Page 28 of Winds of Darkness

“A female?” she demanded, a brow arching.

“Of course not,” Cyrus said quickly, and Rayner snickered. Amber eyes lifted to his in a glare as Cyrus gritted out, “I can talk to him—”

“Youarea thief,” Eliza quipped.

“But I can’t right now. I need to get back to the palace. Sorin and I are meeting with the plant guy,” Cyrus continued tightly.

“Prince Azrael,” Rayner said, his gaze fixed on the male as he crossed the road to another vendor, mingling with the crowd. “One day you’re going to slip and call him that to his face.”

“Probably,” Cyrus said with an uncaring shrug.

Eliza tsked under her breath. “Just go, Cyrus. We’ll figure it out.”

Cyrus shot Rayner a knowing look before he turned and headed back up the road to the palace.

They didn’t experience much crime in Solembra. Not that it was nonexistent, but it wasn’t as prevalent as it was in the outlying towns of the Court. In the years since Sorin had started forming his Inner Court, they’d developed a reputation. Not necessarily a bad one, unless you happened to get on their bad side. The other Courts were taking notice. The Fire Court citizens were thankful, and those who had to alter their way of living due to changes … weren’t so grateful.

“What are we going to do?” Eliza said. “He’s too young to face a trial or the cells.”

“I’ll talk to him,” Rayner said.

Eliza’s gaze whipped to his. “You?”

“I thought you were opposed to speaking to him?”

“I’m not. I mean, I was. I was opposed to the reason Cyrus suggested it,” she retorted. “I’m also not … Children are—” She pressed her lips together.

“You don’t owe me an explanation, Eliza,” Rayner said stoically.

“I know I don’t,” she snapped.

He sighed internally. He’d known her for years now, and she was still just as abrasive. Every once in a while, a softer side would slip through. It was rare, but happening more and more. When Sorin had said it would take time to break through her armor, he hadn’t been kidding. But no one understood wanting to keep to themselves better than he did. Eliza and Cyrus knew little of his history. He wasn’t about to try and coerce the Fire General to share hers. It would happen when she was ready.

“You can head back. I’ll handle it,” he said, watching the boy break away and head down the street now.

Eliza hesitated. “Are you sure? I can help. I didn’t mean to imply Iwouldn’t.”

“I’ll see you back at the palace,” he said, moving to the shadowed side of the street.

Before Eliza could reply, he was moving through his ashes. He knew exactly where the youngling was going, and a moment later, he appeared in a dark alley.

Just in time for the male to run directly into him with anoomph.

He stumbled back, a curse he was too young to be saying falling from his lips. Then his golden-brown eyes went wide in recognition. He turned to run, but Rayner was faster, moving through smoke and appearing in front of him, once again blocking his path.

The boy’s disheveled brown hair was hanging in his face as he slowly backed away, but his features were hard and his eyes narrowed.

“What do you want?” he demanded. “I didn’t do anything.”

“Starting a conversation like that indicates you’re guilty of something,” Rayner replied solemnly, his ashes drifting around him and watching the alley entrance. When the young male only clenched his jaw, Rayner asked, “What’s your name?”

“I’m not telling you.”

“Fair enough,” Rayner said. “Do you have a family?”

“Do you?”

“Yes.”