Page 70 of Lady for Embers

Not that such a thing had stopped her from forcing Sorin to go to the mortal lands with a Court Vow.

“Talwyn?”

She looked up, ?nding Tarek staring at her, concern etched across his features. He was still waiting for her to reply.

She cleared her throat, taking another sip of water. “She could not. The water element is required to enter the Underwater Prison. It requires the water Royal or his bloodline.”

Tarek’s hand had slipped from her cheek, and he scratched his jaw as he said, “There has to be another way. There is always a work-around.”

“If you ?gure it out, let me know. Until then, you can tell Alaric to focus on something else,” she retorted, setting the water glass down and pushing past him. She stalked to the middle of the room, turning back to face him. “Did you know he carried out the attack on them?”

Tarek seemed to repress a sigh, bending down to remove his boots. “Yes, I did.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she demanded.

Tarek straightened, giving her a hard look. “As we have already discussed, I cannot keep you informed when I rarely see you.”

“You could have sent an earth message.”

“Because you are always so responsive to those,” he retorted, toeing off his loosened boots.

“You keeping me informed does not require a response.”

“Of course not,” he mocked, pulling his tunic over his head. “Why in the realms would I want to be with you when I gave you news that would likely upset you? Why would I want to help my twin ?ame?” She tried to hide the ?inch, but he saw it, his lips pursing slightly. “Were you this way with him too?” He’d crossed his arms, leaning back against the desk.

It was her turn to purse her lips. “My relationship with Az does not concern you. It is no longer relevant.”

“Oh, I think your relationship withAzis still quite relevant, Talwyn. He has you convinced I am not your twin ?ame.”

“He was there for me when you were not,” she snarled. She took a step towards him, winds swirling along her arm as she pointed a ?nger at him. “He was there when no one else was. He was there when it was just me and Ashtine.” She tugged at her scalp again. “You do not get to punish me for how I chose to survive losing you. You do not get to judge me for how I am choosing to survive now.”

“Survive what?” Tarek asked, his head tilting as he studied her.

“Everything, Tarek,” she snapped. “My choices. Being excluded from Alaric’s plans. Azrael being across the sea. Not knowing he could have died until Ashtine informs me they were attacked—”

Tarek’s eyes sharpened at that. “Ashtine is in communication with them?”

Fuck.

“You know Ashtine often hears things on the winds,” Talwyn said impatiently, ?icking her wrist in dismissal of his concern.

“Nasima is back, then?”

“No.”

“Then how did she know of the attack?”

“Does it matter?Sheinformed me. When it should have been you. Or better yet, it should have been Alaric.”

Tarek was moving towards her now, purpose in his steps. “Talwyn, if Ashtine is passing information to our enemies, you must tell me. We must tell the others.”

“She is not passing them information,” Talwyn scoffed, stepping back from him as he advanced on her.

“No? What did she tell you today then? How did she know of the attack?”

“Enough,” she snarled. “Ashtine is loyal to me. She has proven so over and over. She proved it when she chose me over—”

She cut herself off, not entirely sure how much Tarek knew, but he quickly answered that question.

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