Page 39 of Lady of Ashes

The growl that emanated from his chest sounded like something that would come from the beast he had just shifted from. “Since when does he have the authority to order my sister to do anything?”

“Since he became the husband and Second to the Fae Queen of the Western Courts who is currently away. Thus, he has assumed command until she has returned,” Talwyn replied sharply, wind rolling off of her and making the sand stir at their feet.

“Did you know of this?” he asked sharply. “Did you know the Fire Prince was going to require her assistance?”

“Of course not,” she retorted. “You know I would have come to you ?rst, and if for some reason it had to be Arianna, I would have discussed it with you.” Stellan’s eyes narrowed on her further as she continued, “Judging by your current mood, I am going to assume that Sorin did not give you such a courtesy.”

Olive eyes bored into her jade ones a few more seconds, before he seemed to decide she was telling him the truth. He turned and began pacing again, just as he had been doing in his lion form.

“You need to take me to her,” he said.

“I cannot,” Talwyn answered. “Prince Luan has my ring to allow your sister to shift in the mortal kingdoms. I cannot Travel to the mortal lands without it.”

Another low rumble came from the Alpha. “When will they return?”

“I do not know. Prince Luan is keeping me updated. His latest report told me they all arrived safely and were adjusting to not readily having access to their power. It is my understanding that the High Witch provided them with potions to access their gifts inthe mortal lands should an emergency arise,” she answered, fighting the urge to clench her fists.

“What are they doing there?”

Talwyn gritted her teeth. “Apparently, Queen Scarlett went missing.

They have gone to retrieve her.”

“Went missing like Queen Eliné?” Stellan asked, pausing his pacing to look at her again.

“No,” she replied with a shake of head. “She was taken.”

“Why would he go to Arianna for this mission?” Stellan demanded, resuming his pacing once more.

“I am no longer privy to the Fire Prince’s reasonings, but if I had to guess, I would assume it is because he has previous relations with your sister,” Talwyn answered.

She hadn’t thought anything of it when she was younger, but as she’d gotten older, she’d begun to notice the way Arianna would sidle up to Sorin, brushing her ?ngers along his arm. He would often return the touches, leaning in to whisper in her ear. When she’d assumed her throne, more than once she’d hear of him visiting Siofra and spending his night with the Beta. Those visits had all but stopped after Eliné left. She’d still hear of him visiting Arianna every once in a while, but those visits became few and far between, and they had stopped completely when they’d gotten word of Eliné’s death.

“We have not even met the new queen, and my sister ?nds it appropriate to go off on a mission to search for her?” Stellan scoffed.

“She has not been a queen for long. I am sure Sorin would have had her come to formally meet you soon, but those plans were derailed by unforeseen events,” Talwyn replied.

“We should have been invited to her coronation.”

“She did not have a formal coronation,” Talwyn said. “Queen Scarlett is … unconventional, but I understand why you feel slighted, Stellan.”

He stopped his pacing, looking over his shoulder at her. He nodded once, before turning and beginning to walk into the desert palace. “Come, your Majesty. Since you are here, you may as well have dinner with me.”

She did not particularly appreciate an order coming from him, but it wasn’t as if she had anyone else to go home to. She would simply be returning to her empty chambers in the White Halls. She huffed out a small sigh before following the Alpha. The jaguar shifted beside her, a beautiful female with golden skin and dark brown hair that went just past her shoulders appeared instead. She wore loose silk pants that cuffed at the ankles, and her shirt of the same material stopped above her navel. The wolf stayed in itsanimal form, but Talwyn knew it was Ilyas. He and the female, Sariah, were Stellan’s two personal guards and lovers.

“Your Majesty,” Sariah greeted, bowing her head. “He is most agitated,” she continued, her voice dropping to a whisper.

“I gathered that,” Talwyn replied, stepping through the gauzy curtains into an open dining area. Servants were quickly setting another place at the table. Stellan was nowhere to be seen, and Ilyas padded past them, disappearing through an archway to the left. Talwyn glanced at Sariah in question.

“He will be right back,” Sariah said with a dismissive wave of her hand, moving to a drink cart and pouring wine into a chalice. She handed it to Talwyn before pouring her own.

“Do I need to be worried about his loyalties?” Talwyn asked, taking a sip of the wine. It was tart to the point of almost being bitter.

Sariah’s golden eyes swept up and down Talwyn’s body. She took a sip of her own wine, before saying, “You know how the siblings are, your Majesty. Stay on their good side, and their loyalties stay with you as well.”

“Yes, but, as you said, Stellan is agitated. And Sorin clearly chose Arianna’s good side over Stellan’s,” Talwyn countered.

A slight smirk appeared on Sariah’s lips. “I cannot speak for him, however, seeing as the new queen could not be bothered to formally meet him but has visited the High Witch not once, but twice, I would venture to guess you have nothing to worry about.”

---