Page 151 of Lady of Ashes

“Sorin!” Scarlett cried.

Sorin leaned forward in his chair. “Everything is getting laid out here, Scarlett. This will not be like the border where you withhold information until you have everything ?gured out. Furthermore, all of this directly affects Cassius. He deserves to know.”

“You could be more tactful about it,” she muttered.

Sorin sat back. “He is a Commander in an army. I assure you, he prefers bluntness over tactfulness.”

“He speaks truth, Seastar. You know this,” Cassius said. “Why will you draw power from me?”

Scarlett ?lled him in on the Guardian Mark, how they got it, and what it meant for him. When she ?nished with the details, she added, “You made this choice as a child, Cass. If it is something you no longer want, we will ?nd a way to sever it.”

“Why would I no longer want it?”

“Because it requires you to keep me safe at all costs. To put my well-being above all others, above your own life.”

“How is that any different from the last ?fteen years?”

“Because it was not your choice.”

“Of course it was,” Cassius said, picking up a piece of cheese and taking a bite.

She shook her head. “Maybe it feels like it was, but it was this Guardian link all this time. Driving you to protect me.”

“I disagree. I think this Guardian thing simply made my job … easier,” Cassius said, popping the rest of the cheese into his mouth. “It certainly clears up a lot of things.”

“It is a job that was forced on you,” she argued.

“Doesn’t sound like it. From what you told me, I wanted this.”

“Of course it sounded exciting as achild, Cassius. You didn’t understand—”

“I didn’t understand that I was tying my life to that of a child I already ?ercely protected? I didn’t understand that I was beingasked to give my life for yours should it ever be asked? Even though I was already willing to do just that? Even as achild?”

Tears were pooling in her eyes, and Scarlett blinked them back, looking down at her hands. “You were forced into this, Cassius,” she said, her voice little more than a whisper. “You didn’t want to drink from that chalice, and they made you.”

“Would you like to do the entire thing again so you will know I am choosing to become your Guardian of my own free will, then?”

Her head ?ew up, her gaze meeting his. His face was hard, completely serious.

“You and I have always been more, Scarlett,” he said, his features softening. “We have always been more than friends. We have always been more than family. Even as children, even before this Mark, we were more.”

“We are soulmates,” she said, a tear slipping free. “Our fates have always been intertwined.”

“Then I fail to see why we are having this discussion,” he said, settling back into the pillows once more.

She opened her mouth to argue further, but Sorin cut her off.

“He prefers the darkness, Scarlett. Let him stay in it,” he said gently. “Let us stay in your darkness.”

“Okay,” she breathed. “Okay.”

“You’re sure you are ready?” Scarlett asked from her spot near the window in Cassius’s room. He was coming out of the bathing room, Sorin nearby in case he needed help. Yesterday Cassius had leaned on him every time he’d needed to walk. Today Cassius was insisting on doing everything himself.

Hazel had given Scarlett instructions on tonics to take to make sure he continued to heal, and Cyrus had delivered a small glass of blood for him. Scarlett had turned away while he’d drank that down.

As for her deal to “?gure something out” with Sorin … She’d conveniently fallen asleep before such a discussion could be had, but she knew he hadn’t forgotten. She knew he’d be bringing it up again, likely at the most inconvenient time.

“Yes, Scarlett,” Cassius sighed, pausing by an armchair and gripping the back. His breathing was heavy.

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