Page 37 of Lady for Embers

Thick silence hung in the air before Sorin added, “I think we should call it a night. We can meet again tomorrow afternoon.” His ?ngers ?exed along her hip where his hand rested.

The others all mumbled words of agreement rising from the benches, but her eyes slid to Azrael, still in his seat. She let him see every bit of loathing and fury she held for his queen. She held his stare, until he closed his eyes, nodding to her in acceptance.

It didn’t pay to ask for her mercy. Cyrus was right. It would not be granted.

“Come, my Love,” Sorin said gently, reaching for her hand as he climbed off the bench. “Let’s get some air beneath the stars.”

“I don’t want some air,” she sighed, pushing to her own feet, ignoring his outstretched hand. “I am tired. I just want to go to bed.”

“Then that is what we will do.”

“I should check on the children. I haven’t been to their ship since I got back from Baylorin.”

“Tomorrow,” he countered, keeping pace beside her as they made their way out of the dining space and down the steps that would lead to their cabin below it. “We can do that instead of training.”

She didn’t say anything else, and neither did he. Not until they had entered their quarters, and he had shut the door. She immediately slid off her boots, making her way to the bathing room. Gods, what she wouldn’t give to bathe right now. A bath sounded divine. She was sick of washing with a rag, and her hair was atrocious. She was reaching to peel her tunic off when she noticed Sorin leaning against the door, his arms crossed.

“What?” Scarlett asked, trying to sense his emotions down their bond, but he appeared to be blocking it somewhat, immediately putting her on edge.

“We cannot kill her, Scarlett,” Sorin said, watching her warily.

“Cannot kill who?”

“We cannot kill Talwyn.”

“We cannot... ” She trailed off, entirely confused by that statement. “Of course I am going to kill her, Sorin. She nearly killed you!” Scarlett cried, clamping down on the surge of memories that tried to rush up. The memories she fought every minute of every day, even though he lived. Even though she slept beside him every night. Even though she could see him and touch him and feel him, those nightmares still found her whether she was awake or sleeping.

“But she did not succeed, Love. I am right here,” Sorin said gently, taking a step towards her. He stilled when she stepped back from him. “Scarlett.”

“Do notScarlettme,” she snapped, shadows rising from her skin and swirling around her arms. “Shedidsucceed, Sorin. You were dead. You had crossed the Veil. My twin ?ame Mark was fading. You were ripped away from me!”

She was screaming, in near hysterics. And all she could feel was the panic and grief andnothingnessshe had felt when he was dying. When he was dead.

She let all of that ?ood down their bond, and Sorin’s eyes widened.

He stumbled mid-step, attempting to come to her once again.

“Do not tell me I do not get to take her life for taking you from me, Sorin. If Shirina had not put me into a dream state for the Lord of Night to speak to me, you would be in the After, this world would be nothing but ashes, and I would be crossing the Veil at this very moment to ?nd you.” Her breathing was harsh, chest rising and falling too rapidly. Her shadows were thickening, cocooning around her.

“Scarlett.” Sorin swallowed thickly. “Love, Ifeelwhat you felt.Iunderstand. But I am still here. The Fates had other plans. I—”

“The Fates,” she spat. “Do not speak to me of theFates, Sorin.”

“She is aqueen, Scarlett. The same as you. We cannot simply kill her without repercussions,” he argued, his eyes following her as she began to pace in the small quarters.

“A queen?” Scarlett scoffed, pausing to turn back to him. “If you honestly think she will be the queen of anything after this is said and done, you are mistaken. Aside from the fact that she will bedead, she has put her own Courts and mine in unnecessary danger. She deserves to rule over nothing.”

“Scarlett, we cannot kill her,” Sorin insisted.

“Tell me, Sorin, do you not wish to kill Mikale?”

“Of course I do,” he growled.

“Why? All he did was fuck me, and one could even argue it was with my consent. I chose it, allowed it, to save an innocent life. He did notkillme. Forced me to kill my sister, yes, but she also still lives, same as you. Perhaps he should be allowed to live as well? He is now akingafter all,” Scarlett retorted coolly. Embers ?itted across Sorin’s golden eyes. “Or Alaric? Yes, he beat me, manipulated me, ordered who I knew as my mother killed, but I still live. I was not taken from you.” She shrugged. “I suppose we shall let him live as well? He is a Maraan Prince, as royal as a king. And Lord Tyndell? He is nobility. He allowed me into his home. He never struck me. He gave me a place to live. Provided me with food, clothing, shelter. I suppose, based on your arguments this evening, he shall be allowed to live as well.”

“Scarlett,” Sorin growled again, rage pouring down the bond from his end.

“No, Sorin,” she continued, ignoring the ?ames winding up his arms. “You are right. Come to think of it... ” She tapped her chin in mock contemplation. “This whole journey to try and ?nd Avonleya is ridiculous. If we are not to kill the Maraans, there is no reason to bring war to the continent. Because—based on your incredibly sound logic—they are all royalty. None of them have succeeded in killing me, only caging me to be used for their own nefarious purposes—”

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