Page 8 of Lady for Embers

Cyrus looked up at the Ash Rider. “Do you not remember all the things I set on ?re when Thia died?”

Rayner’s mysterious eyes seemed to swirl faster. “I remember well, Cyrus. I also remember removing any form of weapon from the chateau and fearing you would still ?nd a way to end yourself with the godsdamn curtains. I remember forcing tonics down your throat to quell your magic so that you did not burn the whole godsdamn place down. I remember feeling utterly helpless as you broke in ways I cannot imagine, and now we are reliving it.”

“And you think it would be a good idea to move her indoorssomewhere? Where others could be injured and hurt when she loses control? Because she will, Rayner. You know if whatever the fuck she just did does not work, she will lose herself completely,” Cyrus retorted, blood dripping down from the gash he’d reopened in his arm and spilling into the cup.

“I think it is foolish to be out in the open with our king and queen indisposed,” Rayner replied.

He had a point. If Sorin did survive this, by some miracle of the Fates, then it would be best to keep such news to themselves until they ?gured out what the hell was going on and what they were going to do about it.

If he did not survive it, it would be best to have the queen already subdued when she woke.

“Yeah, all right,” Cyrus conceded. He turned back to Cassius. “Drink some of this now. Enough to be able to walk. I can get you more when we get to the chateau.”

“The chateau?” Eliza asked, standing over them. “You want us all to go there? Sorin will hate that.”

“Sorin doesn’t exactly get a say in the matter at the moment. He still breathes, and I am still his Second, so the decision is mine to make,” Cyrus replied. “I don’t know what the fuck is going on. I don’t know if someone is going to show up demanding an audience here or in Solembra. If we have them hidden away, we give ourselves more time to come up with a plan and avoid making rash decisions.”

“I agree,” Rayner said. “I will bring Sorin. Briar can carry Scarlett. You help Cassius.”

Cyrus nodded, Eliza moving to gather the weapons they’d removed from Scarlett in case she’d tried to use one.

Which she had.

And then she’d gotten resourceful.

How could she even think clearly enough right now to pull this off? When Thia had died, the grief and pain had been too consuming for him to form a coherent thought. Yet Scarlett had been able to enact an entire plan to save her twin ?ame. Was there something else he could have done to save Thia if he had been stronger?

“Did you drink enough to stand?” he asked the commander, reaching to help him into a sitting position, shoving his thoughts aside for now.

“I’m ?ne,” Cassius muttered, pushing his hands away. He attempted to get to his feet, but immediately fell back to his knees.

“Clearly.”

Cassius sent him a droll look.

The sound of rushing water had Cyrus looking over his shoulder to see the portal Briar had opened. Scarlett was cradled to his chest. Rayner had already carried Sorin through, the High Witch following behind. Eliza was waiting on him and Cassius.

He turned back to the commander. “Let’s go then. You’re holding up the show.”

“You are such an asshole,” Cassius muttered, sucking in a breath as if readying himself for the simple act of standing.

“And you’re as stubborn as your ward,” Cyrus retorted, gripping his arm and pulling the male up with him when he pushed to his own feet. Cassius didn’t ?ght him this time, leaning against him when Cyrus slung an arm around his waist.

They stepped through the water portal, and Cyrus breathed deep as the mountain air hit his lungs. So much better than the sea air he’d been subjected to these past months. Sorin had been creating portals for him to go back to Solembra at night so he didn’t have to stay in the Black Halls, but his chest didn’t feel as tight when he was in the mountains, away from the sea.

Other than that night he’d smoked mugweed with Cassius.

He hadn’t minded the sea that night. He hadn’t quite decided if it was the mugweed itself or the company he’d been with on that balcony.

The wards zipped against their skin, Eliza sending ?ames ahead of them to melt the snow and make a path to the chateau. Having both Sorin and Scarlett with them should satisfy the wards and spells around the chateau to let them in. At least he hoped that was the case. Sorin never let them in this place. It was his own little pity party house. Other than when Thia had died, he’d only ever seen the Fire Prince open the door to this place for one other person.

Rayner already had the door open by the time he made it there with Cassius. The commander’s breathing had never eased. One look at the male and one could see he was struggling to even continue walking.

Cyrus led him over to a sofa, helping him ease down to sit, but the commander was instantly pushing back to his feet when he saw Briar and Rayner heading to the staircase at the back of the room that would lead up to the second-?oor suite.

“For fuck’s sake, sit down,” Cyrus sighed, pressing his palm to the commander’s chest. It didn’t take much effort to push him back down to the sofa.

“I need to be with her,” Cassius insisted.

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