Page 148 of Lady of Ashes

Scarlett got up to get him water as she told him of Hazel, how they’d worked out who he was, and who he was to Hazel. She told him of the brief history Hazel had shared and how Eliné had apparently helped get him out of the Witch Kingdoms to save him.

“And my father?” Cassius asked when she ?nished speaking.

“Hazel has hinted at who he is, but she’s about as helpful as Juliette is sometimes,” Scarlett grumbled.

Cassius stiffened. “Juliette?”

And then Scarlett was telling him of how she had died but hadn’t died fully, of how she didn’t completely understand it, butthat Juliette was now the Oracle that spoke in prophecies and riddles that were absolutely no help whatsoever.

“I don’t know what to say to any of this,” Cassius ?nally said. While she’d been speaking, she had helped him sit up, propping pillows against the headboard of the bed, and now she sat cross-legged beside him once more, holding a glass of water and making him take sips every once in a while.

“There is so much more, Cassius. So much to tell you, but it’s...a lot to take in. And, if you’re okay with it, I know Hazel would really like to see you,” Scarlett said, biting her lip as she watched him carefully. She would never force this if he wasn’t ready.

“The woman saved my life and hasn’t left my side in days. I suppose I owe her a thank you at the very least,” he said, but there was a touch of bitterness to his tone.

“Cass, you owe her nothing,” Scarlett said gently. “If you are not ready to meet her, then she will not enter this room without your permission.”

“I understand why she had Eliné take me away, but also … If she is this High Witch … She couldn’t order my safety? And why didn’t Eliné ever say anything? About any of this?” Cassius said.

“I don’t know,” Scarlett admitted. “I’ve found so many answers since coming here, but I’ve also gained even more questions.”

“You’ve gotten tattoos since coming here, too,” he said, nodding towards her left hand.

She smiled softly at the Mark that ran down her thumb and ?rst two ?ngers. “Tattoos. A crown. A husband,” she said casually with a slight shrug. “Nothing too exciting.”

“I heard,” Cassius said with a knowing smirk.

“Yes,” she said with an exaggerated sigh, “the Prick of Fire himself.”

“Gods, I hope you call him that to his face,” Cassius said with a chuckle that had him immediately grimacing.

“Not yet,” she mused. “But he did recently challenge me to come up with more creative names to call him.” He motioned her closer, and she nestled back into his side, slipping her legs under the blankets.

“I will meet Hazel in a bit,” he ?nally said when she was settled. “I just need a little time to adjust to everything.”

“You should eat something.”

“Are you going to feed me, Seastar?” he teased.

“No,” she groused, poking him in the rib. He hissed at her as she said, “But I know a prince who will bring food up here.”

“Aditya waiting on me?” Cassius mused.

“Mhmm,” she hummed.

“That is something I wouldn’t mind seeing.”

And a half hour later, Sorin was coming into the room, a tray of food ?oating along on a ?ame next to him, keeping it warm. The door clicked shut behind him, and he lowered it to a small table off to the side.

“How are you feeling, Cassius?” he asked, immediately beginning to ?ll a plate.

“I’ve been better,” Cassius answered. “But you got her out. That’s all that matters.”

“That is certainly not all that matters,” Scarlett cut in.

Sorin made his way to the bed, two plates in his hands. He passed one to Cassius before handing one to Scarlett. “You need to eat too, Love.”

Scarlett rolled her eyes but took a bite of the sandwich on her plate while giving him a sarcastic smile.

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