Page 237 of Lady of Ashes

“Really, Veda? You could at least play with someone who likes the same games as you,” came an arrogant voice of shadows.

Veda froze, and Callan whirled.

Scarlett stood there, ?anked by her king and Ash Rider. Shadows coated her skin, and her eyes were bright silver.

“You always were quite the coward,” Scarlett tsked, moving forward with the grace of a feline. She was casual, as though she hadn’t just shown up to ?ght with a being from another world.

“What are you doing here?” Veda all but screeched.

Scarlett nodded in Callan’s direction with a wink at him. “Someone told me you weren’t playing nice.” Then her entire face went dark and cold. Her voice was that of death when she spoke again. “And you have come after what is mine.”

Words Tava had said to him weeks ago ?ltered back to him.

Once Scarlett claims you as one of her own, there is no going back.

He had never been more grateful that she was claiming Tava, that she had apparently claimed her long before this night.

“What is yours?” Veda sneered. “You cannot have everything, Scarlett. It is sel?sh of you.”

Scarlett tilted her head to the side. “Let Tava go.”

Veda’s response was to dig the knife deeper into Tava’s skin, another scream piercing the room.

Scarlett seemed to pause, as if listening to something. Their bond, Callan realized, glancing at Sorin. They could communicate through their bond.

“I heard screaming—” Drake stopped short where he burst into the room. “Tava,” he breathed. His gaze swiveled to Scarlett and Sorin.

“Hello, Drake,” Scarlett said with a sigh. “There is a … situation.”

“So use some ?re magic and fucking ?x it,” Drake snapped, his eyes going back to his sister in desperation that Callan was feeling in his soul.

“They cannot,” Veda said with a smirk. “The grounds are warded against Fae magic.”

Something sparked in Scarlett’s eyes at that, although what, Callan couldn’t even begin to fathom. He had called her here to help and things seemed to have gone from bad to worse. Sorin wordlessly passed her the two daggers he pulled from his belt while he leaned over and said something into Rayner’s ear. Rayner only nodded before crossing his arms and leaning casually against the wall.

“Release Tava,” Scarlett said again. “And if you even think of letting a blade touch her skin again, it will be one of the last things you do.”

“I have the upper hand here, Scarlett,” Veda sneered again. “You are in no position to make demands.”

A dagger was ?ying across the room before Callan could blink. Tava let out a small scream, but it left her unscathed, grazing Veda’s cheek before embedding in the wall behind her.

The Lady gasped, her ?ngers coming up to touch the cut. Her shock gave Tava the opportunity she needed to wrench herself away, stumbling as she went. Callan was already pulling her into his arms before Drake even had a chance to reach for her.

“I am so sorry, Tava,” Callan murmured, clutching her tightly to his chest.

“Do not apologize,” she whispered, her hands ?sting in his shirt. “Let’s just focus on getting out of here alive.”

“That is more like it,” Scarlett was saying, stretching her neck from side to side. “Now, Veda, if you want to play …” She brought her arm back, the second dagger poised to ?y.

“Wait!” Veda screeched again, her hand coming up.

Scarlett’s head cocked quizzically, her eyes studying at her own hand. “That’s … interesting.” Her eyes slid back to Veda. “Someone has a secret.” When Veda’s lips pursed, her hand still in the air before her, Scarlett said, “Tell me, Lady Veda, what are the gifts of a Maraan? Or should I say aseraph?”

“How do you know that term?” Veda demanded, her face draining of color.

“I had a little chat with a Sorceress,” Scarlett said, wrenching her hand out of the air. It seemed as if it took effort to do so, and when she did, Veda almost appeared to shrink back.

“A Sorceress?” Veda asked meekly.

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