Page 147 of Lady for Embers

“Clearly possible.”

“Stop that,” Cassius snapped, turning and sinking down to sit on the window ledge. “Octavia Middell, wife of King Dalton and Queen of Rydeon. Died twenty-one years ago.” He looked up. “She cannot be their mother. Tava is not even twenty-one years old. She is the same age as Scarlett, granted older by half a year. And the prince died too. As far as I know, Drake still lives.”

“I am telling you, this is their mother,” Cyrus insisted, ignoring his sarcasm. “Octavia. Tava. They look nearly identical.”

“I am not saying the similarities are not there,” Cassius said, returning his attention to the drawing. “Another relation maybe? Aunt? Cousin of some sort?”

“If that picture Drake has is truly their mother, then so is this woman,” Cyrus said, tapping the page with his ?nger.

“It does not ?t.”

“Itdoes?t,” Cyrus argued. “Scarlett is going to agree with me.”

“She is not,” Cassius scoffed.

“I bet she does,” Cyrus said. “I bet you ?fty gold marks she does.”

Cassius rolled his eyes. “We do not need to bet on everything.”

“But it makes it more interesting.”

“Then at least bet something equally interesting.”

“Like what?” Cyrus asked. “If I win, you let me become your Source?”

Cassius stilled. “That is far too important to leave up to a godsdamn bet.”

“You wanted to make it more interesting,” Cyrus said, shrugging innocently.

“Fine,” Cassius said, turning suddenly and crowding him against the wall, the book between them. “But if I win, I Travel us back to Aelyndee when it is safe to do so, and you show me where you and Merrik used to live.”

Cyrus jerked back from him, not going far given the stone wall behind him. “Why?” he balked.

It was ?eeting, but Cyrus caught the ?ash of victory that glimmered in Cass’s eye before he said, “I face my demons, you face yours.”

He thought this was going to make him back down. Not that Cyrus was worried. Scarlett was going to see the connection the same way he did. Cassius might know her better overall, but Cyrus knew how her mind worked, was beginning to ?gure out how she strategized and looked at things. He wouldn’t lose this bet. He was sure of it. Fairly sure of it, anyway.

“Deal,” he ?nally said, thrusting his hand out. He fought the smirk at Cassius’s obvious shock at his agreement. “Do we need to make this a Blood Vow, or will you hold up your end of the bargain when I win?”

“Are you questioning if I keep my word?” Cassius asked, lowering the book a fraction so he could lean in a little closer.

“Not anymore,” Cyrus said with a pointed look at his still waiting hand.

Cassius slapped his own into it, pure determination on his face, and Cyrus prayed to Anala he didn’t have to go back to Aelyndee.

“There is no way this is going to work,” Cassius said, twin swords drawn and hanging at his sides.

They’d been sparring for nearly an hour, both of them having lost their tunics shortly after arriving at the arena to train. They’d come to the training arena after the library. With Sorin and Scarlett off speaking with Beatrix, it wasn’t as if they could go directly to them and discuss the discovery of Octavia Middell. They were meeting up with Cethin for dinner, and Cyrus was hoping to speak with Sorin and Scarlett beforehand. Maybe it should be mentioned to Drake and Tava ?rst? It did directly involve them after all, but he would leave that decision up to the king and queen.

“Oh, sorry,” Cyrus said, straightening from the offensive position he’d been in. “I did not realize you had trained Fae to properly access and use their magic.”

“Fucking smart ass,” Cassius grumbled.

“The only time you have ever accessed your power is when protecting Scarlett, other than when it nearly overwhelmed you,” Cyrus said, only slightly irritated that they were having this discussion yet again. “Assuming you do not want it to get to that point again, and since Scarlett is otherwise currently engaged and I cannot properly threaten her life, I will have to threaten yours.” He ?ashed the male a dark grin. “Your magic will manifest to protect you.”

Without warning, he sent a spiral of ?ames at him, and Cassius barked a curse, lunging to the side to avoid being burned and landing in the dirt. “Cyrus!” he snarled.

“Up,” Cyrus said, circling him. “I am not going to let up, Cass. Not this time. Let’s go.”

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