Page 83 of Lady for Embers

It was Tava’s turn to stiffen, but she recovered quickly. “I have not seen Callan since the battle.”

“That was four days ago.”

“I know that,” she answered softly, parroting his words from moments before.

“Aren’t we a pair?” Cyrus said with a harsh laugh, sliding his hands into his pockets.

“That we are,” the Lady answered with a small smile. “I need to go help with the children... ”

“Go. I’m on watch. Let me know if you need anything.”

Tava nodded again, giving him another quick smile that didn’t meet her eyes before moving to help two young kids with plates as they moved through the food line.

It was a few hours later when Cyrus was leaning against a railing out of the way, rolling ?ames along his knuckles, that Cassius and Drake appeared out of the air across the deck. Cass was laughing, slapping Drake on the back as the man doubled over, hands on his knees. Cyrus could only assume he was having a rough reaction to Traveling.

As if on instinct, Cassius’s eyes snapped to him, and Cyrus stood up straighter, his ?ames winking out. A slight frown appeared on Cassius’s mouth, and he said something to Drake. Drake nodded, heading towards his sister, while Cassius moved in his direction.

“What are you doing on this ship?” Cassius asked once he was close enough.

“Sorin has me on watch duty.”

“Didn’t you have night watch?”

“Yep. I pissed him off a little bit,” Cyrus said with a bitter laugh.

Cassius didn’t smile. “Have you slept at all?”

“Rayner woke me up to come on duty. Neve should be here any moment though.”

“Then you are sleeping?”

“Then we have a meeting.” Cassius nodded, but didn’t look happy about it. “What about you? You slept last night, I assume?”

He tried not to sound bitter, but he heard it in his tone. Cassius gave him an odd look. “I was with Scarlett working on something. She did not tell you?”

Cyrus shook his head. “You two made up, then?”

He wasn’t sure why that bothered him. That they had already gotten over their little spat they’d had while he was still nursing his pride.

“Scarlett and I argue like that all the time. There has only been one time we have truly fought.” He paused before adding, “It did not end well.”

“So you haven’t slept either then?” Cyrus asked.

“Scarlett and I slept for a few hours in the evening, but I assumed you would be sleeping after the night watch. It is why I did not come ?nd you to practice Traveling,” Cassius said.

And something in Cyrus calmed at those words. Not by much, but it loosened enough for him to breathe a little easier.

Before he could respond, a water portal appeared, and Neve stepped through. Her dark skin seemed pale, and sad, grey eyes methis. The Water Court was still grieving Nakoa. They all were, but to lose an Inner Court member like that... Cyrus didn’t want to think about it.

Neve nodded once in greeting. “Briar said to send a message if you need a portal.”

“I’ve got him,” Cassius answered, and Neve gave a sad smile before she turned away from them. Cassius’s brown eye ?xed on him, his patch in place over the other one. “I need to grab something from my room before this meeting.”

Cyrus nodded, and Cass’s hand landed on his shoulder, pulling him through the air. He was impressed when Cass landed them inside the hallway between the cabins instead of on the decks.

“You’re getting skilled at that,” Cyrus said while Cassius pushed into the room he shared with Drake. It was much tidier than his and Rayner’s. Clothes were folded and either in the armoire or stacked neatly on the desk chair. There were two beds, both made, and a few small personal effects were scattered across the desk.

“We have been practicing it nearly every day. I should hope so,” Cassius replied, moving to the armoire.

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