Page 64 of Lady of Ashes

Sorin barked a laugh at the accuracy of that statement, but it quickly died in his throat as they stopped before the heavy wood door. He swallowed thickly before he reached for the handle. It wasn’t locked. They’d apparently believed the various obstacles they’d put in place, along with the wards, to be enough. He stepped into the room, and then clamped down on the snarl that wanted to claw its way out of his chest.

She was here, sitting on the stone floor, her ankles and wrists in shackles, just as Arianna had said. Her wrists weren’t anchored above her head though. Her arms were wrapped tightly around her knees that were curled to her chest. Her ankle chains were anchored to the floor, however, and her chin was resting on her knees. Silver hair hung limp around her shoulders, and she wore a black gown that, from what he could tell, was partially sheer.

He pushed his hood back, taking another step into the room. “Scarlett,” he whispered.

But he stopped short when she lifted her head at her name. Her face was covered in grime and ?ecks of blood, tear-trails cutting a path through it all. Her eyes were a muted silvery-blue, and they were vacant, hollow.

More haunted than he had ever seen them.

When you ?nd her, she will not be the same as when she left.

Her eyes moved up and down him warily before she returned her head to her knees.

Arianna’s description had been true. She was pale. She was far too thin, but even without much food, she shouldn’t be this thin. Not in only a few weeks. He could make out bruises and cuts along her wrists and ankles where the shirastone cut into her skin.

“Is she in—” Cyrus started, coming into the room behind him but stopping short at the sight of their queen.

Scarlett’s head lifted again at the sound of Cyrus’s voice, and her head tilted slightly to the side. Her brows knitted together,and her nose scrunched in confusion for a moment before her head went back to her knees once more.

“If that is Cassius …” Cyrus said slowly, and Sorin realized that Scarlett was staring at a ?gure on the ?oor a few feet from her. He had been so focused on ?nally laying eyes on her, he hadn’t taken in the rest of the room.

It was indeed Cassius, just out of her reach. He was bleeding from multiple places, puddles of blood pooling beneath him. His leg was at an unnatural angle, and the bruises marring his face made him almost unrecognizable.

“Is he …” Sorin said softly, his eyes going back to his wife, where she stared unblinkingly at the motionless body. Sorin couldn’t say the words aloud. He didn’t want her to hear them, as if voicing them would make it more real for her.

Cyrus made his way to Cassius, lowering beside him and reaching to check for a pulse. A ?icker of relief ?ashed in his golden eyes. “He’s not. Not yet. But his breathing is shallow.” He glanced quickly to Scarlett, then back to Sorin again before saying, “He doesn’t have long.”

Sorin nodded once and took a deep breath before moving to Scarlett. He slowly lowered down to his knees before her. He reached out to cup her cheek, just to fucking touch her after not having done so for weeks, but she lurched back from him. Her chains scraped along the stones, and Sorin froze at the sound, his eyes widening.

He held up his hands placatingly in front of him, showing her his palms. “Okay,” he breathed. “Okay, Love. I will not touch you.”

Her gaze snapped to his as he spoke, but he had no idea why as she looked him up and down again. He took another deep breath, trying to decide what the fuck to do, because he didn’t know. He didn’t know what she’d experienced. He didn’t know what had been done to her. And he couldn’t fucking feel her. He couldn’t reach her. He couldn’t speak into her mind because she’d blocked their damn bond.

“I will get Arianna. She can use the key, and we can go,” Cyrus said quietly.

Sorin nodded, not even glancing at his Second, his eyes ?xed on his twin ?ame. Her gaze bounced from him to Cyrus before settling back on Cassius. He slowly lowered his hands, wiping his palms along his leathers.

“Hey, Love,” he said gently. “You are going to be okay.”

She didn’t look at him, didn’t show any sign that she’d heard him.

Cyrus and Arianna came in the door, and Scarlett’s eyes narrowed in suspicion as they approached her, before going back to Cassius, her head returning to her knees.

That was her only reaction to who she thought was Mikale entering the room?

Sorin ran a hand through his hair at a complete and utter loss. She hadn’t said a godsdamn word. She hadn’t made a godsdamn sound. Could she? Had Alaric done something to her so that she could no longer speak? Was she in too much shock? At least when she had retreated into her soul on the journey to the Fire Court, he could feel her. He could sense her, even if it was a muted bond. Here, with her Blood Mark in full effect, he didn’t know what to do. He felt utterly helpless. He had failed her. He had been too late. They had waited too long.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. Cyrus stared down at him, concern and understanding on his features, knowing he was struggling. He jerked his chin to tell him to move aside. Sorin pushed to his feet, moving closer to Arianna and letting Cyrus take his place.

“Hi, Darling,” Cyrus said softly, and Scarlett stiffened before dragging her eyes to his. “I know it looks like we’re here with this bastard, but rest assured, if it were truly him, he would not be breathing. I would be laying his corpse at your feet as a gift.”

Scarlett sucked in a breath, but she still said nothing.

“This is Arianna Renatus,” he continued, gesturing to where she stood. “She is the Beta of the Shifters. Her wearing that fucker’s skin is how we got in, and she is how we will get you out.” Scarlett’s gaze ?ickered once to Arianna before meeting Sorin’s brie?y.

“Scarlett,” Cyrus said softly, reaching for the chain. She clearly interpreted it as him reaching for her, though, as she lurched back from him.

“Love,” Sorin croaked, unable to keep himself from taking a step towards her. “Love, let us help you. Let us get you out,” he begged. “Please.”

---