Page 240 of Lady of Ashes

Queen Talwyn’s wolves were here.

CHAPTER 48

SCARLETT

Sorin leaned over, whispering something to Rayner, who disappeared a moment later among the ashes of Veda’s burning corpse. The woman’s blood was still splattered across her face. The rush of the kill still coursed through her veins.

And that kill?

It had been one of the most satisfying deaths she had ever bestowed. She hadn’t felt that much satisfaction after a death since … Lord Winston, perhaps? Or maybe the night she had made that man renting out young girls choke on his own body parts?

She could only imagine what it would feel like to kill Mikale. Lord Tyndell.

Alaric.

But now another male who needed to die stood before them, a giant wolf at his side.

“How rude of you not to extend an invitation,” Tarek continued. “You have hurt my tender feelings.”

“Allow me to demonstrate just how much I can hurt you,” Scarlett sneered, taking a step towards him, but Sorin was holding her back. His ?ngers curled around her elbow.

“Now, now,” Tarek chided. “We both know you could not do much right now. Fae gifts are suppressed within these wards, and you have not taken enough from your Source to re?ll what it took to put on that spectacular display of violence.”

“I still have a sword,” Scarlett sneered, Sorin passing the spirit sword to her. Rayner had handed it to him while Sorin was whispering orders.

“Ah, yes. That could be a problem, but …”

“Fuck,” she heard Sloan mutter as more ?gures prowled out of the shadows.

Night Children. Dozens of them.

Remind me why you just sent Rayner off on an adventure,Scarlett shot down the bond to Sorin.

He went to get reinforcements.

Who?

Luan.

Azrael?

That made sense, she supposed. He was the only one who could Travel. If he had ?nally regained the ability that is.

They had pivoted, their backs to each other, as they monitored the Night Children closing in. Fangs appeared and hands reached for Tava and Callan.

“Stop,” Tarek said casually, and all the Night Children froze.

“Since when do you command vampyres?” Scarlett asked.

“Since the Contessa pledged loyalty to the Assassin Lord,” Tarek replied.

“What?” Scarlett said, unable to keep the shock from her voice.

The Contessa was still with Nuri. There was no way they had gotten to her. Absolutely none.

“I am going to need you and your entourage to come with me, your Majesty,” Tarek continued. “There are some people who simply cannot wait to see you again.”

“We are going to go nowhere with you,” Sorin retorted.

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