Page 104 of Lady for Embers

She huffed a laugh, leaning forward and softly brushing her lips across his. When she sat back again, she said, “I took too much from you.”

“You took what you needed, Scarlett. If you hadn’t, we would be dead, or you would be back with Alaric.”

She nodded, ?ghting back the tears burning at the back of her throat. How many more times were they going to be able to do this before his magic didn’t re?ll at all? How many times before his magic reserves shrunk so much they could no longer hold even an ember?

“No,” Sorin said ?rmly, his ?ngers ?exing where he still had his arms wrapped around her. “We are not doing that right now. We are not panicking about this. Not yet. Understand?”

His tone was all alpha and order and command, and she wrinkled her nose at it.

“I’m sorry. Did you think since you almost died,again,that meant you could give me orders?”

He sighed, his eyes falling closed once more. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Princess.”

“Queen,” she whispered, nestling back into his chest. They were clearly sleeping here tonight, too tired and spent to move at this point.

“Queen,” he agreed, a kiss pressing on the top of her head.

Chapter 21

Scarlett

"Wake up, Lady of Darkness.”

Scarlett started, her eyes ?ying open.

Then she sighed when she realized where she was.

“Just so you are aware, I ?ndyou awfully annoying,” she groused,

pushing herself up from the too soft grass. The Lord of Night was sitting beside her, knee bent and elbow resting atop it. A gentle breeze ruf?ed her hair. The full moon shone down on them, casting them in a soft glowing light.

His lips twitched at her words. “One could say that is a family trait.”

“Why haven’t I seen you lately?”

“It takes a toll on my magic to dream-walk like this,” he answered, his?ngers ?exing as if in anticipation of something.

She clicked her tongue in annoyance. “Vague, as always.”

“Not for much longer,” he replied, leveling a silver gaze on her.

“And why is that?”

“You need to wake up. You are almost here.”

“Here? You mean...” Her eyes went wide. “We are almost to Avonleya?”

“You have been close for days. Surely you noticed the waters darkening?” When she stared back at him, he added, “I could not let you in with that tracking Mark still on one who travels with you.”

“How do you know of that?” she asked, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

The Lord of Night got to his feet, ignoring her question and reaching for her hand. “Unlock the wards. You will ?nd me waiting.”

“How? I do not have the keys. Or the lock. I do not even know what the lock is,” she argued, letting him pull her to her feet.

“Altaria will ?nd you. He has a vial. Tip it into the black waters,” he answered.

“That’s it?” she asked, her nose wrinkling. “It seems very anticlimactic.”

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