Page 150 of Lady of Ashes

“You asked about your father,” she started.

That had his eyes opening again, and his head snapping back up. “You said he was hinted at but did not know him.”

“I don’t,” she said quickly, “but I know where he is from. According to Hazel, he is from the same place my parents are— Avonleya.”

Cassius didn’t say anything. He just stared at her, not moving. Not even blinking.

“Cassius?” she ventured.

“You are saying that … my father is Avonleyan? That your parents … Thatyouare Avonelyan?”

“Yes,” she answered. “My mother was not Eliné.”

“Who are your parents?”

“I don’t know. I just know they are Avonleyan. From what I’ve been told by various people anyway.”

Sorin had moved wordlessly back to the chair he’d previously occupied, casually watching everything play out.

And obviously making sure she didn’t omit anything.

Scarlett cleared her throat. “The thing that Mother Hen here is worried about, is that Avonleyans depend on Fae to keep their magic reserves fueled. The Fae re?ll their power like mortals recharge— through rest and food. The Avonleyans do so via the Fae. By feeding off of their magic.”

“And you are refusing to do this? To feed to keep your power levels full?”

“Yes,” Sorin cut in.

“No,” Scarlett growled, shooting him a glare. He arched a brow. “I mean, yes, but because I do not need to right now.”

“You mean you do not want to,” Sorin supplied.

“No, Sorin, that is not what I mean,” she retorted.

Cassius glanced between the two again before his gaze settled on Sorin. “Say what she isn’t, Aditya.”

Scarlett crossed her arms in a huff.

“She needs to ?nd a Source to draw from, but we do not know what that means. Until we ?gure it out, the only way to feed to keep her power fully replenished is to drink from a Fae. Like the Night Children do,” Sorin explained.

“Ah,” was Cassius’s reply.

“That is all you have to say?” Sorin asked, both brows arching this time.

“I can understand how that would be …”

“Gross? Disgusting? Repugnant?” Scarlett supplied.

“No one asked for a vocabulary lesson, Scarlett,” Sorin said.

“No one asked for your opinion on this matter, yet here we are.”

Sorin sighed, running a hand down his face. “Listen,” he said, addressing Cassius once more. “We are facing enemies we know nothing about. Her shadows and her white ?ames are Avonleyan gifts and are her greatest advantage in a battle. She needs to keepher power reserves full at all times, even if that means feeding like a Night Child until we ?gure out this Source issue.”

“I agree with you,” Cassius said.

“I do appreciate you two speaking of me like I am not in the room,” Scarlett cut in.

Sorin ignored her. “If she does not, if she lets herself get too weak, she will start drawing power from you which will impede your ability to protect her.”

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