Page 141 of Lady of Ashes

“My father’s Inner Court became my Inner Court. I knew them all well by this point, and when my father’s Third faded and crossed the Veil, it was only natural that his son took his place. That is how Tarek Ordos became my Third. I knew that his family used to occupy my throne. I knew that it was his family my grandfather had challenged and bested. When he won, the Ordos family became part of his Inner Court. Resentment at that time would only be natural, but they served my grandfather and father loyally. I did not realize that such resentment still simmered centuries later. I never anticipated that such a need for revenge would cause him to seek an even higher seat of power, but looking back on it now, it all makes sense.”

Her eyes narrowed and a low growl escaped her at what he was implying— that Tarek had sought her out because of her claim to the throne and not because he was her twin ?ame.

“If Tarek would challenge me now, he would still lose,” Azrael said, apparently not noticing her growl or choosing to ignore her. Probably the latter. “My Avonleyan blood will always give me a slight advantage, but it is blood I did not even know I possessed until I was well into my second century of life. My father told me that when the Avonleyans fell back, my grandfather did not want it known that he was descended from there, even if only a fraction of our bloodline could be traced back. Documents were altered. People were sworn to secrecy. Oath Marks were given, and eventually, it was forgotten. Traveling was thought to be a rare gift like the Ash Riders and the Wind Walkers. Although, knowing the things I know now, I would venture to guess those are Avonelyan gifts in some way or another as well.”

Talwyn had sat, watching him as he spoke, trying to absorb and process everything he was telling her. Still waiting for him to get to the part about why he had never told her.

“I did not think it mattered. Not anymore,” he said. “In fact, I rarely thought of the fact that I carry Avonleyan blood in my veins. Not until the day you told me of your plans for revenge. I had been your Second for only a few years when you con?ded that in me, what you and Ashtine dreamed of one day achieving. I thought of telling you then, but I could not tell if you were serious or if it was just that— a dream.

“Until the day you arrived in my chambers after Tarek had been attacked, when we thought he had died. When Sorin became so lost to his own failure and Cyrus’s grief …” Azrael trailed off, clearly reining in his dislike for the Fire Prince. And even though she was furious with him, even though she felt a level of betrayal she hadn’t felt since that day with Sorin, something in her empty chest squeezed slightly at seeing him so angry on her behalf. He ground his teeth together, his jaw clenching, and it took several seconds before he was able to go on.

“You slept in my chambers that night, and when you woke, there were no tears. There was no grief or sorrow. Only fury and revenge stared back at me as you said, ‘We have work to do, Prince.’ And I knew. In that moment, I knew that if I ever told you of my heritage, you would never be able to see beyond it. You woke with a renewed craving for what you felt was justice. You woke wanting to hurt those you felt were responsible for the pain you were refusing to acknowledge, and I didn’t … I didn’t know how to helpyou through that, Talwyn.” He met her gaze, and Talwyn almost lurched back from him. His eyes looked haunted, almost desperate for something. He looked at her as if she could give him whatever it was he was seeking, and she had no idea what he wanted from her. “I still do not know how to help you see that your anger is misplaced.

That going after an entire kingdom, a kingdom you will likely fall to, will not make you feel better. Will not atone for the death of your parents. The death of Tarek. The betrayal of Sorin. I do not know how to help you understand that giving your life for this will accomplish nothing but leave your kingdom with an heirless throne.”

Talwyn opened her mouth to argue, before remembering she couldn’t speak.

Azrael got to his feet, looking down at her from his towering height. “I know you feel outnumbered, Talwyn. I know you feel as though Ashtine and I have turned against you by pulling out of this quest for vengeance. I hope that you see that is not the case, before you do something incredibly foolish. But, for the sake of your appearance, I would suggest that you and I at least appear to still be aligned in our goals. When the time comes to make hard choices, if we still do not agree, I will walk away. I will let you go, if that is what you desire.”

He turned then, walking out of the cave, and leaving her standing alone.

He was wrong. Her anger was not misplaced. It was targeted right at the people who caused all of this.

She began pacing back and forth in the cave, everything he’d told her running through her mind. None of it excused him. None of it was a valid reason for not telling her what ran through his veins. If he was right, the same ran through Ashtine’s veins as well. Did she know? Was she keeping the same secret from her? A growl rippled from her at that thought.

Of course she felt outnumbered. Because she was. The two people she thought would stand beside her through anything, had all but told her they would stand against her if forced to choose. Ashtine may have chosen her over the winds, but the princess also resented her for it. And Azrael?

I will walk away. I will let you go if that is what you desire.

She didn’t need anyone to ?ght for her. She didn’t need anyoneat all. Would it be nice? Perhaps, but the Fates had obviously decided she didn’t deserve such a thing.

She needed no one. Not Sorin.

Not Tarek. Not Ashtine. Not Azrael.

No. All she needed was the head of the Avonleyan king lying at her feet while the kingdom burned to nothing around her.

Because Azrael was wrong.

Tasting that justice, achieving that revenge, would change everything. She didn’t care what happened to the kingdom after she was done with it. There wouldn’t be anything left to rule over anyway. There wouldn’t be anyone left to use her people for their own gain, just to abandon them.

As that calm, fury-?lled clarity settled over her, she saw that glimmering thread in her soul. It wove among her winds and ?owers, the ether buzzing around it. She grabbed hold of it, tugging until she felt her body changing, morphing, shifting.

Until she stood on two feet, dressed in the same clothing she had been wearing at the meeting with Scarlett.

She needed to pay the Queen of the Western Courts a visit. It was time to ?nd these keys.

It was time to ?nally end this for good.

CHAPTER 32

SORIN

“This isn’t working,” Scarlett sighed, sheathing her sword down her back and brushing back stray hair that had escaped from her braid.

They had been out in the training pits all morning, as they had been every morning for the last week. They spent the morning hours here. They spent their afternoons in various meetings with various people, and they spent their evenings researching until they couldn’t keep their eyes open or until other …distractionsarose.

Scarlett had thrown herself completely into learning to ?ght with her magic and weapons in tandem, as she did with everything she set out to learn. And while she needed to learn to do so seamlessly, she was clearly frustrated that it wasn’t coming more naturally to her.

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