. Prove you are worthy of his mercy.”

Talwyn had not faltered, poised and unreadable as she had been taught and trained to be. She had held Scarlett’s stare, only nodding sharply once in response. Scarlett hadn’t said another word. She’d just turned her back on Talwyn, grabbed his hand, and jerked her chin at her brother to Travel them out.

Their small group strode through the main doors and into the entrance hall at the same moment several others stepped from the air. Sorin froze, and Scarlett did the same beside him. Luan. Razik. Rayner with…Tula? Where was Ashtine? Sawyer? Callan? Where the fuck was his Fire General?

Razik’s eyes ran over them all. The dragon shifter looked irritated. “Cethin, we need to talk. Now,” he barked, already moving towards a side hall.

“Saylah is here,” Cethin answered.

Razik stopped, his entire being going rigid. “Why?” The question was a gritted growl.

“Better question,” Scarlett interrupted, her voice low and eerily calm. “Why have you again returned with fewer people than you should have?”

Razik turned, his eyes shifted and glowing as faint scales rippled across his visible flesh. “This was not my mission, princess,” he sneered. “I was sent for the Traveling. That was it.”

“Raz,” Cethin warned.

The dragon’s glowing stare shifted to Cethin. “And what the fuck happened to you? Why are you trying to draw power from me?” When Cethin didn’t answer, his attention shifted again. “Lia?”

“He dream walked and drained himself,” Kailia said simply.

“Where is Ashtine?” Scarlett demanded sharply.

“She cannot leave the continent,” Rayner answered. Tula was hiding behind his legs looking unsure and slightly terrified. “Eliza and Sawyer stayed behind to guard her. They are all in Siofra with the Shifter Siblings.”

“Callan?”

“Stayed behind as well. We ran into a unit of seraphs, and Nuri was with them. She relayed some information to him about his people,” Rayner explained.

“Saylah is waiting,” Cethin interrupted.

“Saylah can keep fucking waiting,” Scarlett snapped at her brother before her attention went back to Rayner. “Why can Ashtine not leave the continent?”

“Apparently, Alaric has placed a Mark on her. Razik could see it, but it was not visible to the rest of us.”

Scarlett was quiet, taking in the brief report Rayner was giving her. Cethin and Kailia had moved closer to Razik, the three of them having their own quiet conversation. Azrael hadn’t said a word since appearing, but his gaze was locked on Talwyn.

“Why was Tula with you?” Sorin asked.

The Ash Rider’s eyes flicked to the Avonleyans before he answered. “She caught a ride with Callan.”

Scarlett’s nose scrunched as she was pulled from whatever thoughts she was working through. “What does that mean?”