Page 219 of Lady of Ashes

Scarlett reached for her glass of water. “Imay havetaken Hazel across the wards right before we entered the Night Children territory. How she got the grif?n across, though, I have no idea.” She turned to face Sorin. “So much better than broomsticks, by the way.”

Sorin stared back at her, unimpressed.

“And you felt the need to leave us uninformed yet again because …?” Cyrus asked, settling back in his chair, drumming his ?ngers on the table. His food forgotten before him.

Scarlett rolled her eyes. “I was not leaving you uninformed,” she replied. “You were all busy preparing things in the Fire Court, communicating with Talwyn and Prince Azrael. These were matters I could handle myself, and I did. If you lot think I am going to run every small detail and decision past you, you are in for a rude awakening.”

Scarlett glanced at Cassius, who was trying to keep a smile from forming on his lips. When he couldn’t ?ght it, he snatched up his glass of water, hiding the smile behind it.

“This is not funny, Cass,” she snapped at him.

“Watching them try to ?gure out how your mind works is rather entertaining, Seastar. I haven’t ?gured it out in ?fteen years,” he said with a wink. “Speaking of which …”

“No one was speaking of years, Cassius,” she said pointedly.

“Twenty of them is a pretty big deal, Seastar.”

“Shut up, Cassius.”

“Scarlett … When is your birthday?” Sorin asked slowly from beside her, clearly catching on.

“It does not matter.”

“Cassius?”

“It is in three days,” Cass replied.

“Shut. Up,” she snarled, throwing her bread at him.

“You were seriously not going to tell me it was your birthday?” Sorin demanded.

Scarlett picked up her fork, pushing vegetables around on her plate. “I have not celebrated my birthday since my mo— Since Eliné died.”

That had not stopped Nuri and Juliette and Cassius from attempting to celebrate it. But Eliné had always made the day so incredibly special. She’d take the day off from healing, and they would spend the entire day together. With her birthday being on the tail-end of winter, it was usually chilly and dreary outside, but that never stopped Eliné from waking her up before the sun rose with hotcakes smothered in rich syrup and topped with fresh whipped cream and strawberries. Then they would bundle up and spend the entire day on the beach if the weather permitted. Eliné would build a ?re, and they would roast meats and treats all day long. She would read her books, build in the sand, and tell her stories of all sorts of imaginary kingdoms and people. Although, Scarlett had to wonder now if they were all that imaginary. When the sun would start to set, they would lie on their backs on the blankets Eliné would always bring. More would be piled on top of them to keep the winter chill out, and they would watch the stars come out.

There had only been one year that Scarlett could remember the weather being so terrible they could not go to the beach. It had been her last birthday before Eliné had been killed, and, of all people, Alaric had been the one to make that day special.

By giving her her very ?rst dagger. To a godsdamn eight-year-old.

Granted, it had come with chocolate cake, hot cocoa, and the only time she had been allowed into his private quarters. He had a partially-covered balcony off of his bedroom, and he had let them sit there and watch the stars come out that night. Even then, he had been subtly planting those tiny nuggets in her mind— that he would take care of her, provide for her, save her.

Scarlett tossed her fork down, no longer hungry. The table had fallen silent while she’d slipped into memories.

“Scarlett,” Cassius started.

“Don’t.” She pushed away from the table, moving towards the double doors that led out to the balcony. Reaching the railing, she leaned on her arms, breathing in the sea air. She closed her eyes, her hair blowing across her face.

She felt someone settle beside her. Not Sorin. She would know if it was him.

“Your birthday should be celebrated, Seastar,” Cassius said gently. “I did not bring it up to drag up old memories.”

“You know why it is just another day to me, Cassius,” she said, turning to look at him. “You know why, and you still chose to bring it up. In front of so many people.”

“Because they love you, Scarlett. They would want to share in your birthday. They can create new memories to replace the ones that bleed every time they are scratched open.”

Her head fell against his shoulder. “Eliné and Alaric always seemed so … close. Do you think she knew?”

“That he was the son of Deimas and Esmeray? I cannot imagine she did.”

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