Page 81 of Lady of Ashes

And she wasn’t. She wasn’t the same in so many ways. He was sure there were other things he had yet to discover.

But she was also exactly the same. She still had secrets.

She still kept others out. She still kept him out.

She will not be the same as when she left.

The words were on repeat in his head while he watched her sleep. An omen that he couldn’t turn off.

She will not be the same as when she left.

And she wasn’t.

But neither were they and what they once were.

CHAPTER 20

TALWYN

Azrael was slumped in a chair beside her. Despite his best efforts, he looked exhausted and completely drained. He’d brought that ?nal group of children here, along with Death’s Shadow, and nearly collapsed. The only reason he hadn’t was because Briar had been here and caught him, helping him to the chair he now occupied. His magic reserves were clearly entirely depleted.

Ashtine had sent word that he was returning to the Black Halls of all places, and Talwyn was more than interested to know why they were coming here when Scarlett so adamantly claimed the Fiera Palace was herhome. She hadn’t learned of the children until she had arrived to ?nd the princess here with Briar.

Eleven trips.

It had taken eleven trips back and forth from Windonelle to get them all here. Traveling with that many so quickly … It was no wonder he could hardly stand.

“Where is Scarlett?” Talwyn demanded.

Briar glanced up from some quiet conversation he’d been having with Ashtine. “The queen is with Sorin and the High Witch, tending to a friend that was mortally wounded.”

“She needs to get down here and explain what the hell is going on,” Talwyn retorted. “Why are all these children here? I need a full report of everything that happened while she was held captive.”

“I am sure your Second can give that to you,” Briar said casually, with a glance at Azrael. “He was there.”

“That is not what I mean, and you know it,” Talwyn said. “Whatdid Scarlett endure? What did she learn? Who held her captive? Why? Do they still live? Are they a threat we need to worry about? All of these things need to be addressed.”

“And they will be,” Briar answered, his icy-blue eyes hardening like chips of ice. “But right now, her husband is taking care of her. When she is ready, I am sure she will be more than willing to meet with you and discuss these matters.”

Talwyn clicked her tongue. “Yes, I am sure she will be,” she deadpanned.

“Her captors still live,” Ashtine said airily, her gaze ?xed on the room before them, her head tilting slightly to the side.

“The winds told you that?” Talwyn asked.

Ashtine spared her a brief glance before saying, “No. Prince Briar did.”

“And what else hasPrince Briarshared with you that he has not shared with me?” she ground out.

Ashtine’s features hardened a little, clearly still upset about their argument from a few weeks ago. Talwyn had seen the princess only a handful of times since then and only when summoned. Her visits were brief and to the point. Talwyn had thought she would have moved on from it by now. But if she were being really honest, Ashtine had never been this upset with her. She didn’t know how long Ashtine would harbor these feelings, or if she would eventually demand they discuss matters again.

But they de?nitely needed to be discussed again. She couldn’t seriously be abandoning their plans they’d been perfecting for years. Decades. Talwyn simply could not accept that.

“What would you like to know?” Ashtine asked.

“Everything,” Talwyn gritted out.

“The winds no longer speak to me, your Majesty. I have nothing to reveal to you,” she replied, her tone void of any emotion. Briar looked more upset by this than Ashtine did. The prince’s jaw was clenched, his shoulders tense and rigid, and his ?ngers were curling at his sides.

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