Page 244 of Lady of Starfire

So he’d known Briar would hold it together. He’d known his friend would do what needed to be done while keeping his own storm internal. He was glad he’d had Ashtine, but he would have hidden some of this from her. He would have flipped their roles, comforting her instead of letting her comfort him. Sorin could practically hear him murmuring words to her to assuage her feelings of guilt and ensure she knew Sawyer would make that same sacrifice over and over.

But inside, his heart would have been shattering.

“He will be honored, Briar,” Sorin said after a time. “When we have reclaimed our lands, and when the realm is at peace, he will be honored. Sawyer. Nakoa. Finn and Sloan. All of those who gave their lives so that the realm might retain its freedom will be remembered.”

They’d moved to a set of armchairs, and Sorin tossed some extra flames into the hearth. The temperature of the room had dropped noticeably while Briar had been speaking.

“You know that the Fire Court will stand with you and Ashtine regarding the babes, right? I would be willing to bet Luan will too, and Scarlett, of course,” Sorin said.

“Even with the entirety of the realm’s rulers behind us, there will still be politics at play. You know this, Sorin,” Briar said, a finger steepled along his temple as he watched the flames.

“Be that as it may, we present as a united front. It will still make them act with caution knowing they will be going up against all of us.”

“Perhaps,” was all Briar said.

“Scarlett also has some ideas on how to handle this situation,” Sorin continued.

Briar huffed a laugh. “Of course she does.” He took a drink of his tea before he added, “Where is she?”

“With the High Witch,” Sorin answered.

Hazel had arrived yesterday with another small unit of Witches. Too late to fight in the Wind Court battle, she said they had forces prepared and waiting for orders all along the western border of the Witch Kingdoms. From there, they could easily be in Toreall or the Earth Court territory at a moment’s notice. Which was good, because they had also received word the Night Children were on the move, and Sorin could only assume they would be joining Tarek in the Earth Court. It was foolish, with the Witches and Shifters so close. It would be a fairly easy battle, but there would be large losses on both sides. Then again, maybe it was brilliant. It would lessen the Fae, Shifter, and Witch numbers, and all Alaric and the other Maraans would have to sacrifice is vampyre lives that he clearly deemed expendable.

They really needed to get aid to Earth Court.

Eliza had sent word this morning that she had successfully taken back control of the Fire Court. She had units throughout the territory removing any additional threats, and the Fire Court forces were back under her command. She was getting things organized to have them all start moving to the southern borders along the mortal lands. If they could gain control of the southern courts too, they could hammer from the north, south, and east.

So many moving parts in all of this, especially when he realized Scarlett had been moving pieces of her own into place this entire time. Her plans for what she was going to ask Briar and Ashtine were no exception.

They were discussing the merit of bringing a fight to the Earth Court before they had a chance to strengthen their hold with the additional Night Children when Ashtine appeared. Her long silver hair hung loose around her shoulders, and her pale blue dress matched her eyes.

Briar was immediately on his feet and closing the distance between them, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek as he murmured, “Good morning.”

“There are new arrivals,” she said, reaching up to run her fingers along Briar’s jaw.

“Where?” he asked, one of his large hands resting on her rounded stomach, a thumb making sweeping motions back and forth.

“In the receiving foyer.” Then her gaze flitted to Sorin’s. With a soft smile, as she added, “Cyrus and Cassius.”

Sorin shot to his feet as he reached out to Scarlett down their bond.Cyrus and Cassius are here, Love. The receiving foyer.

She didn’t answer, but he felt her jolt of relief. He knew when he got to the foyer she would already be there.

“Do you wish to see them or stay here?” Briar was asking Ashtine.

“Ermir and Sion have cleared the foyer and are having a council room prepared for us. We should not meet anyone untowardly this morning,” she answered.

Briar nodded, folding her hand into his a moment before a water portal appeared, and they all stepped into the entrance foyer where Scarlett was indeed wrapped around Cassius in a tight embrace. Then she was reaching for Cyrus to do the same.

“That was faster than expected,” Sorin said as Scarlett fussed over the two of them. She was currently checking Cyrus for any type of injury, turning his head from side to side.

“Stop it,” Cyrus grumbled, brushing her hands away. “Sorin’s mother hen tendencies are wearing off on you.”

“Fuck off. They are not,” she admonished, instantly dropping her hands to her side.

“Darling, you were just fretting.”

“Fret this,” she retorted, flipping him her middle finger.

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