Page 8

Chapter 8

Scarlett

S he was ?dgeting. She knew that as her foot began tapping beneath the table again.

At the back of the ship, directly above the quarters she shared with Sorin, was a dining room of sorts. It had two long tables with benches on either side of them. They had sparred this morning, but this was the ?rst meeting they’d all be having together since she and Cassius had returned from Baylorin. They’d decided to do this over dinner. It was a conversation that was likely to go well into the night. They’d be discussing what was to come next. Getting the keys to Alaric had only been the ?rst step of many, and she wasn’t entirely sure what their next step would be. Everyone would be looking to her for guidance and instruction, and she simply didn’t know.

She had no idea what would happen next. She had no idea how long it would take to reach Avonleya. Any books she’d been able to ?nd about the kingdom never had any maps. She had no idea how big the continent was they were sailing towards. She had no idea if they’d be able to get past the wards that kept them contained. She had no idea about anything. And shouldn’t she? They would be looking to her, expecting her to have answers. She was their queen, their leader, and she could offer them nothing.

Sorin’s hand slid onto her thigh, the pressure causing her to stop the tapping of her foot that had progressed to the bouncing of her knee. Eliza and Rayner were here, along with Briar and Sawyer. They were waiting for the others. Nakoa and Neve had taken watch on the ship housing the majority of the children.

Sorin didn’t say anything. He simply leaned over, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek.

Stop being annoying , she sent down the bond.

He arched a brow. By kissing you on the cheek?

Yes.

It’s sweet.

We don’t do sweet.

His lips tipped up, and gods, she wanted to skip this meeting and go back to their quarters where he’d carried her over his shoulder this morning. Things were simpler there, when it was just him and her. When she could pretend, just for a moment, that none of this was weighing on her. That she wasn’t sailing towards a kingdom with more secrets than she could count. That millions of Fae, Shifters, Witches, and mortals back home weren’t depending on her to ?nd an answer there. That she didn’t know if everyone would come out of this alive on the other side. They’d already lost too many. Finn. Sloan. Callan’s parents. Innocent children deemed a necessary sacri?ce by Alaric and the others.

“I know we have talked about this, but we don’t have any answers for them, Sorin,” she said in a hushed tone. “We don’t have a clear course of action. Shouldn’t we have that as the rulers of these Courts?”

“No, Scarlett,” he answered. “We will not always have the answers, nor should we. That is why we have Inner Courts and allies. That is why we all work together, and it is why we have these meetings.”

She sighed heavily. “I know,” she muttered. And she did know all of that, but she was still adjusting to having this. She was still getting used to having so many people working with her, to not having to do so much on her own. It hadn’t even been a year since she’d met Sorin, and her life had gone from an assassin waiting out her master to a lost princess to a queen. She’d gone from mortal to Fae to Avonleyan in just as much time. It was so much. Too much to process. And when it all became overwhelming, when all she could feel was the weight of it all pushing her back under the water, she focused only on the next step. Nothing else. But she was so godsdamn tired of that. It seemed as though that was all she had done for the last month. Or rather, all she had done since Eliné’s death, if she were being really honest.

Footsteps sounded and a moment later Cyrus came through the door, Cassius at his side. They were chatting about something or other, their heads close together. Cassius nodded at whatever Cyrus was saying, but he glanced at Scarlett and a frown immediately formed. He made his way over to her, taking a seat on her left. Cyrus sat across from him, next to Eliza.

“What is wrong?” Cassius asked, leaning in and speaking low.

“Nothing.”

His frown deepened, his chocolate-brown eye studying her intently. She knew he wanted to push, but more footsteps drawing near had him keeping his mouth shut.

Prince Azrael came through the doorway next, Auberon with him. Both wore stoic expressions, void of any emotion. Azrael’s hard eyes skimmed over them all, avoiding eye contact with her. Cyrus had told her what he had said when he came to them, that he would beg her for mercy for Talwyn. He had yet to ask. Cowardice or smart, she couldn’t decide.

As for the Night Child, she still wasn’t sure what to make of him. She didn’t trust Night Children. Even the one she thought she could trust had betrayed her, and while she understood it, knew why Nuri had made that choice, the pain of that betrayal still cut deep. She couldn’t help but think of Nuri whenever she saw the vampyre. That wasn’t his fault, but it was there nonetheless. Until he had proven himself, she was very careful about what was said and revealed to him. Which was proving dif?cult when he sat in on these meetings.

She sighed, her foot beginning to tap beneath the table again.

“You have never been a ?dgeter, Scarlett,” Cassius said, leaning in once more. He was right. Alaric would have beat that out of her if she had been. She’d quickly learned to never show nerves in any situation, especially when it involved the Assassin Lord.

“I am just tired,” she replied.

“Day drinking and fucking all afternoon will do that to a person,” Cyrus quipped from across the table.

“You would know. About the drinking part anyway,” Scarlett retorted irritably. She was still crabby, despite the said drinking and fucking. She would relish a chance to throw down with anyone at this point, to release some of the violent energy in her limbs.

Cyrus ?ipped her off with a scowl, and she sent him a mocking smile before blowing him a kiss.

Before Cyrus could retaliate, Lynnea came through the door, a large bowl in her hand. They were paying her, despite her protests of it not being necessary, to make sure they were fed three meals a day. The young Witch loved being in the kitchen, which wasn’t all that surprising considering the Witches brewed potions and tonics on the regular. It was in her blood well before she knew she was a Witch. Callan came in behind her, plates and silverware in his hands, a bread basket balanced on top of the dishes. Drake and Tava followed with more platters.

“Do you need anything else tonight?” Lynnea asked, placing the bowl on the table. It was full of rice. Drake’s tray held ?sh, and Tava’s held what appeared to be roasted root vegetables. Not that Scarlett was being picky—because she was damn glad she didn’t have to be cooking—but she would be perfectly ?ne not eating ?sh for the foreseeable future whenever they reached dry land.

“No, Lynnea. This is more than suf?cient, as always. Thank you,” Scarlett replied. There were murmurs of agreement around the table, and Lynnea dipped her chin before she left the dining area.

“I still have a hard time believing she is a full-blooded Witch,” Auberon said, watching Lynnea go.

“I still can’t believe we have a Night Child on this ship with us, but here we are,” Eliza said, reaching for the plates Callan was passing down the table.

Idle chatter was had while they dished up their food and ate. Scarlett didn’t pay much attention. Her thoughts were on all the decisions that lay before her, as they often were these days.

She was absent-mindedly reaching for another piece of bread that Sorin had buttered and set on her plate when Cyrus said, “So how much longer do you think we’ll be on this ship, Darling?”

She lowered the bread back to the plate, brushing crumbs from her ?ngers. “I don’t know. We’ve never seen maps. I’ve only read hints on its location. If I knew where it was, I would Travel us there.”

Cyrus grumbled something she couldn’t hear under his breath, and Scarlett felt her features tense. She knew he hated being in the middle of the sea. He hated the sea in general. It reminded him too much of Merrik. Sorin had provided him with portals back to Solembra at night when they were at the Black Halls, but there wasn’t anywhere for him to go now. They couldn’t risk going back to the continent until they were ready to take on Alaric and his seraphs, and who knew when that would be.

“What is our plan for returning, then?” Sawyer asked from where he sat next to Briar.

“I suppose that depends on what we ?nd when we get to Avonleya.”

“Do you think he’s done it already? Taken down the wards?” Eliza asked.

“Yes,” Scarlett answered. “He would have been very vengeful after I burned the Fellowship to the ground. Getting Talwyn to shift the keys would have been his highest priority after that. He told me she already knew how. They were just waiting on the ?nal key. Hazel said she’d get me word, but I do not know how since she cannot send any type of message.” They had hoped Ashtine might send a wind message, but they couldn’t bank on that. Not with her choosing Talwyn. She glanced quickly at Briar, whose eyes were hard as he tapped his ?nger lightly on the table. “And why do you assume this has been accomplished?” Auberon asked, his blue eyes watching her closely.

“Because I know Alaric. He would have been irate about me burning down his Fellowship and sought immediate retribution,” Scarlett answered. “He is incredibly patient until he isn’t.”

And it was Cassius who reached over and squeezed her shoulder this time. She reached up and gripped his forearm, squeezing back; both of them pushing down memories of just how true that statement was. Of the times Alaric had lost his patience with them, snapping in the end. He prided himself on control— of everything around him, of the people around him, of his circumstances. But Scarlett wondered now if that need for control was because he could scarcely control himself.

She cleared her throat. “So I suppose our next step is hopefully getting into Avonleya.”

“Hopefully?” Azrael repeated.

“Yes, hopefully,” she replied. “I do not know how long it will take. I do not know what we will ?nd when we get there. I do not know if they will let us in, if we will have to ?ght, if they will be willing to help us. I can only hope that all of this wasn’t for nothing.”

“To make sure I understand this correctly,” Auberon said smoothly, “our entire plan is essentially... hope?”

“We have several things in motion, as you are well aware, Auberon,” Sorin cut in. “How those plans play out will depend largely on what we ?nd when we reach Avonleya.”

“And when we return to the continent?” the Night Child continued. “Should we return and win, will you keep the territories divided?”

Scarlett glanced at Sorin before she said, “I really don’t think it is our place to decide that. Not by ourselves.”

Auberon leaned forward in his seat, pushing his plate aside. He’d hardly eaten anything, Rayner and Eliza taking turns to supply him with blood each day. It kept the threat of the Night Child a little lower considering he would be unable to harm them, and the two kept a close eye on him. He may have ?ed when Nuri killed his Contessa, but none of them trusted the vampyre.

“You are aware that you could easily take and rule the entire continent, are you not?” Auberon asked.

Scarlett lifted her chin, her bread forgotten on her plate. “I have no desire to rule the continent. I had to be convinced to rule the two Courts I now preside over. I do not wish for more.” Her eyes shifted to Prince Luan with her next words. “However, I will rule over the entirety of the Fae Courts until a replacement has been agreed to and a coronation has taken place for the Eastern Courts.”

A muscle ticked in Azrael’s jaw, and he locked eyes with his fellow princes before meeting her own gaze. “Did you see her when you were there? Did you see anyone aside from the Assassin Lord?” His voice was low and dark, as she’d always experienced from the Earth Prince.

“I did see others.”

“And?”

“And none of them still breathe. Rest assured that had I seen her, I would still be there, making sure I had wrung every last ounce of agony from her bones before I let her cross the Veil to the After,” Scarlett said, deceptively calm. “If I had seen her, Prince Luan, Talwyn would no longer be an issue.”

Something shuttered in his eyes before he quickly locked down whatever emotion he was feeling. And that right there was why she didn’t trust the Earth Prince any more than she trusted Auberon at this point. He may have been ?eeing with the rest of them. He may have chosen their side in this war. But he would still spare Talwyn if he could. He would still do whatever he could to save his queen from her wrath.

“As it stands,” Scarlett went on after a tense moment of silence, “Talwyn is still an issue, along with Tarek. As far as we know, he has gotten his wish and now presides over the Earth Court.”

“As a ?ll-in,” Briar cut in.

“What does that mean?”

“Unless the previous Royal has died, a new Royal cannot be named without a formal abdication,” Briar explained. “All of those overseeing Courts right now are ?ll-ins until either the ruling Royal abdicates, dies, or is challenged.”

“Then why are we not still there if you are all the rightful rulers of those lands?” Callan demanded.

“For the same reason you are on this ship,” Eliza answered. “Their deaths would be imminent.”

“Had we not been warned of the attack, Azrael and Briar, along with their Courts, would likely be dead,” Rayner added. “The issue here is that they believe Sorin to be dead. Technically, Talwyn could appoint a new ruler to the Fire Court.”

Scarlett’s palms immediately started sweating at the mention of Sorin being dead, her heart rate spiking. It never failed. It didn’t matter that he sat beside her at this very moment. The mere mention of him being gone had her scrambling to maintain control of her thoughts, keeping those images locked up tight.

Breathe, my Love .

She looked up at him, a tight smile on her lips. Golden eyes softened with empathy stared back at her. She swallowed thickly before saying, “That will not matter. If she appoints another, Sorin can challenge as soon as we return. There is no one more powerful with the ?re element.”

“But in the meantime, whoever she appoints can make a fucking mess of things,” Cyrus said, his forearms resting on the table as he leaned forward.

“Then why hasn’t she done so yet?” Callan asked.

“Maybe her Second has some insight?” Eliza said, and all eyes went to Azrael.

His shoulders tensed, bronze skin tightening over coiled muscles. “I do not know why she would delay this. I can only assume it is because there are more pressing demands being made of her right now.”

“Like betraying her entire race of people?” Scarlett asked bitterly.

“She believes this to be in their best interest,” Azrael said.

“She believes this to be in her best interest, Prince Luan. You know that as well as the rest of us do,” Scarlett retorted.

That muscle ticked in his jaw again. “She made her choice, and I made mine. I will aid your agenda in whatever way I can, but I cannot answer questions I do not know the answers to.”

“You know her better than anyone. You can offer insight,” Cyrus countered.

“I can speculate, and I have. She likely has more pressing matters at hand. She excels at prioritizing matters,” Azrael said.

“And we would do well to do the same,” Sorin cut in. “Whether or not Talwyn appoints a new ruler over the Fire Court is not our most pressing matter.”

“Agreed,” Briar said. “We should be ?guring out the best way to prepare for these seraph armies.”

“That is dif?cult given we do not know what type of magic we will be up against,” Sawyer supplied.

“The fact that they can ?y also puts us at a grave disadvantage,” Rayner said.

“The Witches would have the grif?ns,” Scarlett said. “And if the Shifters still side with us, some of them can ?y, right?”

“Perhaps,” Azrael agreed. “However, without the Wind Court on our side, it deepens our disadvantage and strengthens them.”

Silence fell, Briar going still at the mention of the Wind Court. They had not heard from Princess Ashtine since she had appeared to warn them of the incoming move on the Courts.

“We would also need to ?nd a way to communicate with the Witches and Shifters before returning,” Sawyer said, breaking the silence. “They won’t do us any good if we can’t do that.”

“And will the Witches and Shifters be in any place to help us when we return? They will have been doing their best since we left. If it takes months to return, they could be too exhausted to aid us,” Cyrus added.

“I think even this discussion should be tabled at the moment. The Royals, the seraphs, battle plans, none of that is the most important matter at hand,” Sorin said. “We need to ?gure out how we are going to handle Avonleya when we arrive. We need plans in place for every situation. If we are not welcomed. If we are received kindly.”

“How are we getting in without the keys?” Cyrus asked. “We never did ?nd this lock, right?”

“I assumed we could get in because she is Avonleyan,” Auberon said. “Are you telling me we are sailing towards a continent we might not even be able to ?nd because of wards we do not know if we can get through?”

“We have the High Witch’s son, who is also part-Avonleyan,” Sawyer reasoned. “Perhaps he can bring down the wards.”

“These are not just any wards though. Avonleyan magic is different from what we had on our continent. Scarlett’s gifts are proof of that. They will be stronger, impenetrable,” Rayner argued.

“I thought she was the one who was in contact with this Lord of Night,” Azrael cut in. “Are we not sailing there with the assumption he is there and will let us in?”

“Yes,” Sorin answered. “But even if we are let in willingly, we still must be prepared for the various ways we could be received. Scarlett may be Avonleyan, but that is all we know.”

“For all we know, her family could be on bad terms with the rulers,” Cyrus said with a shrug. “Maybe that’s why they got her out and sent her to our continent.”

“To be raised by an Assassin Lord,” Scarlett said ?atly.

Cyrus shrugged again. “We’re walking in blind here, Darling. We have no idea what to expect. That’s why I’ve been focusing on what I do know—our enemies back home.”

“That is incredibly helpful right now ,” Scarlett drawled.

“I’m glad you think so,” he volleyed back with a smirk, “because I’ve been thinking we need to ?nd a way to drop the enchantment in the mortal lands so we can access our magic there. I know you dropped the wards around the Witches and Shifters that kept them sequestered, but do you think we can do that too?”

“Sure. I’ll add it to my list of pressing matters that need to be dealt with,” she retorted.

Sorin glanced side-long at her, his arm slipping around her waist and tugging her gently into his side a little more. Something in her chest loosened. Just having him touch her seemed to ease her stress. This was new. He’d always had an effect on her somewhat, but not an instant reaction like this.

No, this hadn’t started until their twin ?ame bond had been anointed. Everything was more intense. She could feel his emotions more clearly. Could sense his location more accurately. And his physical touch? The sex had been good before, but now? Gods. There was a reason they’d spent the afternoon behind closed doors. But even the simple act of a hand resting on her knee could bring comfort or have her clenching her thighs, the bond seeming to know exactly what it needed to elicit at the time.

“And what of the new Contessa ?” Auberon sneered down the table. “What are your plans for her?”

Scarlett stiffened, any comfort she’d felt from Sorin’s touch instantly evaporating. Her eyes slid to the vampyre, settling onto his blue gaze. “Nuri will be dealt with as I see ?t.”

“Is she under your jurisdiction?” he countered.

“No,” Scarlett replied. “Technically, one could say you are under hers .”

Auberon’s cheeks ?ushed with anger. “She killed my Contessa,” he said, tone going eerily soft.

“Which, as I understand it, is how the changing of leadership takes place in the Night Child lands, is it not? Is it any different than someone challenging one of the Fae Royals for their title?”

“Are you saying you condone her actions?” Auberon demanded, pushing slowly to his feet.

“I am saying how she is dealt with is not your concern unless you plan to challenge her yourself,” Scarlett replied. “But I can assure you, you will not win that ?ght.”

“I served Rosalyn for centuries. You would do well not to underestimate me, your Majesty,” Auberon said softly.

A smile lifted on Scarlett’s lips, her head tilting to the side. “You served her for centuries, and yet Nuri snatched her from right underneath your blood-sucking little fangs. Perhaps it is you who should not underestimate her.”

Auberon jerked back as if she had struck him. “Are you telling me you plan to leave her in power? Plan to allow her to rule the Night Children territory?”

Scarlett casually lifted a hand, shadows forming above her ?ngertips. She let them curl around her ?ngers, drifting down her palm. “I will not repeat myself again, Auberon Isra. I will decide how Nuri is dealt with, and when I have made that decision, I will let you know. Do not ask me of it again.”

“That is not how this matter should be handled,” he argued.

The shadows drifting before her grew as her temper frayed. “Enlighten me then, Auberon. How do you wish me to handle her?”

“She should have to answer for her betrayal!”

“Betrayal of whom? Because she was not loyal to Rosalyn. She had never pledged her loyalty to her. I was betrayed by Nuri. Not Rosalyn. Therefore, one would stand to reason that I should get to deal with her. Do you not agree?”

Auberon clenched his jaw tighter but didn’t respond.

“I think this is a topic we can return to later if needed,” Sorin hedged carefully. “After Scarlett has had more time to think on how she wants to handle the situation.”

Thick silence hung in the air before Sorin added, “I think we should call it a night. We can meet again tomorrow afternoon.” His ?ngers ?exed along her hip where his hand rested.

The others all mumbled words of agreement rising from the benches, but her eyes slid to Azrael, still in his seat. She let him see every bit of loathing and fury she held for his queen. She held his stare, until he closed his eyes, nodding to her in acceptance.

It didn’t pay to ask for her mercy. Cyrus was right. It would not be granted.

“Come, my Love,” Sorin said gently, reaching for her hand as he climbed off the bench. “Let’s get some air beneath the stars.”

“I don’t want some air,” she sighed, pushing to her own feet, ignoring his outstretched hand. “I am tired. I just want to go to bed.”

“Then that is what we will do.”

“I should check on the children. I haven’t been to their ship since I got back from Baylorin.”

“Tomorrow,” he countered, keeping pace beside her as they made their way out of the dining space and down the steps that would lead to their cabin below it. “We can do that instead of training.”

She didn’t say anything else, and neither did he. Not until they had entered their quarters, and he had shut the door. She immediately slid off her boots, making her way to the bathing room. Gods, what she wouldn’t give to bathe right now. A bath sounded divine. She was sick of washing with a rag, and her hair was atrocious. She was reaching to peel her tunic off when she noticed Sorin leaning against the door, his arms crossed.

“What?” Scarlett asked, trying to sense his emotions down their bond, but he appeared to be blocking it somewhat, immediately putting her on edge.

“We cannot kill her, Scarlett,” Sorin said, watching her warily.

“Cannot kill who?”

“We cannot kill Talwyn.”

“We cannot... ” She trailed off, entirely confused by that statement. “Of course I am going to kill her, Sorin. She nearly killed you!” Scarlett cried, clamping down on the surge of memories that tried to rush up. The memories she fought every minute of every day, even though he lived. Even though she slept beside him every night. Even though she could see him and touch him and feel him, those nightmares still found her whether she was awake or sleeping.

“But she did not succeed, Love. I am right here,” Sorin said gently, taking a step towards her. He stilled when she stepped back from him. “Scarlett.”

“Do not Scarlett me,” she snapped, shadows rising from her skin and swirling around her arms. “She did succeed, Sorin. You were dead. You had crossed the Veil. My twin ?ame Mark was fading. You were ripped away from me!”

She was screaming, in near hysterics. And all she could feel was the panic and grief and nothingness she had felt when he was dying. When he was dead.

She let all of that ?ood down their bond, and Sorin’s eyes widened.

He stumbled mid-step, attempting to come to her once again.

“Do not tell me I do not get to take her life for taking you from me, Sorin. If Shirina had not put me into a dream state for the Lord of Night to speak to me, you would be in the After, this world would be nothing but ashes, and I would be crossing the Veil at this very moment to ?nd you.” Her breathing was harsh, chest rising and falling too rapidly. Her shadows were thickening, cocooning around her.

“Scarlett.” Sorin swallowed thickly. “Love, I feel what you felt.I understand . But I am still here. The Fates had other plans. I—”

“The Fates,” she spat. “Do not speak to me of the Fates , Sorin.”

“She is a queen , Scarlett. The same as you. We cannot simply kill her without repercussions,” he argued, his eyes following her as she began to pace in the small quarters.

“A queen?” Scarlett scoffed, pausing to turn back to him. “If you honestly think she will be the queen of anything after this is said and done, you are mistaken. Aside from the fact that she will be dead , she has put her own Courts and mine in unnecessary danger. She deserves to rule over nothing.”

“Scarlett, we cannot kill her,” Sorin insisted.

“Tell me, Sorin, do you not wish to kill Mikale?”

“Of course I do,” he growled.

“Why? All he did was fuck me, and one could even argue it was with my consent. I chose it, allowed it, to save an innocent life. He did not kill me. Forced me to kill my sister, yes, but she also still lives, same as you. Perhaps he should be allowed to live as well? He is now a king after all,” Scarlett retorted coolly. Embers ?itted across Sorin’s golden eyes. “Or Alaric? Yes, he beat me, manipulated me, ordered who I knew as my mother killed, but I still live. I was not taken from you.” She shrugged. “I suppose we shall let him live as well? He is a Maraan Prince, as royal as a king. And Lord Tyndell? He is nobility. He allowed me into his home. He never struck me. He gave me a place to live. Provided me with food, clothing, shelter. I suppose, based on your arguments this evening, he shall be allowed to live as well.”

“Scarlett,” Sorin growled again, rage pouring down the bond from his end.

“No, Sorin,” she continued, ignoring the ?ames winding up his arms. “You are right. Come to think of it... ” She tapped her chin in mock contemplation. “This whole journey to try and ?nd Avonleya is ridiculous. If we are not to kill the Maraans, there is no reason to bring war to the continent. Because—based on your incredibly sound logic—they are all royalty. None of them have succeeded in killing me, only caging me to be used for their own nefarious purposes—”

She gasped as she found herself up against the wall. Sorin had moved so godsdamn fast she hadn’t even seen him. One hand held her wrists above her head, the other gripped her chin. “The Maraans are all dying, Scarlett. Make no mistake about that,” he hissed, embers turning to small ?ames in his eyes.

“So is Talwyn, Sorin. Make no mistake about that,” she replied, her tone lethally soft. “She tried to take what is mine. I am yours, and you are mine. If she had succeeded, do you understand that I would not be breathing right now?”

The ?ames banked, Sorin’s features softening slightly. “Scarlett, you have your family, Cassius—”

But she was already shaking her head, Sorin’s hand moving with her chin. “I would have crossed the Veil to ?nd you, Sorin. They would not have stopped me.”

“I know you would have tried, but they would have stopped you... ” He trailed off when she shook her head slowly again.

Her shadows latched around his hands holding her in place. They pulled his ?ngers from her body. She felt him try to resist, but her magic was stronger right now. Would always be stronger when her reserves were full.

“They would not have succeeded in stopping me, Sorin,” she said quietly, his eyes wide as she held him back with only her shadows. She took one step forward, cupping his cheek. “I cannot live in a world without a you and me. I told you on my birthday I would not survive it. I will not do it. I refuse. You were taken from me.” Her voice broke on the last words, and she swallowed down the sob, but the tears still fell. Sorin gently pulled her hand from his face before cupping her own, thumbs swiping away tears. “You were taken from me because of her , Sorin. Do not deny me retribution for that. Do not ask that of me. It is not fair of you.”

Sorin pulled her into his chest, and she buried her face in his tunic, tears she’d been holding in for weeks surging up. She hadn’t allowed herself to feel any of this since she had used the Mark the Lord of Night had given her to bring him back from the After. She’d forced herself to push it down, remain numb to it, so she could stay focused on their next task. There was always the next thing to be done, the next problem to solve, the next meeting to attend. And now she was suffocating. Now she felt like she was drowning because she hadn’t been allowed the time to simply feel all of it.

Sorin stroked her hair, and she didn’t know when or how he did it, but she found herself lowered to the ?oor, her legs wrapped around his waist as he held her close. The newly anointed bond coiled around her, his ?ames winding around her shadows, locking them tight in their own little world where nothing could touch them. Where it was just him and her.

What she had almost missed out on because of Talwyn.

After several minutes, she pulled back enough to tilt her face up to his, to look into his golden eyes. “It is not fair of you to ask this of me, Sorin,” she whispered.

“I know, Love,” he said, just as softly, his words feathering across her lips. “Just... Can we discuss it more? How it will happen? And when?”

She felt herself tense at his words, but the bond quickly coiled tighter, soothing and calming. She didn’t reply. She didn’t have it in her to argue about this any more today. She couldn’t help but feel... hurt? Is that what she was feeling? Why did she feel like he was choosing Talwyn over her in this moment? That was ridiculous, right? That notion, the idea that she would even feel that way, was ludicrous.

“I’m going to wash up,” she murmured, pushing off of Sorin and getting to her feet, wrestling to keep her emotions from ?owing down the bond. Now that the ?oodgates had been opened, she struggled to rein them back in.

“Do you want some wine?”

She shook her head, offering him a weak smile as she made her way to the small bathing room. The ?rst thing she was doing when they reached land was bathing. She didn’t care who or what was there to greet them. A bath was at the top of her list.

She emerged later and found Sorin seated at the desk, poring over some papers. He was shirtless and barefoot. He looked up when she came out of the bathing room, quickly looking her up and down. She’d pulled on one of his shirts over her undergarments.

“What are you doing?” she asked, moving to the bed.

“Looking at these maps you brought.”

“They don’t offer much.”

“It doesn’t appear so, but maybe we missed something.”

She huffed a soft laugh. “You mean you didn’t stare at those things the entire time we were apart trying to keep yourself occupied?”

“Of course I did, but we still could have missed something.”

“We’ve all studied those maps for hours, Sorin,” she replied pointedly. “None of us missed anything. We’re sailing towards the unknown.”

She slipped between the covers, snuggling beneath the furs that Sorin had thought to bring knowing how much she hated being cold. He got up from the desk, moving to the bed and stretching out on his side on top of the blankets. She rolled onto her side so she faced him, tucking a hand beneath her cheek. He reached over, slipping hair behind her ear.

“I love you, Scarlett. I will always choose you. You know that right?” he said, trailing his ?ngers along her jaw.

“I know,” she replied quietly.

“I once told you if you wanted to burn the entire world to ash, I would help you do so,” he went on. “If you need this vengeance, I will not stand in your way.”

“But you still want to discuss it more,” she supplied, looking past him and over his shoulder.

“We have time, Love. So much can happen between now and when the opportunity for that vengeance will come.”

She nodded.

“Scarlett.” She brought her eyes back to his. “I am yours, and you are mine.”

“All the way through the darkness,” she whispered.

“All the way through the darkness,” he echoed, leaning in and pressing a kiss to her brow. “Sleep, Love. I’m going to wash up.”

She nodded again, watching him make his way to the bathing room. And when he closed the door and her heart lurched, she forced herself to breathe deep, in and out. She reminded herself over and over that he was still here, just in the other room. Talwyn hadn’t succeeded in taking him from her, but she wouldn’t fail at making her pay as if she had.