Page 234 of Lady of Starfire

She glanced up again, already seeing him shooting higher.

How much time do I have?

Minutes.

Fuck.

She choked on her laugh, but a few moments later, she started hearing the cry ring out.

“Fall back! Fall back!”

“You can start draining him fully now,” she said to Cethin.

That made him start, his head whipping to her. “What? Then he will know we are here.”

But she was already walking out from the trees, shadow panthers at her sides. “Roderick, right? I don’t believe we’ve met.”

The male turned to her, holding up a hand to still the warriors that had immediately drawn blades. They obeyed instantly, and Scarlett knew beyond a doubt that this male was Alaric’s Second-in-Command. It was why she had never seen him. Alaric trusted him implicitly. He didn’t feel the need to oversee his actions, leaving Roderick to prepare the armies he had slowly accumulated in these lands.

“Scarlett Monrhoe,” Roderick said, a note of derision in his voice as he reached up and pulled back his hood. “Alaric’s proverbial salvation.” He jerked his chin at the few remaining warriors. “Search the surroundings. She won’t be here alone.”

He had the same nearly black eyes as Alaric and Mikale, but his dark hair was cropped so short, one could hardly see it. His angular features were twisted with contempt as he beheld her.

“I’m flattered you’ve heard of me,” she said, bringing her hand dramatically to her chest. “One minor correction. It’s Scarlett Sutara Aditya now.”

“Yes, yes,” Roderick mocked. “A Fae Queen who is not Fae.”

His eyes went wide then, and she knew he was feeling Cethin. Suddenly, she was being yanked to him by invisible hands. He had her spun and against his chest with a dagger at her throat before she could process what was happening.

Well, then. Nuri hadn’t been exaggerating about the strength of his power.

“Tell your brother to come out,” Roderick snarled into her ear.

“Honestly, I’m much better company,” she replied, feeling the Chaos inside her stirring more as it sensed Roderick’s power.

His hand slid into her hair, yanking her head to the side. “Your smart mouth is not endearing to me. I am not your master,” he sneered.

“No one is my master,” she said darkly, the Chaos growing and growing. She felt Roderick stumble. The dagger dug into her throat, and she flinched when she realized it was deathstone.

“Ah, so you do know what this is? That it will not kill you, but will hold you in the in-between?”

“Yes,” Scarlett gritted out, knowing he wasn’t drained enough yet for her to do anything.

“Tell your brother to come out.”

She ground her molars, but she called, “Cethin.”

He stepped from the trees, violence dancing in his silver eyes. “Release her. Now.”

“Get your claws off my power, and we can discuss it.”

“No, Cethin!” Then she cried out as Roderick dug the dagger in a little more.

Sorin! Is everyone safe?

A little longer, Love. Almost.

Roderick began dragging the dagger down her flesh to her collarbone. She could feel her blood sliding down her skin, and she whimpered.

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