Page 176 of Lady for Embers

Scarlett’s palm was still pressed to the Source Mark, but she took a small step towards Cass. “Because it is important, Cassius. I understand the hesitation with it. I promise, I do, but—”

“This is nothing like you and Sorin, Scarlett.Nothing,” Cassius snarled.

Well, that answered the question about the kiss last week.

“Cassius, it is not nothing and you know it,” Scarlett insisted, obviously not backing down on this subject today.

“You drink Fae blood daily, yes?” Cethin cut in.

“Yes,” Cassius gritted out.

“The same amount? Every day?”

“Since we have come here, yes.”

Cethin stared back at him, appearing to wait for something. When Cassius didn’t speak, he said, “I can feel your reserves, ­Cassius.”

Scarlett stepped fully away from Sorin at that. There was a thread of panic in her voice when she asked, “What does that mean?” She spun back to Cassius. “Are your reserves getting smaller like Sorin’s?”

“No, Seastar,” Cassius said, his tone instantly softening at her dread. “That is not what is happening.”

“Then explain,” Cyrus said shortly.

“There is a reason the Legacy take Sources instead of continuing to drink like the Night Children,” Cethin said. “Eventually, a Legacy needs more and more of it to fully replenish their power reserves.”

“You are saying Cassius hasn’t been ?lling his reserves fully?” Scarlett asked.

Cethin nodded, and Cyrus rounded on Cass. “Whythe fuckhaven’t you said anything?”

“It has been ?ne. I have been training and doing everything else just ?ne. Nothing has to change,” he said defensively.

“By the gods, you are as stubborn as your Ward,” Cyrus snapped, dragging a hand down his face.

“It may be ?ne now, but eventually, it will not be,” Cethin said. “Eventually, your magic will grow restless and seek out more sustenance. The thirst of the Night Children? That is what will happen if you do not take a Source, Cassius.”

“Cassius—” Scarlett started.

But Cass turned to her, snapping, “You couldn’t leave well enough alone, could you?”

Then he was gone, disappearing into the air.

Scarlett dragged her hand through her hair, ?ngers tangling in her plait, and Sorin reached over to pull the tie from the end. He gently unwound the strands, and from the look on Scarlett’s face, Cyrus could tell he was speaking through their bond.

He turned to Cethin. “How full have his reserves been?”

“In the mornings, before he goes to train with Razik, they are just over half-full.”

Cyrus felt his mouth fall open. “He’s been training that intensely with half-full reserves?”

Cethin nodded.

“I’ll go talk to him,” Scarlett said.

“He’s pretty upset with you right now, Darling,” Cyrus said, shaking his head. “I’ll go.”

“We don’t even know where he went,” Sorin said.

“His room,” Cyrus and Scarlett said in unison.

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