Page 128 of Lady of Shadows

“No,” Talwyn answered, her eyes hardening. “Do you need a portal to get out of my face?”

“No, no,” Scarlett drawled. “Until next time, Cousin.”

Then she stepped through a rip in the world, taking her shadow wolves with her.

CHAPTER 41

SCARLETT

Scarlett stepped into Sorin’s private quarters to find the others bickering amongst themselves, apparently about how to get back to her at the White Halls.

“Honestly,” she drawled, as her shadow wolves prowled around her. “I’ve put on such a spectacular display of magic and power today, how could you possibly be worried about me?”

“Really? Wolves?” Cyrus asked with an unimpressed glance as they all turned to face her.

“Would you prefer something with a bigger bite, Darling?”

As she spoke, the wolves merged until a dragon filled the space behind her. Its eyes were glittering ice, and it spewed flames from its mouth as it huffed and curled protectively around her. She reached up and stroked its head, and it set its massive snout on her shoulder, smoke furling from its nostrils.

A mad grin spread across Cyrus's face, but before anyone could say anything further, Sorin growled to his Inner Court, “Go find something else to do.”

Eliza and Cyrus were already halfway to the door before he finished speaking while Rayner disappeared in smoke and ashes.

Sorin turned to Scarlett, and she recognized the hunger that filled his eyes. The same primal lust she’d seen the night before at the dance club lined his features. His eyes went slowly up and down her body, and her shadow dragon dissipated behind her as he purred, “That seems like it will be extremely inconvenient to take off.”

Scarlett looked down and realized she was still wearing the witch clothing. She crossed her arms across her chest and replied shortly, “It was what the High Witch gave me to wear when I showed up on her doorstep in my nightclothes.”

“It is what they wear for flying,” he replied.

“Flying?”

“Yes,” he said as he prowled over to her. He reached for her waist, tugging her closer. “I do not want to talk about the Witches right now.” His voice was thick. So much desire filled his face, hisscent,that he had missed her own change in mood.

He was home. He was safe. And now that the utter fear for his life had dispersed from her veins, there was a fury at being kept in the dark. Again.

As Sorin leaned in to kiss her, she said, her voice low and sultry, “Then let’s talk about how long you’ve known I’m your godsdamnedtwin flame.”

Sorin took a step back like she’d shoved him. His eyes went from want to dread. He ran his hands through his dark hair, letting out a sharp breath. “I did not… You told me you did not want the Fates deciding your future. The Fates determine your twin flame,Scarlett. I wanted you to have the choice.”

“How long have you known?” she repeated, her voice quiet with rage.

“So because the Oracle told you I am your soul destined, you accept it? Because the Oracle told you that you are a queen of this realm, you are suddenly fine with it?” He retorted. The embers in the fireplace roared to life as he released some of the ire roiling with his frustration.

Scarlett smirked at him and added her shadowfire to dance among his flames.

Then ignored the unexpected rush of having her magic intermingle with his and what that did to her body.

“She helped me realize that just because the Fates decide something, it is still mine to choose. She helped me realize that if I choose it, I still direct my own path. I define what it means to be a queen in this realm. Not the Fates. I define what it means to be your twin flame.Had you told me, it would still have been my choice to choose it.” She took a step towards him. “How long have you known?”

He studied her hard. “A part of me wondered the night you fought with Nuri. I suspected in the days we spent at my apartment after the beach. I knew the moment you walked out to go to Mikale.”

“And you didn’t think I deserved to know?” Her voice was shrill now.

“You wanted to make your own path!”

“You took my choice from me by not giving me the choice!” Her shadows were swirling around her with agitation, and she fought to keep her magic under control with her rising emotions.

Sorin stalked towards her, closing the small distance still between them. “I left it to the Fates. If you felt it, if you accepted it, I would be eternally grateful. If not, I would have accepted that, too, and been grateful for what you did offer me these past few months.”

---