Page 102 of Lady of Ashes

“I am well aware of how convincing you can be, Arianna,” Sorin said. “Hold on,” Scarlett said, stepping back so she could look between Arianna and Sorin. “You two used to … With another? Who is Jamahl?” “Jamahl is my personal guard,” Arianna supplied.

“Mhmm,” Scarlett said. “And?”

“And the Beta does not like to limit herself to one partner,” Sorin explained. “She also enjoys group activities.”

Scarlett’s eyes went wide. “And you’ve participated in these group activities?”

Sorin ran a hand down his face, his hand pausing over his mouth, hiding the grin curling on the corner of his lips. “I have lived many years, Scarlett, and I have experienced many things in those years.”

Scarlett barked a laugh, her silver eyes bright and twinkling with amusement. “I would love to hear of theseexperiences, Prince.”

“Or you could experience them for yourself,” Arianna interjected, her hand coming up and ?ngers dragging sensually along her arm.

Sorin couldn’t stop the possessive snarl that rumbled from his chest, and Scarlett fell into a ?t of laughter. “I think I will let my ancient husband’sexperiencesbe enough for both of us,” she said. “And he is correct. I do not like to share.”

Arianna’s full lip pushed out in a pout. “That’s a shame,” she sighed. “If you ever change your mind though …”

“You shall be the ?rst to know, Lady,” Scarlett replied with an amused grin.

“Back to the matter at hand,” Stellan cut in, and Arianna rolled her eyes, huf?ng an exaggerated sigh.

“You have my deepest apologies, Stellan,” Sorin said. “But I was working with limited time. I did not necessarily have the time to go through the proper channels and meetings.”

Scarlett was slowly turning her head to face him. “Just to clarify here, Prince. You are saying you did not have the time to properly inform everyone of your plans and needed to make a quick decision?”

Scarlett, this is not the same thing, and certainly not the time to be discussing it, he sent down the bond in warning.

Her lips curled up into a smirk, but she waved her hand dramatically in a motion for him to continue.

“As I was saying, you were not in Siofra when I came to ask Arianna, and time was of the essence,” he ?nished.

“You were gone for weeks,” Stellan snarled. “And you had a Traveler with you. I am sure at some point in that time you could have made a quick trip to me to explain.”

“By the gods,” Arianna cut in. “Histwin ?amewas being held prisoner, Stellan. You were the last person on his mind, I assure you.”

Stellan whirled on his sister, and the two siblings began to argue, seeming to forget anyone else was near. Sorin reached for Scarlett’s hand and gave her a wink as he tugged her away from them.

“We can have a more formal meeting and introduction to the Shifters another time,” he said. “In fact, knowing Stellan, I am sure he will insist on it.”

“Yes,” she mused, “you seem to know the Shiftersverywell.”

“Only Arianna, you wicked thing,” he retorted, tugging her into his side and pinching her waist.

“And Jamahl,” she teased as she batted his hand away. Then, “Is that Tula sitting on Rayner’s lap?”

“They met in Baylorin,” Sorin said, his eyes settling on the pair across the room. “She has taken quite the liking to him.”

They were several feet away when the little girl’s eyes landed on Scarlett and widened to the size of saucers before an excited scream fell from her lips.

“Scarlett!”

Rayner smiled affectionately as he lowered her to the ?oor and the girl was racing toward them. Scarlett was already lowered to her knees, arms open wide to catch her.

“Hello, Tula Bug,” she murmured as her arms wrapped tightly around the little girl. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“I kept waiting for you at the other place,” she said. Then her voice dropped to a serious whisper. “Did you know they used magic to get us here?”

Scarlett smiled in amusement. “I did. Did you know I can do magic?”

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