Page 58 of Lady for Embers

As if in answer to that question, Rayner appeared amid the ashes of a seraph left burning on the ship to their right.

And he looked pissed.

Cyrus and Sorin both went preternaturally still as they took in the Ash Rider.

“We need you,” Rayner gritted out, and Scarlett’s stomach dropped to her toes. “Not all the children were accounted for when we got there. Several were missing, including Tula.”

No. That little girl had endured enough trauma in her life, just like Eva. She had survived too much. If she was...

A sharp pain along her palm had her sucking in a breath, and Sorin placed her hand over the Mark on his arm, mixing their blood. She sighed deeply at feeling her magic wells ?ll, and she leaned against Sorin. Heat from his ?re magic ?ooded her, but her eyes stayed on Rayner.

“They are being held until you come and trade yourself for their freedom,” he said. His grey eyes were veiled and stormy, his features sharp and terrifying.

She was already Traveling to the ship Callan and Tava were on, Sorin in tow as she ?lled as much of her reserves as she could. The ship they appeared on was as chaotic as the others. Drake and Callan were above deck, guarding the door to get below deck. Neve was guarding them and somehow Auberon was here too.

Eliza was currently engaged with two seraphs, her ?ames and swords moving seamlessly in sync with each other. She sent her ?ames wrapping around the neck of one of the seraphs, while simultaneously blocking an attack from the other one. The one with her ?ames reached up and snuffed her ?re out, and Scarlett had to assume he had some type of wind magic, able to suck the airfrom the ?ames. He moved to attack her from behind, but before Scarlett could open her mouth to yell a warning, Eliza was pulling a second sword from ?ames and plunging it through the man’s gut, ?ames still wreathed around the blade.

Well then.

She was going to make Eliza teach her that move tomorrow.

She tried to pull her hand from Sorin’s arm, but he held on to her wrist, keeping it there.

“Sorin, you need to keep some magic. I cannot drain you right now,” she said in disbelief. This was exactly why she had argued against him becoming her Source in the ?rst place. She couldn’t imagine having a Source bond with anyone else, but in the heat of battle, it was rather stupid to be weakening him. Especially when he had recently died.

Gods! He had recentlydied.

She yanked her hand away from his arm at the thought. He needed his magic as much as she did. He gave her a hard look when he met her eyes, and she knew he was feeling her panic and guilt down the bond. She scrambled, trying to block it, but there was too much going on around her. She couldn’t focus the way she needed to in order to block the bond. He was already gripping her chin, forcing her to hold his stare.

“Stop. Now. Do not feel guilty for taking what you need from me,” he ordered in a low tone.

And somehow, even in the midst of battle, she could feel everything they were. He calmed her soul. His touch made her breathe easier. His words settled into her bones.

“Where are they?” he asked, looking over her shoulder.

She turned her head, Sorin’s ?ngers drifting along her jaw as she did. Rayner was behind them, and he jerked his chin towards the back of the ship. The three of them began stalking that way, and Rayner ?lled them in on what he knew.

“We have held this ship well. Briar summoned Sawyer a bit ago. I assume that was to aid you,” he said, glancing down at Scarlett.

She nodded. “Alaric said some interesting things we need to discuss when this is over.”

“What else?” Sorin asked as they ran up a set of steps.

“Drake and Callan came up when they realized some children were missing. They haven’t been able to get back below. Tava is still down there with the others.”

“How many do they have?” Scarlett asked.

“From what I was able to gather, three.”

“I don’t understand. Haven’t you seen them?”

“No.”

“Then how—”

But she stopped speaking when Sorin’s voice echoed in her mind.

He tortured a seraph for that information. Likely several until he found out what he wanted to know. Rayner is not in control right now.

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