Page 218 of Lady for Embers

“In that she birthed me, yes,” Cassius replied.

“She seems to care.”

“Enough to abandon me in the mortal lands and let me fend for myself.”

Cyrus was silent, taking a seat at the table. Cassius stood rigidly near a window, looking out at the Witch lands.

“She did it to keep you safe,” Razik said, something Cyrus couldn’t quite read entering his tone. “She clearly wishes that had not been the case.”

“What do you know of it?” Cassius snapped, rounding on him.

Razik gave him a razor-sharp smile from the chair he’d taken. “I know what it is to be truly and willfully abandoned, Cassius. That was not this.” Silence descended on the room and stayed, even when Hazel returned with food. She did not linger, giving Cassius one last look, before she left them to themselves until night.

They emerged just after sunset, the sky so cloudy they couldn’t see the stars or the moon.

Perfect for sneaking up on an unsuspecting Fae Queen.

They’d spent the afternoon planning, getting Razik up to speed on Talwyn and her powers, and sharpening weapons.

Cyrus wasn’t sure what to expect from her. Would they be able to surprise her? How much would she ?ght them? Were there others with her that they would have to ?ght as well? Would she be able to summon one of the Maraans?

Admittedly, this wasn’t the best planned mission, and he tried not to remember the last mission that hadn’t been properly planned. This was different. There were two who could Travel them out of there if needed, and both of them had dragon ?re. Razik could literally shift into a dragon. This would be ?ne. That’s what he kept telling himself anyway.

Cassius and Cyrus both had ?ghting leathers on, while Razik apparently felt his scales were enough, along with his usual twin short-swords. Save for a few knives down his boots, those were the only weapons he had on him. Cyrus and Cassius had at least a dozen more weapons on them each, but Razik said if he needed to shift fully, the weapons just got in his way. Neither of them were about to argue with him.

Anahita’s Springs were located northwest of the House of Water, and Cassius had Traveled as close to the spot as he’d been able to. It was still a good hour of moving across the dry plains of the Water Court. Three warriors stalking unknowing prey. If she only knew what was coming for her.

Cyrus had wanted this for years, ever since Talwyn had turned her back on them. Sure, one could argue Sorin had failed her in some fundamental way when he lost himself after Eliné left, but Talwyn’ssins had been just as grave. She’d needlessly isolated the Fire and Water Courts, and then wondered why there was such animosity. She acted as if she was the only one who had faced hardship and loss.

She didn’t know what hardship was, but she was about to ?nd out. His queen would make sure of that.

He could still remember what it felt like to rip apart those Night Children who had taken Thia from him. The bloodlust he had descended into, relishing every kill. More than ?re had burned that night, and the embers of that bloodletting still burned hot in the depths of his soul. It had been a long time since he’d let his darkness out to play, and he was more than glad to fan those ?ames a little bit.

And playing was exactly what he intended to do before turning her over to Scarlett.

When the vegetation started getting denser, he knew they were getting close. They had maybe a mile to go before they’d be at the edge of the Springs. They slowed to make their approach soundless, each pulling a vial from their pocket and knocking back the contents. The High Witch had offered the tonics to them before they’d left, saying it would mask their scents.

They heard the waters cascading down the small rock formations before they saw it. They were all crouched down, peering between foliage. A black wolf sat at the edge of the pond. Azrael and Scarlett had told them she had learned to Shift. Queen Henna had been able to Shift too, into a beautiful white wolf.

“Will she run?” Razik asked quietly, studying the wolf before them. “I hope so. And when she does, you stop her,” Cyrus answered.

Cassius and Razik nodded, each moving in a separate direction so they could surround her. Cyrus waited a full ?fteen minutes to give them time to get into position before he straightened. The wolf ’s ears cocked, and she stood, turning to face him as he stepped from the surrounding trees. His hand was in his pocket, ?ngering the potion from Hazel. It would nullify his magic too, but he wasn’t worried about that. He could overpower her in hand-to-hand combat if neither of them could access their magic.

There was a ?ash of faint green light, and the Fae Queen of the Eastern Courts stood before him. She looked like she always did. Brown pants. White tunic. Brown boots. Hair braided down her back. There were no swords peeking over her shoulders, but hardjade green eyes stared at him, the same emotionless mask on her face as always.

“Cyrus?”

“Talwyn,” he returned, casually prowling forward.

She looked around, as though she had been expecting someone else, and he immediately tensed, wondering who else would be out here with her.

“What are you doing here?” she asked sharply when she didn’t appear to ?nd who she was looking for.

“My queen wants a word,” he replied darkly, ?ames winding up his legs.

She noted the movement, winds beginning to disrupt the surrounding vegetation. “So she sends you to retrieve me like a good dog?”

“Says the wolf,” Cyrus returned. “I assure you, those who came with me say more than ‘woof.’”

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