Page 196 of Lady for Embers

Callan didn’t have time to catch his breath before he was tugged through the air again. It would never be right to him that they could cover so much distance in the blink of an eye. They crossed an entire sea in less time than it took for him to inhale a breath, but a second later they stood on sand. Winds were whipping around them. The sound of waves crashing ?lled the air.

“Where are we?” Scarlett cried.

“An island outside the Wards,” Razik shouted back, his words nearly getting lost among the howling winds. “Get out your vial. Dump it in the waters.” As she ?shed it out from an inner pocket, he added, “Everyone stay touching. We move again as soon as the Wards let us in.”

This time when they Traveled, they emerged inside a warm entrance foyer. They were not at the Greybane estate though. They were at the castle.

Kailia was there, her head tilting at their sudden appearance. “That was faster than I anticipated.”

“Where is Cethin?” Razik barked, the rest of them all fanning out.

Hale sank right to the ?oor, his head between his knees.

“Here,” the Avonleyan King said, coming from a hallway. His eyes scanned over everyone, alarm ?lling his face.

“We need Niara,” Razik said. “Now.”

Kailia was gone among smoke before Razik had ?nished speaking. “Who is that? Who is Niara?” Scarlett asked. “And where is Sorin?”

“I felt Razik at the Wards,” Cethin said. “I sent Riggs to get Sorin.”

The front doors of the castle ?ung open suddenly, the Fire Prince rushing through them. His eyes were locked on Scarlett as he stalked across the foyer.

“Are you hurt?” he asked, taking Scarlett’s face in his hands, searching her eyes.

She shook her head. “No, but Eliza... We need Beatrix, Sorin.”

Something haunted crossed Sorin’s features, but it was gone just as quickly. Scarlett saw it too, her features tensing with concern, but he said, “She is unavailable.”

“Still?” Scarlett asked. Sorin only nodded.

“Kailia is getting Niara. She is our most skilled Healer,” Cethin said.

“You have Witches here?” Callan asked.

“She is a descendant of a powerful Witch,” Cethin answered. “Let’s take her to a guest room, Raz. Niara will meet us there.” Razik was already moving toward the stairs. “Does anyone else need healing?” Cethin asked, turning to the rest of them.

“Minor injuries that can wait,” Cyrus replied. “Niara will want her to stay here to monitor her.”

“Then we will stay as well,” Scarlett replied, looking up at Sorin who nodded in agreement, his ?ngers threaded with hers. They headed for the stairs Razik had gone up, Cyrus, Rayner, and Cassius following.

“Of course,” Cethin said. “Your rooms are always ready, as are several guest rooms near your wing. Is everyone staying?”

“I need to see Tava,” Drake said, his voice monotone and raspy.

“I would also prefer to go back to my estate,” Hale added from the ?oor.

In the end, the mortals were Traveled back to the estates, Briar and Azrael choosing to stay with the other Fae.

Drake and Callan trudged up the stairs of the manor house. It wasn’t until Orson had Traveled them that he realized he still had Eliza’s spirit sword.

They were halfway down the long hall when Tava’s door ?ew open and she rushed out into the hallway. She stumbled to a stop, her turquoise eyes wide as she stared back at them. She wore a dark purple silk robe that went to her feet and was cinched tightly at the waist. Her gaze bounced back and forth between him and her brother, and her hand ?uttered up to her throat, ?ngers grasping for a phantom amulet.

“You are covered in blood,” she ?nally said.

Callan glanced down, having completely forgotten about all of that between the actual killing of Sybil and the Mark and Eliza.

“It is not mine,” Callan said. Then he amended, “Most of it is not mine.”

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