Page 195 of Lady for Embers

“He killed Sybil,” Cassius supplied.

“You did?” she asked, excitement ?lling her silver eyes. Only a Wraith of Death would be thrilled at the fact he’d taken a life.

“Drove Eliza’s spirit sword through her heart,” Cassius added.

“If we weren’t in the middle of a battle, I’d take you to a tavern to celebrate,” Scarlett gushed. “We’d get sloppy drunk, and I’d make you regale me over and over again with how it happened. Every minute detail.”

“But we are in the middle of a battle, Darling,” Cyrus said, appearing at her side. “Can we get a move on here?”

Scarlett practically skipped back to the stone table. She reached for Callan’s hand, pulling a dagger that was strapped to her thighs and slicing the pad of his fore?nger open. She stood beside him, directing his movements over a Mark she’d drawn on the map over his kingdom.

When he ?nished and stepped back, he realized almost all of their company was gathered around them. The Fae were covering them, keeping seraphs back, while Scarlett’s shadow panthers snarled and snapped at anyone who got too near on the ground.

Juliette and Nuri were still battling near what he now knew tobe a mirror gate. Lord Tyndell had disappeared at some point, and Callan hoped they were long gone before he returned.

Razik dropped down, wings disappearing at the same moment his feet hit the stone. Eliza was curled into him, her head resting against his chest. Her eyes were closed. She’d lost consciousness, either from exhaustion or pain. Likely both. Rayner and Cyrus paused at his appearance.

“How is she?” Rayner asked, taking a step forward. It looked like he was going to reach for her, but Razik’s face promised violence if he did.

“My magic is holding the wound together, but she lost a lot of blood. We need to get her to a Healer,” Razik answered.

“We’re almost done here anyway,” Scarlett said. “You need someone to take her so you can Travel us or...?”

“I think I’ll manage,” Razik drawled.

They were all gathering close, Azrael rolling up the map, when another unit of seraphs descended. Juliette cried out as Nuri shoved her, and she stumbled backwards, ending up behind the various shields surrounding them. Callan watched the two lock eyes, Nuri’s lips pressing to a thin line. Juliette nodded her head, acknowledging something, before she turned and made her way over to them.

“Are you coming with us?” Scarlett asked, a tentative hope in her voice.

Juliette shook her head. “I cannot leave the continent.”

“We can’t leave you here,” Scarlett argued. “We’re surrounded. Our magic won’t hold out forever.”

“We can Travel outside, drop her off where we came in,” Razik said. “Then leave from there.”

Juliette was nodding. “Yes. We need to go. Alaric will be here any moment.”

“What?” Scarlett asked.

“It is why Nuri shoved me behind your shield,” Juliette answered. “But it’s too late.”

She pointed towards the mirror gate, and Alaric stepped from the air nearby a second later. That was pure rage and malice on his face as he took them all in.

“Everyone stop using your magic. Now,” Scarlett ordered, stepping in front of all of them. Shadows disappeared. Flames winked out. No one moved. The seraphs stood, waiting for orders. Callan could swear everyone in their company was holding their breath.

“What have you done?” Alaric hissed, eyes narrowed on ­Scarlett.

“Exactly what I said I was going to do,” Scarlett replied. “I told you to check those cracks. Looks like you missed a few.”

He raised his hand, and Callan braced himself, preparing to feel the crushing around his heart when Alaric used his power, but Scarlett tutted at him.

“Not yet, Alaric,” she purred, backing up. Azrael grabbed one of Callan’s hands. Someone else grabbed the other. “Your nightmare isn’t over yet.”

Cassius’s hand landed on her shoulder, and Callan felt the pull at his navel before they were standing on the grass a few miles from the Necropolis. Juliette was already running, the cry of an eagle ringing through the night.

“I will be ?ne,” she called back over her shoulder, a half-lion, half-eagle beast descending from the sky. “Hazel is waiting for me.”

“Go,” Scarlett ordered, clearly not willing to waste any more time here and risk being ambushed.

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