Page 66 of Lady for Embers

“Then I will draw from Cass like we did when you were healing.”

“That is not the same, and you know it.”

She pursed her lips, looking past him, and he knew she was debating her options. But he was right, and she knew that too.

“Okay,” she ?nally said with a harsh exhale. “But you have to swear to be honest with me about what’s going on with your power.”

“Okay? Just like that?” He couldn’t keep the shock from his voice. She never gave in to something this easily.

“I’m working on this whole compromise thing,” she muttered, waving off his comment.

He fought to keep the small smile from forming on his lips. “I swear to be open about what is going on with my magic, Scarlett.” He gently took her chin, guiding her gaze back to his. “We will ?gure this out.”

She nodded, but he could see the doubt in her eyes. He wasn’t willing to waste this rare occurrence of acquiescence though. He drew a dagger from his side and drew it along the Source Mark. She held up her hand for the same without a word, and when she placed it on the Mark, they both sucked in sharp breaths when their blood and magic merged.

She leaned into him as her empty Avonleyan power reserves began to ?ll, her head falling to his chest. He gently stroked her hair under the sun, gritting his teeth. Because something was indeed wrong. As she drew more and more from him, that feeling of unease grew. His ?ames seemed to almost ?ght against her, and when she pulled back and looked up at him again, he knew she felt it too.

“We will ?gure this out,” he whispered gently, cupping her cheek with his other hand.

She nodded again, the sentiment comforting her as much as it eased his own concerns.

Not at all.

Chapter 13

Talwyn

Talwyn stepped onto the beach of the Water Court near the Black Halls. She’d been to the Underwater Prison a handful of times when necessary, but never by herself. In fact, she’d never been there without Briar and Sorin. Briar to get them in and Sorin to ease her nerves. She didn’t like being underwater, even if the prison itself didn’t entirely feel like it was below the surface.

She wasn’t seeking to release the Sorceress as Alaric had demanded of her, but she did want to speak with her. She wanted to see if what he had claimed was true and what other knowledge she might have. The Sorceress was dangerous. She knew that. It was why she’d never been to see her before. The risk had never been worth it.

It would be worth it this time.

The problem was she needed the Water Prince to access the prison, and he was currently somewhere in the Edria Sea. She was hoping Ashtine would be able to get her in as she was currently the interim Royal of this Court. Talwyn had gone to the House of Water ?rst, only to be told she wasn’t there. Then she’d gone up to her Wind Citadel where it’d taken her over an hour to track down Ermir, only to be told she wasn’t in the Wind Court either.

But the princess was here. She was standing on the beach in a white semi-sheer gown that hung to her ankles, two straps tied at her shoulders. The waves were rolling gently over her bare feet.

And she wasn’t alone.

A stunning white horse stood in the waves beside her. Its tail and mane cascaded down like a waterfall. Abrax. The spirit animal of Anahita, goddess of the sea and water.

Abrax huffed out a snort of irritation, his hoof splashing when he stomped it in the water. Piercing blue eyes that matched the prince he was bonded to seemed to glare at her.

Ashtine turned then, her sky-blue eyes settling on Talwyn for the briefest of moments. Her face was red and blotchy, as if she had been crying, but she appeared to have gained back at least some of the weight she’d lost since Nasima had left her. She turned back to Abrax, her ?ngers gliding through his mane. Her other hand came up, and he nuzzled his nose into her palm.

Talwyn took a step towards her, but Abrax immediately shifted. He moved so he stood between her and Ashtine, and Talwyn froze. Azrael had told her there was something between Ashtine and Briar, and the scene before her could only con?rm his claim. It was the only explanation as to why the spirit animal was so protective of a Fae he was not bonded to.

“I have been looking for you,” Talwyn ?nally said. Ashtine didn’t acknowledge her. She just continued to stare out at the turquoise waters, even with the horse moving to her back. “Ermir said you were here,” Talwyn tried again.

The only movement was Ashtine’s silver hair ?uttering on a breeze, whether a natural one or her own, Talwyn couldn’t quite tell. She took a deep breath, the scent of the sea and wind washing over her. This was going to be a hard conversation the way it was, but if Ashtine was...

Talwyn didn’t know what she was. The princess had always been so mysterious and hard to understand on the best of days, let alone trying to ?gure out her emotions. But if she was truly involved with Briar, and he was now sailing west while she remained here, it wasn’t hard to explain her demeanor.

She stepped forward, her boots sinking into the sand with each step. Abrax gave another snort of warning, shaking his head in agitation. Water droplets splashed from his mane. When she was a few feet from him, she stopped and bowed at the waist. She may not have her own spirit animal anymore, but she wasn’t foolish enough not to show respect to those that were willing to be in her presence.

“I would never hurt her,” Talwyn said as she straightened. “I need her help.”

Abrax eyed her a moment longer before he huffed again, moving to stand at Ashtine’s side. Her hand came up, and she stroked his neck, seemingly out of habit, as if she regularly saw thehorse. Talwyn moved to her other side, watching her out of the corner of her eye.

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