Page 139 of Lady for Embers

“But you were prepared to do just that,” Sorin argued.

“When we were under the impression you all knew how to control your gifts,” Razik sneered. “How has he only accessed them a handful of times?”

“Likely because there was no one to awaken his gifts,” Scarlett hissed, stepping toe-to-toe with the male. Her tone was low and vicious. He was several inches taller than her, and she still somehow appeared to be staring down her nose at him. “Likely because he does not know anyone with his gifts, and likely because the two people who could probably help him have not acknowledged his existence yet.”

Razik’s blue eyes almost seemed to begin glowing, but he blinked, and it was gone. “You know,” he said roughly.

“And so does he.”

Sorin reached out and gently gripped her elbow, tugging her back a few feet.

“How long have you known?” Cethin asked, a hand going through his hair. The same thing Scarlett did when she was upset.

“Yesterday morning,” Sorin answered. “How?” Razik gritted out.

“Our Fire CourtGeneralheard Magdalena asking you about Lord Tybalt. His mother told him his father’s name. It wasn’t hard to put it together,” Scarlett said. “I am assuming you are his half-brother then?”

Razik shook his head once sharply, hands clenching at his sides. “Tybalt is my blooded uncle, but he is the only father I care to acknowledge.”

Tense silence fell among them all, and Scarlett huffed a laugh of disbelief. “You have nothing else to say to that?”

“He did not want me to say anything until he was here,” Razik said. “He wants to meet him—is anxious to do so—but was called away on business before he could.”

“On business? What business is more important than meeting his godsdamn son?” Scarlett demanded, her voice rising. Sorin tightened his grip when she tried to step towards him again.

“Your mother,” Razik said snidely.

“Okay, that is enough for now,” Cethin said, stepping between Razik and Scarlett. “Cassius needs to go, or we need to ?nd another time to train.”

Sorin looked down at Scarlett.What do you want to do, Love?

I want to wrap my shadows around Razik’s throat and let them bite a little bit.

“Let us have some time,” Sorin said to Cethin and Razik. “Maybe we can train tonight?”

Cethin nodded. “We will stick around though. If you do not mind?”

“Sorin, I need to train,” Scarlett interrupted.

“What you need to do is work through everything you are feeling before you unnecessarily set things on ?re,” he replied, reaching for the sword Cyrus still held. His Second looked as irate as Scarlett, but he handed it over before stepping back.

“Sorin, I—” she started, but then a startled scream came from her. She leapt back when ?ames sprang up inches from her boots. “Asshole,” she snapped, white ?ames ?aring down her sword.

“Fight me, Princess,” Sorin said with a wry grin. “You are snapping and growling at everyone else. I am beginning to feel left out.”

Her lip curled back in a sneer, and she lunged forward, his entire arm vibrating when he blocked the hit. “Focus on your Fae magic,” he said when they broke apart. “You are becoming too dependent on your shadows.”

“I know,” she gritted out, water springing from her palm to put out the ?ames he’d sent chasing after her.

They had been sparring for a few minutes when Briar’s voice rang out, instructing Scarlett in different ways to use her water magic. She was ?awless, incorporating each suggestion and every change Briar suggested. Her ?re met his, forcing his magic to bend to hers. It shouldn’t be this easy for her to do so. Even if she was part goddess, it should not be this easy for her to counteract his magic. He wanted to believe it had something to do with her beingon Avonleyan soil, but he knew that wasn’t the case. He also knew he shouldn’t be expending this much power, but she needed this. He could already feel some of the tension leaving her as she moved, focusing more on her water magic than her ?re today.

Some time later, Sorin’s tunic was soaked through, from her water magic or his own sweat he wasn’t sure, when thick shadows ?lled the arena.

“I thought we agreed on none of that this round,” he panted, blocking her blow.

“That’s not me,” she said, breathing just as hard, stray hair stuck to her forehead.

They both lowered their swords, looking around, and they both stilled when they found Razik holding Cethin back.

---