Page 96

“What aren’t you saying, Scarlett?”

She finally met his gaze, and he could feel her trying to keep control of her emotions down the bond. “Because if I cannot change fate, I will be forced to leave this world, and I would like to think I could come back some day.”

“What do you mean you will have to leave this world?” he demanded, moving to stand in front of her. She tipped her head back to look at him and crossed her arms. He gripped her shoulders, needing to touch her, as if she were going to disappear at any moment and leave him behind yet again.

She held his gaze as she said quietly, “Achaz will not stop, Sorin. This is an ancient war. Even if we defeat Alaric and the Maraans here, Achaz will still come. He will not leave this world in peace as long as a descendant of Arius still lives in it.”

“But that would mean Cethin—”

“Will leave too. Kailia and Razik with him.”

“He knew? This entire time?”

She nodded mutely.

“Where will we go?”

Tears pooled in her eyes. “We?” she whispered.

Sorin pulled her closer, one hand cupping her face. “Always together, Scarlett.”

“I cannot ask you to leave…everything,” she replied, a tear slipping free.

“I once told you I would cross deserts and oceans for you. I would cross the realms for you. I choose wherever you are. That has not changed.”

“But your people—”

“Ourpeople,” he corrected.

“They can’t lose both of us,” she argued. “One of us has to stay.”

“A you and a me is not an option, Scarlett. Not ever.”

“This is bigger than you and me, Sorin. It has to be.”

“I will not accept it, Scarlett. If you try to leave me behind, I will come for you. I will find you. I will always find a way.” He brushed away more tears with his thumbs. “So instead of making me do that, tell me of your plans and let me scheme with you, Princess.”

She huffed out a laugh. “What makes you think I’ve been scheming?”

He gave her a frank look. “You are always scheming.”

“True,” she said with a small smile. “Let’s change and scheme then, Prince.”

* * *

“Just to clarify,” Sorin said, reaching down to haul Scarlett over the edge of the rocky incline they were climbing up. “You knowingly Traveled to snowy terrain, and now you are complaining about the cold.”

“No onelikesthe cold, Sorin,” she retorted irritably, adjusting the hood of her fur-lined cloak.

“And you wanted to explore Pyry for a mirror gate? You wouldn’t have lasted more than five minutes,” he teased, reaching over to flick her nose.

She batted his hand away with a scowl. “Need I remind you that Cassius and I spent plenty of time in Pyry a few months ago?”

He chuckled, sending heat into her cloak, and the moan she let out was godsdamn orgasmic. “You have your own fire magic, you know,” he said, his voice gruff as ways to elicit that same sound tonight started forming in his mind.

“I know,” she sighed. “I just prefer yours.” She was peering around when she added down the bridge of their bond:I’ve missed it.

This was the first time he’d used his restored power around her. It was the first time he’d felt like he had enough of a grasp on it. She’d tried to coax it out of him a few times, her shadows and starfire calling to his flames, but he’d only let the smallest amount of magic answer.