Page 169 of Lady for Embers

Smoke was furling from Razik’s nostrils, wings like Cassius’s having appeared at his back. His tunic had ripped to accommodate them, exposing parts of his chest. But Razik was shifted far more than Cassius had ever been. The faint outline of scales could be seen on his skin, as if they were part of his ?esh, and those were de?nitely claws at the tips of his ?ngers.

Razik rolled his neck as if trying to gain control, ripping the rest of his shredded tunic from his chest and tossing it to the ground before those sapphire eyes settled back on her. The arrow went up in black ?ames as he snarled, “Bad idea, Princess.”

“You are his Guardian,” she sneered, her shadows slowly beginning to twist behind her. She brought her hands up, spreading her palms wide, star?re ?aring to life. “Why the secret?”

“My father is your mother’s Guardian. My cousin isyourGuardian. This should not be a surprise. The Sargon line has always guarded and protected the Arius line,” Razik growled, beginning to circle her. “Cethin went on and on about how clever you are. I am beginning to question his comprehension of the word.”

Cethin stepped to Razik’s side. “Let’s all take a breath and talk for a second.”

“Do you know how we can leave Avonleya?” Scarlett asked.

Cethin hesitated before he said, “Yes.”

“Are you going to tell me?”

“No.”

“Wrong answer,” she snarled, sending the star?re hurling their way.

“Godsdamnit!” she heard Cethin growl as Razik shoved him to the ground before he leapt into the air, his wings ?aring wide.

She was already on her shadow dragon, hovering level with Razik some ?fteen feet off the ground. The male cocked his head, seeming to study her. “Why don’t you ever do this?” he called out, and Scarlett glanced down to see Cethin back on his feet, silver eyes hard as he stared up at her. “You always leave the airborne antics to me.”

Suddenly, another set of wings came out of nowhere, tackling him, and Scarlett was watching as Cassius and Razik were fallingto the hard ground of the arena. She winced when they landed because that had to hurt, but ?sts were already ?ying. She twisted to ?nd Sorin, Cyrus, and the rest of her Court. Cassius must have Traveled them all here, but with that many, it had taken him a while. That was ?ne. Cassius could keep Razik busy while she had a littlechatwith her brother.

She dove for the ground, her shadows dissipating as her feet hit the dirt, and she strode smoothly towards him, star?re winding up her arms. She didn’t falter when Kailia appeared at his side, smoke swirling around her, and an arrow already nocked in her bow, aimed directly at Scarlett.

“I like you,” she said calmly. “But I will not hesitate.”

“Good. It would be the last thing you did if you do,” Scarlett retorted.

“Scarlett, stop,” Cethin said. “You will not win this... ” He trailed off as his eyes lifted to something over her shoulder.

She didn’t need to look to know her Court was behind her. All of them. Three Fae Princes. A Fire Second and General. A Water Second.

She smirked at her brother. “Mine’s bigger than yours.”

Kailia looked up at her husband, before she leveled Scarlett with a look so dark, it reminded her of Nuri. “Mine’s stronger.”

Before Scarlett could process her words, Cethin had a hand raised, his ?st closing...

And she was on her knees, along with everyone else in her Court, her power being pulled from her being.

He stopped as quickly as he’d started, and she glared up at him. “I cannot believe you did that,” she rasped, still feeling the effects of having her power drained.

Razik came to his side, spitting blood to the ground as he sneered down at them. “You all need to train. You will not defeat anyone this way. Andyou.” He looked over to where Cassius was getting to his feet like the rest of her Court. “You need to master your power.”

“What would you know about battle?” Azrael demanded. “Neither of you were alive before the Wards went up.”

“We were facing our own trials while you were facing yours,” Cethin said darkly.

Scarlett was still on her knees when she felt Sorin behind her, a warning ringing out as Cethin approached.

“I am not going to hurt her,” Cethin snapped, lowering to a crouch before her. “This is why you cannot go to Rydeon. Alaric will win.”

“We defeated him on the water,” she retorted.

“You call that defeat? And at what cost?” he countered. “How many did you lose, Scarlett? Are you willing to lose even more? Because you will. From my understanding, he was not prepared for Cassius. Now they know of his gifts. You lost the element of surprise regarding Sorin’s survival. They will be prepared for all of that next time. You need to be prepared too. You need to train to defend against his gifts, against my gifts. It would be stupid to go back and not make adjustments.”

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