Page 135 of Lady of Shadows

“We could,” Sorin said, his tone considering. “Or we could use the Witch that already serves in our Court.”

Scarlett’s eyes widened. “A Witch lives here? In the Fire Court?”

“A select few do, yes,” Sorin answered with a smile. “If they enter into a covenant with a prince or princess of the Courts.” He pointed to a Mark that was inked on the inside of his right forearm, just below the crease of his elbow. It was a black whirl of stars and moons. “You will find a similar Mark on Beatrix, our Healer.”

“Beatrix is a Witch?” She was tracing the Mark he had shown her now.

“All Healers are Witches. Beatrix’s dominant gift is healing, and she is one of the most skilled in all the realms, but she possesses the other Witch gifts of prophecy and apothecary as well.”

“So we get this last Trial done, we go see Beatrix, she anoints our connection, and then what? Will we be married?” Scarlett mused.

“I suppose, for all intents and purposes, yes, but the twin flame bond is deeper than any marriage bond,” Sorin said, watching his own finger tracing around her nipples.

She huffed a sarcastic sigh. “These Fae customs are so complicated. In the human lands, they just exchange rings.”

“My Love, if a ring will make you happy, we can do that, too. If you want a grand ceremony and party, then we shall have one. If you want to shout it from the rooftops, I shall find the tallest building,” he said, leaning down to kiss where his finger had just been tracing.

“Gods, no,” Scarlett said, with a shade of disgust in her tone, running her fingers through his hair. “A ring shall do just fine. In the meantime, though, before we’re Anointed or whatever, what will we be?”

“Beatrix can still sanctify a marriage so that it is official for…political purposes, until the twin flame bond is Anointed,” Sorin answered.

“Hmm,” she hummed, her attention having returned to her own Mark. Her lips were pursed and quirked to the side. He could tell she was thinking deeply about something. “That would probably be a good idea.”

“Why?” he questioned, his fingers now lightly grazing up and down her hip and thigh.

“Do I need a reason to want to marry you?”

“No, but you always have a reason,” he returned with a knowing glance. Her eyes were different. The icy blue was paler, almost silvery.

“Maybe I just want to be able to call you husband.”

“That would certainly be a step up from all the names you usually call me,” he retorted.

“Careful, Prince,” she crooned sensuously, “we may be twin flames, but I will still throw down with you.”

Sorin chuckled, brushing another kiss to her lips. She hissed at him, but kissed him back. “You produced white flames today. On purpose,” he said, pulling back and looking into her eyes once more.

“I did. I… The Oracle helped remove some obstacles that…” She sighed, and it made him wonder what exactly had happened with the Oracle. “She answered some questions, but it also created about a hundred new ones. And she did help me overcome some things that were keeping me from accessing my full well of power.”

“Your power will already be feared among the rest of the world, but when our magic is bonded…” Sorin couldn’t help the shudder that went through him. He had felt it. He had felt their magic playing and joining and intertwining while they’d been doing the same with their physical bodies. Thinking out loud, he mused, “If we ever have children, their power could be extraordinary.”

Scarlett went rigid beside him. “Do you take a tonic?”

“Yes, Scarlett,” he answered softly, stroking a finger down her cheek. “I take a monthly aid.”

She ran a hand down her face. “Thank the gods.” Her eyes closed for a moment before she opened them and met his gaze.“Sorin, children… I…”

“Relax, Love. That is a discussion we can have down the road.”

“Far down the road,” she said pointedly.

“When you are ready,” he confirmed.

“I mean, I know you said it is difficult for Fae to conceive children, and my cycle has never been exactly normal—”

Sorin brushed a kiss to her mouth, silencing her rambling. “Scarlett, I did not bring up children as a way of saying I wanted them right now. Yes, children are rare for Fae, and should we have them someday, they will be a blessing, but not now. Right now, I want you all to myself.” He felt the tension ease from her muscles some. “As for your cycle…” Her eyes flew back to his, widening. “It was not normal for mortals, I suppose, but I am guessing you experience it every season rather than every month.”

“Oh my gods.” Her hands came up and covered her face, but he could see the slight flush to her cheeks. “I do not even want to know why you know about Fae menstrual cycles,” she muttered from beneath her hands. Sorin laughed, and she slowly lowered her hands. “Seriously. Why do you know that?”

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