Page 71 of Lady of Darkness

“Did she say anything?” Sorin snarled. “She godsdamn erupted! She vomited smoke and nearly ripped her hair out!”

“But at least you got to see what happens when she doesn’t take her tonic, right?” Cassius spat back bitterly.

“I have never seen anything like that,” Sorin replied, ignoring the verbal jab. “She kept screaming for it to stop. She kept crying out for you.”

“I’m sure she did,” Cassius answered, quickly walking along the beach. “I’m assuming she passed out again because she couldn’t breathe?”

“No. I got her to breathe,” Sorin answered, seeing the horses tied to a post.

“That’s impressive. I can’t even get her to do that sometimes. She passes back out from the pain and lack of oxygen.” They came to a stop beside the horses. “Take the brown one,” Cassius said, jerking his chin towards a chestnut mare. “I’ll hand her up to you.”

“You want her to ride with me?”

“Yes. I need to ride ahead and scout the path to make sure we’re not followed or watched. Nuri will be guarding us as well,” Cassius said. “Hurry up.” Sorin swung up onto the horse and reached for Scarlett as Cassius lifted her to him. When she was settled against him once more, Cassius hoisted himself onto the other horse. “We cannot be seen with her. If we are, it will surely get back to Lord Tyndell and the Assassin Lord.”

“Does the Assassin Lord know she is Fae?” Sorin asked, urging his horse forward.

“I don’t know. I don’t know that Iwantto know,” Cassius answered, pulling ahead and leading them down a side street. “Keep her quiet.”

“She is unconscious.”

“She won’t be for long.”

“Why do we not just give her the tonic now?”

“Because I need her to be somewhere safe. Once she takes it, we will not be able to wake her. Right now, if required, she could wake and fight. It would be horrific, but she could do it. Survival instincts would take over,” he answered as he turned down a dark alley.

“Who would she need to fight? Who would attack her while she is with us?”

“You have no idea the people who want her,” Cassius murmured quietly.

“Want her dead, you mean?”

“No, Sorin, very few of them want her dead.”

Scarlett stirred against his chest, and he tightened his arm that held her to him. “Cassius,” she moaned, her back arching against Sorin’s chest.

Cassius’s head snapped towards them, and his eyes narrowed at Sorin.

“Shh,” Sorin murmured into her ear. “He is here, Scarlett. Cassius is here.”

Her eyes fluttered open and met his. “Sorin?”

“Yes, Love. I’m here.”

“You made it stop,” she breathed. She held his gaze, relief and focus sharpening in her eyes.

“I’m glad I could help,” he replied with a tight smile.

“You made it stop,” she murmured again. She reached a hand up and tentatively touched his lips. Frost coated her fingertips, and the cold against his skin sent a chill down his spine. A half grin kicked up on his mouth, and he huffed a breath onto them, breathing out his magic. The frost melted instantly.

Cassius had slowed and was riding beside them in the quiet alley. They were only a few blocks from Sorin’s apartment now. The shortcuts and side streets they took were completely unknown to him.

“Cass,” Scarlett called out quietly, her eyes still on Sorin’s. “He made it stop.”

“I heard, Seastar,” he replied. “We’re almost there, and then you can sleep.”

“Okay,” she breathed, her eyes closing once more, her head resting against his chest. Without thinking, Sorin pressed a kiss to the top of her head. As soon as he realized what he’d done, his eyes darted to Cassius.

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