Page 83 of Lady of Shadows

Fine. He wanted to be a prick? She would play that game.

“Sorin Aditya, you stubborn ass, let me in!” she cried, banging her palm on the door.

Silence.

“I will sit out here. All fucking night, Sorin. I will sit here in the snow and the cold.”

“Tell Cyrus that if he does not take you home, I will kick his ass from here to Threlarion.”

“My home is wherever you are. If you demand I go home, I am already there. Let me in.”

Still, the door remained closed. He was really not going to let her in? After all they had been through? After all she had shared with him?

No. That wasn’t an option.

“You promised, you lying bastard!” she screamed now. She could feel the tears pooling in her eyes as she banged on that door with clenched hands. Her shadows wreathed her fists, the wood of the door groaning under each hit. “You promised you would not leave me alone in the darkness. You came for me, and I have come for you. I am yours, and you are mine. Let me in!”

She heard both Briar and Cyrus gasp at her words, but she didn’t care. Let them think what they wanted.

Then she heard Cyrus swear as that door slowly cracked open.

Sorin looked like every emotion she could feel emanating off of him. His eyes were hollow. His dark hair looked like he’d been running his hands through it repeatedly. He wore a short-sleeve tunic with his pants, his jacket presumably shucked off in the space behind him and his feet were bare.

“What do you want, Scarlett?” he asked after a long moment of silence, staring at each other. She could smell the liquor on his breath.

“Let me in, Sorin,” she whispered. She saw him glance behind her, and she peered over her shoulder. Cyrus and Briar stood, shock on their features.

“We can talk tomorrow,” he said, his eyes coming back to hers.

“Fine. Then I shall sit with you in the darkness. Let me in,” she said, trying to push past him. He was immoveable, though, not budging an inch. She reached up to touch his cheek, anything to bring him back to her, but he jerked out of her reach.

Oh, she recognized this kind of temper, and it did not scare her. She smirked at him. A smirk she knew would make him see red. His nostrils flared. “Go home, Monrhoe. I will be back tomorrow.”

“No,Aditya,” she said with quiet calm. “Let me in.”

“I do not want company right now,” he growled.

“I do not care. You’ve shoved your face into my business when I didn’t want company numerous times,” she retorted, crossing her arms. “Let me in.” He did not move.

“Quit being a stubborn brat,” he ground out.

“Quit being an obstinate jackass,” she retorted. The two stared each other down, glaring at each other.

“So what? We will just sit here and get drunk together?” he asked with a sneer.

“If that is what you desire, yes.”

“And what if I desire something else?” His eyes raked over her, and she fought the urge to flinch. “Or is that reserved for your mortal prince?”

“Do not be a prick,” she growled. “You do not get to call me a whore because you’re having a hard day, but if that kind of release is what you need, I’ll go find someone for you to be with.”

He blinked at her, and she saw the flicker of surprise pass across his eyes before they became unreadable again.

“Tell me what happened.” She rubbed her hands over her arms, trying to warm herself. His eyes flickered as he noted the movement, her wet shoes, but he still did not move to let her pass.

“No.”

“Why?”

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