Page 240 of Lady for Embers

“Do tell Scarlett not to keep me waiting,” Alaric called after them. “As she is well aware, my time is running out, and so is my tolerance for her antics.”

The four of them stood there in silence for several minutes until he suddenly released Ashtine.

“They will learn what lies hidden here,” the princess said immediately. “With or without me. Scarlett will ?gure it out.”

“Then for the sake of your unborn children, you had better hope I ?nd it ?rst,” Alaric said calmly. Cyrus looked back and forth between the two, Neve doing the same.

“Briar will not let you harm them,” she replied lightly.

“Prince Drayce will do anything to ensure you and his children are unharmed. I do not worry about the Water Prince,” Alaric said dismissively, striding towards the same hall the others had left through.

Her head tilted, silver hair shifting over her shoulder. “Then you are as moronic as the Sargon Heir observed you to be.”

Alaric paused mid-step, turning back to face her. She gasped, hands coming back to her belly before she dropped to her knees. Cyrus and Neve both rushed forward. Neve dropped down beside her, an arm going around her shoulders. Ashtine seemed to relax a moment later, and Cyrus turned back to Alaric.

“I know what power you hold right now, Princess Ashtine, and I am the one who decides if that power enters this world or not,” he said coldly. “It seems you would do well to remember that.”

He turned once more, continuing down the hall. “Bring her,” he called back to them. “And if you try to retrieve any of those weapons, a babe will pay the price.”

Cyrus and Neve exchanged a look before they both helped Ashtine up. Then Cyrus scooped her off her feet all together. She settled against him, hands once again cradling her stomach.

“What is hidden here, your Highness?” Cyrus asked quietly as they made their way down the passage that would lead them back outside.

“The lock,” she answered faintly.

“What lock?” Neve asked.

“The lock that opens the mirror gates.”

Chapter 46

Callan

Callan and Tava were seated next to each other around a council table in the Avonleyan Castle. In fact, the only people not here were Scarlett, Sorin, Cassius, and Razik. Callan had been told they wanted everyone else gathered before they alerted them that the others had returned.

Most of the others that is.

Cyrus and Neve were notably missing, and Princess Ashtine had also not joined their company. If she was with child as he had been told, perhaps she was resting, but Callan did not think that was the case with Briar seated at the table looking tense.

“They are coming,” Razik said tightly when he entered the room. “You are ready?”

Cethin nodded, getting to his feet. Kailia remained in her seat to his right.

Callan heard muf?ed chatter before the doors opened again, and Sorin was ushering Scarlett in ahead of him. She smiled at them, her eyes scanning the room and brightening as they ran over Rayner and Briar. But they quickly dimmed when she stopped halfway to the table.

“Where are Cyrus and Neve?” she asked carefully.

“Sit, Scarlett,” Cethin said. Razik had undoubtedly briefed his king before summoning them here.

“Where are they?” she demanded again. Her gaze swung to Rayner. “Answer me.”

Rayner held her stare, grey eyes swirling. “Your former master has them.”

Scarlett stumbled back, bumping into Sorin who instantly slid an arm around her waist.

“What happened?” the Fire Prince asked, voice harsh and commanding.

“Sit and we will ?ll you in,” Razik said, already in his seat to the left of Cethin.

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