Page 38 of Lady of Starfire (Lady of Darkness #5)
“I watched you through your dreams, but I could not truly learn of your life. Dreams are often skewed and unreliable. I knew of Sorin, of course. And Cassius, although I did not know his name until you found the mirror gate. I assumed they would come with us when the time came. But then you arrived on these shores with a number of ships. With children who adore you. With friends. With family. And I … I did not know how to tell you that you would need to leave them. Cyrus. Eliza. Rayner. The Water Prince. Juliette and Nuri. I did not know how to tell you that you—who has already been forced to give so much—were going to be forced to give even more. And the more I watched you and got to know you, I thought that maybe, just maybe, you would find another way. That maybe it was a heartbreak I could spare you from. I know you do not need me to protect you, but if I could save you from this pain, I would, Scarlett.”
Her fingertips glided over the tops of the smooth ivory keys before her as she processed everything he’d said.
She didn’t like it, but she understood. It was the same reason she hadn’t mentioned it to the others yet.
She knew they would be asking after the comments she made to Alaric at the cliffs earlier that evening.
Knew she needed to talk to Sorin before that other conversation happened.
She just wanted him to have a few moments to enjoy having his power back before she heaped another pile of shit onto their already full plate.
She’d wanted to have some sort of solution to offer when she told them.
Even if it was scarcely a plan, it would be something instead of just more … impossibilities.
“Why can’t you leave the Wards? How did that happen?” she asked after several minutes.
Cethin had refilled his glass while he’d let her think, and he took a sip before he answered. “When our mother returned from the continent, she was …upset.”
“Saylah bound you to the Wards?” Scarlett said in horror.
“Yes, but she had little choice. My actions had inadvertently opened a rift in the enchantments, allowing other beings to enter. It is how some of the Maraan Lords got here. The cost to close it was my ability to let people in all together. In order for me to still control the Wards, I had to be bound to them. If I leave, the Wards fall and take my life with them. It leaves my people vulnerable. Without being able to refill their reserves quickly, they would not survive long in a war, no matter how well trained they are in combat. Against mortals, yes. But against those with magic? Night Children? Seraphs? They would be slaughtered.”
“But what will happen when the Wards come down? What will happen to you?”
He shrugged. “The Wards will no longer be needed. Since I am not the one taking them down, the binding will be severed.”
Her nose scrunched. “That doesn’t seem right. Are you sure?”
“No,” Cethin said tightly. “It is simply what we are hoping for.”
She blinked, unsure of what to say. “Taking down the Wards could potentially kill you?”
He nodded, bringing his drink back to his lips. “Razik seems confident it won’t. He is very knowledgeable when it comes to ancient magic and Marks, but the possibility still exists.”
After several more beats of silence, she said, “Thank you. For coming to speak to me tonight.”
“I do not know what Saylah shared with you, but know that I am here, Scarlett,” he said. “I will help in whatever way I can. The Avonleyan resources are at your disposal. I am at your disposal.”
She nodded, fiddling with her empty glass.
“My intention has never been to use you,” he added quietly. “Please know that.”
She nodded again, setting the glass back onto the piano. When she began playing once more, Cethin quietly stood. She could feel him watching her, but after a few moments, he left the den, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
This changed some things. Many of her plans would stay the same, but some of them … Some pieces would need to be moved around.
She played until her fingers hurt. She could hardly keep her eyes open when she dragged herself up to her wing of the castle.
Stopping at Cyrus’s rooms first to check on him, she found him fast asleep in bed, and Cassius passed out in the winged armchair he’d claimed.
She’d known Cassius wouldn’t leave him tonight, even if he craved the control of his own space and rooms. She could never ask Cassius to leave this realm and leave Cyrus behind.
She could never leave Cyrus behind. Or Eliza. Or Rayner.
Sighing heavily, she pulled the door shut behind her and made her way to her rooms. After quickly washing up and changing into nightclothes, she slipped into bed. Sorin immediately reached for her, his arm draping over her waist and tugging her into him.
“Love?” he murmured.
“I’m here,” she whispered, brushing dark hair back from his brow.
“Cyrus?” he mumbled, eyes never opening.
“Safe and sleeping,” she answered, pressing a small kiss to his temple. “Go back to sleep.”
“Be here in the morning,” he breathed.
Scarlett smiled softly as she settled in. “Okay.”
His shift in breathing told her he’d slipped back into a deep sleep. But as exhausted as she was, she couldn’t shut her mind off. Replaying conversations. Sifting through information. Making adjustments to plans.
Moves and countermoves.
Dangerous games indeed.
What would the gods and Fates do when they learned she did not play by their rules?