Page 186 of Lady of Shadows

Sorin’s dark smile grew. “We have different definitions of what is necessary.”

Colton stiffened. “This infernal Court has always been infested with the foulest of you.”

“Perhaps that is why Deimas modeled the Black Syndicate after us then,” Sorin retorted. “Say what you have come to say before the bloodsucker to your left meets the same fate for wasting my fucking time.”

“I already told you. The Lord has sent me to check on his weapon,” Colton said with a shrug of his shoulders. “I expected her to be with you based on the little I have heard about her.”

“You can tell yourmastersthat she is no longer a weapon and is no longer their concern. They cannot have her. They will never have her again,” Sorin snarled.

Colton chuckled. “We are not here for her. I think you will find she will return on her own,” he mused, his dark eyes glittering. “You will find,Prince of Fire, that shadows always return to the darkness.”

“If you are not here for her, then what is your business?” Sorin snapped. He needed to get back to Scarlett. She knew something. This vampyre repeating Mikale’s words from a month ago made his unease about her staying on the other side of the border only grow. What was she making of all this? He could feel her pacing on the other side of the border.

Colton’s lips curled into a sinister grin, revealing his fangs. “To confirm the Prince of Fire’s identity.”

“That’s it? You brought all these men here for that? Something you have done all on your own?” Eliza demanded from his side.

“No, that’s not it,” Colton replied. “It was actually more of a bonus to be honest.”

“Why are men stationed at the Water Court border?” Cyrus asked now, his arrow still trained on the other Night Child. “And the other two Court borders?”

“Perhaps you should be asking why she did not accompany you to speak with me,” Colton countered.

“You are not privy to her reasons,” Sorin growled, smoke curling on his tongue. He had kept his hands in his pockets to hide the ring so they would believe him unable to access his magic, but he was becoming increasingly annoyed with the vampyre.

Colton’s eyes narrowed coldly. “And you are not privy to that of the Lords.”

Thank you for loving me like the stars love the night, Sorin. Thank you for guiding me home.

Her words startled him as they came down that bond, and he froze. He whirled to face the border as realization slammed into him. She had given him that soft smile one other time, aside from when she spoke of Juliette— when she had said goodbye to him to go to Mikale.

He couldn’t see across the border. He took a step. To go to her. To make her tell him what she had figured out, but Eliza’s warning cry had him turning back. He jerked to the side as a shirastone dagger flew past him, grazing a shallow cut along his shoulder.He didn’t have time for this. Something was wrong with his wife.

He growled, stalking forward towards the two remaining vampyres. A circle of flames encased the entire camp of mortals. Cries rang up from the men, and the Night Children hissed as they realized he was wearing Scarlett’s ring when Sorin raised his hand before them. As though he were wiping away a stain on a window, flames moved across that small encampment, leaving nothing but ashes in their wake. Tents, flesh, bones. All of it became ashes on the wind. No one was spared. No one was given a chance to beg for mercy.

With a thought, the Night Children had flames encircling their throats and were screeching in protest. He silenced the one who had never spoken by shoving flames down his throat. He collapsed to the ground, never to rise again.

Colton stared at him, hatred glittering in his eyes.

“Tell me what her shadow magic is,” Sorin growled at him, that ring of flames squeezing tighter.

But Colton’s eyes snagged on his forearm where a Bargain Mark was inked. A flame with three diamonds. His eyes lifted to Sorin’s and a slow, cunning smile spread across his face. “You shall learn what her magic is soon enough, Prince of Fire. The Sorceress will see to that,” he gasped out around the pressure on his throat.

Sorin only had that noose of flame squeezing tighter and tighter…until his head was disconnected from his body.

“Holy gods, Sorin,” Cyrus said in disbelief. “No prisoners to interrogate?”

Sorin said nothing as he turned and raced across the border, crossing at the exact spot she had last been standing.

“Scarlett!” He looked every direction for her, searching for the flash of silver in a sea of black and red and golden hair. But there was nothing. No answer to his call. He could not feel her. He could not find her.

He glanced at his hand where the twin flame Mark stood dark and stark against his tanned skin. The bond was still there. Unbroken.

“What the hell is going on?” Eliza demanded, panting as she came running over the border behind him.

Sorin’s blood had drained from his face, though. His eyes had settled not on a queen with silver hair, but on a ring, floating on a shadow. A diamond ring flanked by two rubies. Her marriage ring.

He pulled on that bridge between their souls. He roared her name down it, but he was met with nothing. It was as if there were a wall blocking their connection. He slammed flames against that obstacle. Over and over and over, but nothing cracked it.

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