Page 32 of Lady of Starfire (Lady of Darkness #5)

Saylah tore her gaze from Scarlett, surveying them all once more. “Cethin.”

“Hello, Mother,” he said, stepping forward and pressing a soft kiss to her cheek.

“Your power is drained.”

“It was necessary.”

“Why have you not drawn from your Guardian?” Her silver eyes flicked to Razik.

“He only just returned from a mission across the Edria,” Cethin explained.

“He should not be leaving your side,” Saylah replied. “Certainly not right now with the state of things.”

Sorin watched as a muscle feathered in Razik’s jaw, but he dropped his gaze to the floor.

“Did you come to chastise them?” Scarlett drawled, moving casually to an armchair. She dropped unceremoniously into it as her shadow panthers continued to guard him and the other Fae. “Because if that’s the case, I do not need to be here. I have matters to tend to, and your mistakes to fix.”

Saylah stiffened, but she did not reply, instead shifting her attention to Cassius. “You were young when I last saw you.”

“Ah, yes,” Scarlett chimed in with faux wistfulness, an adder’s smile on her lips. “The time you laid eyes upon Tybalt’s son, but did not tell your Guardian of his existence.”

The Commander started, but he also said nothing. He only looked at Cassius with remorse and sorrow at knowing how his son had grown up because that secret had been kept from him.

“I was hoping after our discussions in Shira Forest, you would have become a little less confrontational,” Saylah said.

Scarlett hummed, drawing patterns on the arm of the chair with her finger. “I am a disappointment to many people who wished to use me. I will add you to that growing list.”

Everyone in the room seemed to hold their breath while the two exchanged words, Sorin included. He could not decide if he should feel pride while watching Scarlett talk down to a goddess or fear for her life.

“Have you located the lock?” Saylah asked, a tinge of scarcely controlled fury entering her tone.

But Scarlett barked a harsh laugh. “Oh, Mother ,” she tsked. “Your lock is quite a ways down on a list of my priorities.”

“Then perhaps your twin flame has just dropped on my list,” Saylah replied.

Scarlett made a show of considering. “It is still well above proper mothering on that list, so I am not too concerned.”

“Scarlett,” Cethin hissed again when the shadows around Saylah thickened.

Still Scarlett sat, casual and bored in her armchair, finger continuing to draw on the armrest as she watched her mother. “Relax, Brother. She needs me as much as you do, and neither of you gets what you want from me unless she holds up her end of our deal.”

Sorin frowned. Scarlett had spoken of this deal in passing, but he did not know the particulars. They’d had little time to speak privately these last two days, and there would be no more time to do so today.

Scarlett’s features suddenly morphed from bored and aloof to wicked and cunning. “You lured me here with a promise of telling me how to restore Sorin’s power. Get on with it. You are taking too much of my time the way it is.”

Saylah turned and stared out the window for a long moment. Her gaze stayed fixed on the mountains when she said, “The balance was upset when he crossed the Veil and came back. Serafina warned you there would be a cost.”

“And I told you , enough costs have been paid. This would not be one of them,” Scarlett retorted, pushing to her feet.

“He cannot have his original power back.”

“That is not our agreement, Saylah,” Scarlett said, starfire beginning to slowly wind up her arms. Tybalt stiffened, again flexing his fingers, and Razik moved closer to Cethin, who had shoved Kailia behind him.

But the Avonleyan Queen was peeking around him, curious eyes bouncing between Scarlett and Saylah.

“I cannot defy the balance, Scarlett,” Saylah said harshly, finally turning to face her daughter once more. “His power crossed the Veil. We cannot bring another power into this world without sacrificing one of equal power or greater.”

“How would we do that?” Scarlett pushed.

“You choose a powerful being to kill, and take their power before you do it,” Saylah replied.

Scarlett did not move, and Sorin knew by the look on her face that she was about to say something both brilliant and terrifying.

“What if the power is freely given?” Scarlett asked.

“What?” Saylah said in confusion.

“What if the powerful being offered their power up freely? Death would not be required,” Scarlett pushed.

“Transferring power from one being to another is not done for a multitude of reasons,” Saylah said slowly.

“Like when it fits your own needs?” Scarlett asked, her head tilting. “Eliné’s gifts were transferred to me. Those gifts are stronger than Sorin’s were. Take them from me, and give them to him.”

“No,” Sorin, Saylah, and Cethin all said simultaneously.

“What do you mean no?” Scarlett seethed. “They are my gifts now, which would make them mine to give away.”

“You need them to find the lock. You know this,” Saylah admonished.

“Fuck your godsdamn lock,” Scarlett said. “You will do this, Saylah.”

The goddess took a step towards her, and the shadow panthers immediately snapped at her. The Guardians in the room all growled low warnings.

“If I do this,” Saylah said, “you will not be able to uphold your end of the deal.”

“I will find another way,” Scarlett insisted.

“There is no other way,” Saylah spat. “If there were, do you think I would have sacrificed my time with you? Do you think I would have made you carry this burden? If there were another way, this would have been finished centuries ago. This world would be at peace, your father would still live, and you and Cethin would know the love of the family you should have had.”

The room went silent as mother and daughter stared at each other, neither of them willing to back down. Saylah’s shadows thickened even more while Scarlett’s shadow panthers stalked forward.

But it was Sorin who broke the stand-off. He moved to Scarlett’s side, cupping her jaw and forcing her to look at him. “Love, I will not take your magic from you. You will need every advantage when you face Alaric. If this is our only option, we will not take it.”

“We will find a way,” Scarlett ground out, determination filling her eyes.

“And if we do not, it will be fine,” he replied. “We will still be together. All the way through the darkness.”

“I do not accept this,” she whispered. “I will not.”

“Would it work?”

Everyone turned to the person who had spoken.

Talwyn.

Luan was beside her. Sorin had forgotten they were even in the room with the Sutara family dramatics playing out in front of him.

Talwyn lifted her chin as the attention of the room settled on her. “Would it work?” she repeated. “To transfer power willingly given?”

“It is ancient magic of the gods, of those who can create new beings,” Saylah answered. “The power must be as strong as or stronger than the original power. It can be forced, but the cost is much greater and comes with death.”

“But if freely given? You could do it?” Talwyn pressed.

“Talwyn …” Luan started, but she stepped forward.

“You could take my magic—that is stronger than his was—and give it to him?” Talwyn asked.

“No,” Sorin breathed.

“He could not rule the Fire Court with wind and earth magic,” Scarlett cut in. “He would need to learn and master entirely new elements.”

“It would not manifest as wind and earth magic,” Saylah said, studying Talwyn. “You are Henna’s daughter.” It was a statement, not a question, and Talwyn nodded. “You look just like her.”

Sorin saw Talwyn’s throat bob before she said, “Why would it not manifest as wind and earth magic?”

“Because he was not born to harness such gifts. They would change to a form his Fae body could harness. The magic he was born to possess,” Saylah replied. “They would become fire.”

“You are saying that he would essentially have Henna’s power, but it would be all fire?” Luan asked, the shock evident in his voice.

“The Shifter gift she possesses as well,” Saylah replied. “That would also manifest differently.” Her silver gaze slid to Sorin. “You would essentially be as powerful as an Avonleyan, perhaps more so.”

“Then why did I maintain water and fire when you transferred Eliné’s gifts?” Scarlett cut in, her brow furrowed.

“Because you are not Fae,” Saylah replied. “Your bloodline made you able to carry more gifts.”

Silence fell as everyone contemplated what had just been shared, what was being offered. Scarlett bit her lip, glancing up at Sorin. Her eyes held his as she asked Saylah, “And our twin flame bond?”

“Would be reinstated, just as it had always been,” Saylah answered, and Sorin could swear her tone had softened just a touch.

Scarlett stared at him, hope shining in her eyes, and gods, he was about to crush her all over again. He brought his hand up, cupping her cheek. His thumb swiped along her cheekbone. He smiled sadly, and her face fell because she could read him as well as he could read her.

Sorin pulled her to his chest, and she buried her face in his tunic as he looked at Talwyn. “I cannot ask this of you,” he said thickly, running a hand down Scarlett’s hair.

“You do not have to,” Talwyn replied. “I am offering.”

“I cannot accept.”

“You can,” she said sharply. “I am no longer on a throne. You are. You need this power. I do not.”

He looked to Saylah, who now stood silently, waiting for their decision. “Can she keep one gift?” he asked. “The wind? Or the Shifter gift, since that is not Fae magic? Two of her gifts would still be more powerful than what I had.”

Saylah shook her head. “The magic is intertwined. It is all or nothing.”

“She will be mortal?” Luan asked, his arms crossed tightly.

“She would be as Sorin is now,” Saylah answered. “A powerless being with an extended lifespan.”

“Her Staying?” Sorin asked.

“Would remain for a time, as yours does,” Saylah answered. “For how long, I cannot say.”

Sorin rested his chin atop Scarlett’s head, preparing to decline Talwyn’s offer again.