Page 19 of Lady for Embers

“At least you are speaking. Briar is... not,” Cyrus said.

The mention of the Water Prince had Sorin lifting his head and turning to look at the foredeck where Briar stood, watching the water. He’d only spoken when necessary, but every once in a while the waters around their ship would get suddenly choppy and rough as he wrestled to control his emotions over Ashtine choosing to stay behind.

They needed her there. She was someone on the inside. She was watching over Briar’s Court, Ermir taking over her Wind Court. Luan had refused to join Talwyn and the Maraans, his Court being turned over to none other than Tarek himself. And his own Fire Court?

Talwyn Semiria oversaw it.

Rayner stepped from smoke a few moments later. He’d been doing rounds on the other ships, making sure nothing was amiss. They had wards in place, but if they could get past wards, so could others. Despite his wife’s af?nity for Blood Magic, he was still leery of it and knew Alaric had no qualms about using it to achieve his needs.

Briar’s Court occupied a ship directly behind them. Sorin had a feeling he came to their ship every day to escape his Court’s meddling. It was the same thing he’d done when he’d escape to his mountain chateau. Which is why he left his friend alone for the most part.

Luan was also on their ship, but he kept to himself. Another silent prince who only spoke to any of them when necessary.

And then there were the Tyndells, Callan, and his sister. They also stayed on this ship with his Court, along with Auberon, the former Contessa’s Second, and Beatrix, the Fire Court Witch and Healer.

They’d all become one big, godsdamn family. A roar had them jerking their heads skyward. A second roar had them on their feet.

“Where is he?” Sorin demanded, scanning the skies. He may have heard that roar only one other time, but it was one he’d never forget.

“There,” Eliza said, pointing off into the distance where a dark speck was beginning to take shape against the clear blue sky in the east.

The roar had brought the others to the main deck, and Sorin and his Court made their way to join them. Callan held Eva’s hand in his. Drake had Tava tucked protectively under an arm. Briar and Luan had come to join Sorin, everyone’s eyes on the sky, watching the dragon draw closer and closer.

“They are on his back,” Luan murmured several minutes later.

“What?” Sorin asked, only half-listening to the Earth Prince as he tracked the dragon’s progress.

“Scarlett and Cassius,” Luan said. “Ranvir has passengers.”

“Impossible.”

But as Ranvir ?apped his giant wings again, there was no mistaking the head of silver hair that sat atop him, a male at her back.

They all took several steps back when Ranvir ?nally reached the ship, the entire thing rocking violently when he landed before them on the main deck.

Scarlett slid from Ranvir’s back, Cassius helping her down before sliding down himself. The dragon released another roar that had Princess Eva screaming in fright, slapping her hands over ears, before he launched back into the sky. There was a ?ash of golden light a moment later when he disappeared.

Sorin watched Scarlett slowly drag her gaze over the others, all staring at her with mouths gaping. He found himself rubbing his ?ngers along his brow as he said, “Love, did we not say no riding the spirit animals, particularly the godsdamn dragon?”

“I had my shadow dragon, but seeing as my power reserves are basically gone and so are Cassius’s, I was rather grateful that Ranvir showed up when he did,” Scarlett answered, reaching up and brushing back some hair that was ?uttering in her face.

Sorin was already striding for her, a dagger slicing a thin line across the Mark on his forearm. He reached for her hand, cutting a gash along her palm and placing it atop the Mark, their blood mixing. His arm looped around her waist, and her head fell forward onto his chest as he felt his magic wrapping around her, pouring into her, ?lling her.

“I shouldn’t be drawing from you like this yet,” she said breathlessly. “You haven’t recovered enough.”

“I have more than recovered enough for this, Scarlett,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her hair. “Let your magic feed.”

Rayner had already retrieved a cup, blood trickling from Cyrus’s arm into it. Cassius looked like he could barely stand. Scarlett and the commander both looked utterly exhausted.

“What happened?” Sorin asked after a few moments. “Why didn’t you Travel to us?”

“I burned down the Fellowship.”

Sorin stilled against her. “Come again?”

She looked up at him, a malicious smile slowly ?lling her face. “I poured my white ?ames into every crack and crevice of the Fellowship. And after I’d given Alaric the key, I burned the entire thing to nothing but ash.”

Cyrus barked a laugh behind her. “Well done, Darling.”

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