Page 96 of Lady of Starfire (Lady of Darkness #5)

Eliza

S he was waiting for them all outside the cave. Razik was still sleeping. He hadn’t woken up yet.

Then again, that wasn’t entirely true. Kailia had informed her he had been awake once while Eliza had been sleeping.

She’d woken plenty of times, but apparently not when he did.

Kailia had told her that Razik had insisted they let her sleep.

In fact, he’d gone so far as to threaten them if any of them attempted to wake her.

Males and their godsdamn overprotectiveness.

She had been awake more and more these past two days.

The Avonleyan King and Queen had filled her in on everything that had been happening, and she hadn’t needed Sorin worrying about her while Scarlett still slept too.

They had agreed that when Scarlett was awake and fine, they would tell the others that she and Razik were here.

Kailia had sent a message that she had done just that. They would be arriving at any moment.

So she’d quickly dressed in loose pants, a sleeveless undershirt, and a tunic, slid on some silk shoes the queen had brought her, and climbed the steps to the cave entrance.

She tsked under her breath.

Cave.

Sure, it was inside a mountain, but this was nothing like the cave she’d spent time recovering in.

The entrance to Razik’s cave was hidden among rocky cliffs and ledges.

How he’d even found it, she had no idea.

He had wards all around it, and there were steps that led down into the belly of the mountain.

The large main room was only the beginning.

The steam she’d glimpsed towards the back was a large hot spring.

There were a few other passageways leading off the main room as well, but she hadn’t wandered down them, not wanting to pry into his personal space.

Eliza wasn’t sure how he was going to react to her taking the twin flame Mark. Yes, he’d made it obvious he wanted the bond, but to make the decision without talking to him felt …wrong. She didn’t like people making decisions for her, and she didn’t particularly like making them for others.

Niara had been pleased her wound was healing faster than last time. Likely because she actually stayed in bed curled up next to Razik and gave her body the time it needed. It would be another day or two before Niara cleared her, but she could move her shoulder without issue.

Her hands were curled in her sleeves as she paced back and forth on the ledge, her unbound hair fluttering in the mountain air. She had slept more than enough to fill her reserves, and her fire kept her plenty warm; yet she still felt slightly chilled. She scowled. Damn dragon fire.

“Eliza.”

Her name had her spinning to find Sorin, Rayner, and Scarlett standing there, the Fire Prince’s eyes sweeping over her. He was the one who had said her name, but Eliza’s eyes were fixed on Scarlett.

She was different.

Eliza couldn’t place it, but she could feel it.

“What happened to you?” she demanded, sweeping her gaze over her queen the same way Sorin was eyeing her.

“What happened to me?” Scarlett retorted, stepping forward. “What happened to you ? Kailia said you’ve been up here for days.” Her eyes darted to the cave entrance. “Is there a reason you are staying in a cave instead of the castle? Or estate? Or anywhere else, really?”

“The cave is deceiving,” she muttered defensively.

“Where is Razik?” Rayner asked. His ashes were roaming around him, seeking out whatever they could learn for him.

“Sleeping,” she replied with a dismissive gesture behind her.

“In a cave,” Scarlett deadpanned.

“It’s not—” She huffed out a sigh as she pulled a hand from her sleeve and rubbed at her brow.

Unthinkingly, she did so with her left hand, and of course, Sorin zeroed in on it.

“You have a new Mark, Eliza,” Sorin said carefully.

And Scarlett was darting forward, snatching Eliza’s hand and running her fingers over the Mark that wound down her thumb and forefinger. “He is your twin flame?”

Eliza jerked her hand back, pulling it back into her sleeve. “He … I …”

“What happened, Eliza?” Sorin asked, he and Rayner coming to stand by Scarlett. They all stared at her expectantly, waiting for an explanation.

So she told them everything. How she’d known for quite some time who he was to her.

How she’d known before she took the Source Mark.

She told them of Siofra, of Sawyer’s death, and of Nuri and Mordecai.

She told them what had happened in the Fire Court.

How she’d taken the twin flame Mark to find him. How she’d killed Varlis.

When she finished speaking, they all just stared at her. Not even Scarlett had some witty thing to say.

Sorin finally held out a hand, and Eliza pulled her left hand from the sleeve again, letting him examine the Mark. “He does not bear the companion Mark yet?” Eliza shook her head, and Sorin glanced up at her. “But he will take it?”

“Of course he’s going to take it,” Scarlett interrupted. Then her eyes shifted to Eliza, black wisps swirling among the silver irises. She bit her bottom lip. “Right?”

“He will take it,” Rayner said. “You two have not witnessed them together. All of this ,” he gestured to the twin flame Mark, “explains a lot.”

Eliza jerked her hand back again, muttering a curse at the Ash Rider under her breath. Rayner smirked at her.

“Tell me what has happened with you,” she grumbled, crossing her arms tightly.

By the time they were done, it was Eliza’s turn to stare at them with nothing to say. She looked between the three of them, coming back to Scarlett before she finally got out, “You are essentially a First goddess?”

“I guess so,” she sighed. “A High Queen of the World Walkers with a little something more.” Her shadows appeared, thicker and darker than before, white embers drifting among them. Scarlett frowned. “A little something more …chaotic.”

“Let’s go get something to eat,” Sorin said, taking her hand. “We can discuss plans and go from there.”

“I will still go reclaim the Fire Court,” Eliza said. “As soon as Niara clears me—”

“Time is running out, but we can all take a minute to rest and breathe,” Sorin said. “Let’s reconvene tomorrow. Agreed?”

Eliza nodded, the bond in her chest stirring. She looked over her shoulder, half expecting to see Razik standing at the cave entrance. He wasn’t, but it was the most she’d felt the bond move since she’d given herself the Mark.

When she turned back, Sorin and Scarlett had knowing looks in their eyes.

“Today we rest. Tomorrow we save the world,” Scarlett said decidedly. “I need the day to figure out this Chaos, and you need a day to …figure things out with Razik.”

“Whatever,” Eliza muttered, crossing her arms once more. “Just come back tomorrow.”

“Send a message if you need anything,” Sorin said, worry still etched into his features.

Scarlett was right. He was a mother hen.

“I will see you all tomorrow,” she said, turning and heading towards the cave entrance.

“Eliza,” Scarlett called after her.

She glanced back to find a slow smirk spreading across Scarlett’s face.

“Sorin and I only got one night for our Joining Trial. I know we’re about to fight for the world and all, but I’ll try to give you at least a full day,” Scarlett said.

Eliza was already walking away again, flipping her off over her shoulder.

She felt the wards brush along her already too hot skin as she descended the steps back into the cave. What was he going to say when he woke up? What was she going to say?

She’d said things in a blind panic in the Fiera Mountains.

Too much.

She’d said too much. She’d meant it all, but she’d never meant to tell him all of that.

Her gaze fell onto her hand where the Mark swirled down her pointer finger, the Rescuing Trial already completed.

She slid her hands into her sleeves, balling them around the ends as she reached the bottom of the stairs, and then she froze.

Razik was not only awake but up and moving around the space.

His back was to her as he did something in the small kitchenette area.

His wings were still out, the right one with faint silver lines spider-webbing out from where the bolt had been embedded.

Niara had told her wings heal differently. They would scar, unlike his chest.

The area the bolt had been was still raised and a little red, but there was hardly a mark on his skin.

It didn’t even require a dressing anymore.

His Avonleyan blood healed him faster than her Fae blood.

She scowled at the thought, instantly annoyed that his more extensive wounds would take less time to heal than hers.

Irritation that he apparently felt because he turned to face her fully. Bright sapphire eyes swept her up and down—twice—before he crossed his arms and leaned back against the counter, wings shifting behind him.

They just …stared at each other for a long moment before Razik said, “Come here.”

Eliza clicked her tongue, ignoring the way relief flooded through her at hearing him speak for the first time since that day in the Fiera Mountains.

She also ignored the way her stomach dipped and heat pooled at the mere rumble of his voice. She had to actively hold back her magic from reaching out for him. His eyes seemed to darken as he felt her internal struggle.

“Come here,” he growled again.

She took a single step before she managed to stop herself. She clenched her fists tighter, feeling her nails dig into her palms. “We should talk about this.”

Razik’s eyes narrowed. “Did you accept the bond solely to save me?”

“What? No, but I …”

“You what, Eliza?”

She couldn’t think with him looking at her like that, knowing exactly what was going to happen if she obeyed his order to go to him. She could feel it all down this damn bond.

“Do you regret it?” he asked when the silence lingered.

“No,” she whispered. Then louder, she added, “But it is not something we discussed beforehand. I do not want you to feel forced to accept this if it is not something you want.”