Page 83 of Lady of Ashes

“This sounds like something that needs to be discussed now, Talwyn. Let’s go somewhere private,” he replied. “You need to rest.”

Azrael rubbed at his jaw, looking utterly exhausted. “I do, but there is something I need to tell you ?rst.”

Talwyn sucked on a tooth before nodding tightly and reaching for his hand. She Traveled them to her chambers in the White Halls, and Azrael immediately collapsed onto the sofa.

“What is it?” Talwyn demanded.

“It might not be anything, but …” He tilted his head back, closing his eyes.

“Spit it out, Az.”

“Do you remember when I mentioned that there was another scent amongst the Night Child carnage at the border?”

Her brow arched. “You learned who it was?”

“Not exactly. But he appears to be working with those who took Queen Scarlett.”

“You saw him?”

“He was hooded, and his scent was still very muted. Almost undetectable, especially in the mortal lands, but he is de?nitely Fae and de?nitely of the Earth Court,” Azrael replied, his eyes opening to meet hers. “He spoke though. His voice was … familiar.”

“You think you know him?” she asked, going still. If there wasindeed a traitor in their Courts, it needed to be dealt with before anything else, and she had a lot of shit that needed dealing with at the moment. This moving to the top of that list was not ideal, but one traitorous Fae shouldn’t be too much trouble. They’d just need to draw him out.

“Talwyn, he …” Azrael ran a hand down his face, then pushed out a heavy breath. “His voice sounded exactly like Ordos.”

Talwyn lurched back from him, nearly tripping on the rug at her feet. “That is not possible.”

“I know,” Azrael said, forcing himself back to his feet and swaying slightly. “But I swear to Silas, Talwyn, he sounded just like him … and he seemed to know who I was.”

“There is some other explanation for that,” Talwyn said. “Tarek is dead. He has been dead for over ten years. He would not be hiding out in the mortal lands, leaving me to think otherwise.”

“I understand, Talwyn,” Azrael said with a sigh. “I understand how unlikely this seems. We can look into it after my reserves have re?lled. I did not want you to hear it from someone else while I slept.”

“If Scarlett was in his company these last few weeks, I am sure she will be able to tell us who it is,” Talwyn replied, watching him make his way to her bed.

“I am sure you are right.” He practically fell onto the bed. “Talwyn.”

“What?” she snapped.

“Do not do anything brash until I wake.”

She turned to snap a retort, but found him already asleep, his breathing deep and evening out. It would take at least a day to fully replenish his reserves with his deep wells entirely depleted. Perhaps longer.

He had to be mistaken. There was no possible way Tarek was alive and living in the mortal kingdoms of all places. In Windonelle. In Baylorin. Where Scarlett had been hidden all these years. Where Eliné had been hiding. She could not even entertain such a ludicrous idea because if that were true …

If that were true, he had betrayed her on so many levels. He would have betrayed his Court. He would have betrayed his queen. He would have betrayed their twin ?ame bond. He would have betrayedher.

He’d known of her plans. He had known how deeply she sought revenge against Avonleya, and he had sought the same. There were times she had even felt like his drive for revenge was greater than her own, although she had never really contemplated why. She had always assumed it was because he was that loyal to her, and loved her so thoroughly, that he wanted what she wanted. That was how she had felt about him.

Azrael had told her not to do anything brash, but it wasn’t as if she could ask Scarlett right now. Sorin undoubtedly wouldn’t let her anywhere near his wife at the moment, and his Court undoubtedly wouldn’t let her anywhere near him. But she couldn’t just sit here on her ass, waiting for Azrael to wake.

She left a quick note for him, for when he woke, then Traveled back to the Black Halls. The great hall was as chaotic as when she’d left. Eyes scanning the room, they landed on Arianna. She hadn’t seen the Beta since they’d come back, and Talwyn immediately began making her way to the Shifter.

“Lady Arianna,” she greeted curtly when she reached her side.

“Queen Talwyn,” Arianna replied in her sultry tone. “I thought you would be with your prince.”

“He is not my prince,” Talwyn retorted.

---