Page 247 of Lady of Ashes

“Prince Azrael?” Callan asked.

Briar paused, his gaze snagging on the prince and Fae Queen for a moment before he said, “I do not think he will be leaving with us, and he does not have a ring to access his magic. We took tonics in hopes of being able to access our gifts here. That is why we are not feeling the effects we normally do upon entering the mortal lands. But there are wards—”

“Callan!” Tava cried when they neared, Drake easing his grip to allow her to come to him. He shifted Eva so he could loop an arm around Tava, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. “I didn’t think …” She trailed off, her voice breaking.

“Me either,” Callan replied grimly.

“Cassius will try and get her calm enough for us to get near him,” Rayner said, coming up beside them all. “Everyone needs to be touching. We will have seconds, if that.”

Tava clutched onto Callan’s arm, reaching back with her other hand to grab Drake’s. Rayner was already lowering himself beside Sorin, his hand resting on the prince’s shoulder.

“I cannot go,” the petite female was saying to Briar.

“Ashtine, you cannot stay,” Briar argued. “This is the start of war!”

“I pledged my loyalty to Talwyn,” she said softly.

“Before all of this!” There was panic in Briar’s voice, pleading.

“She needs to know that someone chose her for her,” Asthine replied, her hand coming up, ?ngers gently grazing the Water Prince’s jaw.

“You understand that we will be on opposing sides now? Do you recognize what you are doing?” Briar insisted, his hands coming up to frame her face.

“I do,” Ashtine replied, two tears slipping down her cheeks. “Take care of Nasima for me.”

“This is killing you,” Briar said, so much anguish in his voice. “This will kill you.”

“Then I shall once more be able to walk among the winds,” she answered sadly, her thumb brushing along Briar’s cheekbone.

“Ashtine.” Her name was a plea and a cry on the Water Prince’s lips as he brought his mouth to hers.

Callan looked away then, already feeling like he had intruded on a truly intimate moment.

A goodbye that was just as heart-wrenching as the one pouring from Scarlett’s lungs.

“Drayce,” Rayner said, his deep voice soft but urgent. “He is coming.”

“Be well, my heart,” Ashtine said softly, pulling away from Briar.

The Water Prince’s eyes stayed on her as he walked backwards, stretching a hand out behind him to take Rayner’s, who was reaching for him. Drake placed a hand on Briar’s shoulder, and a few seconds later, Cassius stood before them.

“We will bring him with us, Seastar. I promise. Just for a few seconds.” However he reached her, Callan didn’t know, but there was the briefest of reprieves from her magic. Or maybe it simply gave out. He didn’t know how long she could expend power like that.

But as he felt the now familiar tug of Traveling, he found himself wishing he could bring the bodies of his parents with, too.

Of Finn. Of Sloan.

Of his entire world that had just turned to ash.

CHAPTER 50

TALWYN

Talwyn watched as the spirit animals disappeared in ?ashes of light once Scarlett was gone, with nearly everyone else.

All the spirit animals but Rinji that is.

The stag stood stoically at Azrael’s side, watchful and waiting.

---