Page 165 of Lady for Embers

“Just because we deserve something does not mean it is handed to us,” Ashtine replied, turning and beginning to walk back up the beach towards the cliffs.

“I know that,” Talwyn retorted. She knew that all too well. She deserved to no longer be living, but the Fates wouldn’t simply hand her death. It was being drawn out, to make her suffer as long as possible before Scarlett came for her. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. “They are looking for you, Ashtine. Alaric can sense power, and between you and the babes, he can apparently feel it from Baylorin at times. They think there is something powerful here they can use since they cannot reach Scarlett. I am doing what I can to keep them occupied, but Ashtine, you will need him.”

“And when that time comes, I trust the Fates will bring him tome,” Ashtine replied. She was at the base of the cliffs now, Abrax beside her. She reached out, laying a palm against the rocky side. Water swirled up around her, winds ?owing from beneath her palm, and an archway appeared behind her. Before she disappeared into the darkness of the cliffs, she added, “But when that time comes, tell him to ask the Ash Riders how to ?nd me.”

Ask the Ash Riders.

Talwyn only knew of Rayner. What if more than one was needed? She supposed she could spend time searching for another, if it would help Ashtine.

That was what consumed her thoughts as she stepped into her rooms at the White Halls. A quick glance at the bed found it empty, and she scanned the room for Tarek.

But a hand clamped around her throat ?rst, a dagger poised at her side, digging in between her ribs.

“Foolish queen,” a voice hissed. “I thought you were going to play the game?”

Talwyn would never understand how she always knew where to be and when.

“I am playing the game,” Talwyn rasped out around the nails digging into her windpipe.

“Then you have lost.”

Nuri stepped back suddenly, hands dropping to her side, as Tarek appeared in the room. He was fully dressed despite it being the early morning hours before the sun had risen. He leaned against the doorframe, trying to appear relaxed and casual, but Talwyn could see the tenseness in his muscles.

“Talwyn. Where have you been?”

“I was unaware I answered to you,” she replied coldly, moving towards her closet. Her pants were still wet from kneeling in the surf on the beach.

“He felt your magic leave this continent,” Tarek said. Talwyn paused the act of removing her boots.Shit.

“It is why one of his Wraiths is now waiting to help escort you to Baylorin.”

“Neither of you can Travel,” she said, resuming her movements. “I do not think either of you will be escorting me anywhere.”

“No. That is why I am here.” That voice made her blood freeze.

“You know, Scarlett made me come collect her myself a few times.” Alaric appeared in the doorway of the dressing room, trapping her inside it. “Her recovery times from those encounters varied.”

“Depending on how much power you drained from her,” Talwyn sneered, standing upright to face him.

An indulgent smile appeared on his face. “That did play a role. Did you wish to continue changing, or shall we go?”

Talwyn gritted her teeth. “Get out while I change.”

Alaric scoffed, turning to face the bedroom but remaining in the doorway. “I drove such propriety out of my Wraiths. Flesh is ?esh.”

While Talwyn agreed with that statement, the thought of Alaric seeing her in a state of undress had her feeling even weaker in his presence. She quickly slipped into new pants and a fresh tunic, not wanting to use any part of her magic right now. She needed to save all of it. Every drop. She did not know what to expect, but she was going to make sure she had every advantage available to her.

Until she stepped from the dressing room and found Nuri holding a set of shirastone shackles in her hand. She held them up, her maniacal smile in place. “New leash,” she hummed, moving forward.

“You cannot be serious,” Talwyn said, her ?sts clenching at her sides.

Two vines appeared in them, sharp thorns along the lengths.

“That is precisely why,” Alaric said. “Fae tend to be so temperamental. I would not want you to do something you would regret.”

Nuri was suddenly behind her, a manacle snapping closed around one wrist and then the other, the vines dropping to the ?oor. Tarek stepped forward then, a hand clamping gently around her upper arm, as if he actually cared. Neither of them had brought up what she said on the beach, and that was ?ne. There wasn’t anything left to say on the matter.

A moment later, they were stepping from the air, but theywere not at the Windonelle Castle. They were outside the Black Halls. Speci?cally, they were directly above the Underwater Prison.

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