Page 122 of Lady of Ashes

“How did you ?gure out Azrael had Avonleyan blood?” Sorin asked.

Scarlett’s eyes ?ew to his. “I didn’t know until today. Until that very moment. I wasn’t keeping it from you. And even then, it was more of a hunch than being certain.”

His ?ngers squeezed her knee gently, his golden eyes softening. “I believe you, Love. I wasn’t accusing you.”

She nodded, brushing her ?ngers along the pages of the book. “I found it odd that he created a portal rather than just Travelingwith Talwyn. And then I remembered Alaric saying the Traveling gift came from the Avonleyans.”

“All the Fae gifts came from the Avonleyans,” Sorin said.

“Yes, but Alaric also told me that the Maraans could Travel aswell. That they were among the only bloodlines who could doso.”

“But some of the FaecanTravel,” Sorin countered.

Scarlett closed the book, turning slightly to face him better on the sofa. “How many, Sorin? You said yourself it is incredibly rare. Other than the Fae Queens, who were gifted the ability by the Avonleyans alongside their elemental gifts, what other Fae Travelers have you known? Or even heard of, for that matter? Outside of the Luan bloodline.”

Sorin was quiet, clearly contemplating her argument.

“It is also why Tarek thinks his family should still rule the Earth Court. Just like Talwyn doesn’t think I should have my throne because I do not possess Fae blood, Tarek believes the Luans have an unfair advantage for the Royal seat because their Avonleyan blood makes them more powerful.”

“Do you think he is half-Avonleyan like Cassius?” Sorin asked.

Scarlett shrugged. “I don’t know. Like I said, it was just a guess to begin with. I am assuming his power reserves for Traveling haven’t re?lled yet. That’s why he was using a portal instead of Traveling.”

“So he needs to feed?” Sorin asked.

Scarlett made a face. “Stop saying that.”

He smirked at her. “How would you like me to refer to it?”

“Just … don’t refer to it at all.”

Sorin gave her a frank stare as he said, “We cannot just ignore it, Scarlett. You need to keep your power replenished. You need to be prepared for whatever they might try next.”

“What I need to do is train to ?ght using my powers and weapons. I need to be able to use them at the same time seamlessly. Cyrus kicked my ass because I had to either focus on controlling my magic or my sword,” Scarlett grumbled.

“And if you are going to be training that intensely with your gifts, you need to keep them replenished,” Sorin said pointedly.

“Then we best ?gure out this Source thing,” she said blandly.

“Agreed,” Sorin said, “but ?rst I would like to revisit this no pants dilemma.”

“It’s not a dilem—”

But her words cut off when he gripped under her knee and tugged, pulling her down onto her back on the sofa. He was leaning over her a heartbeat later. “Itisa dilemma,” he countered. “You are asking me to focus on other things— Avonleya, training,Luan.” He said his name with a sneering curl of his lip.

“Tarek said you do not even know all the reasons there is con?ict between your two Courts. That you are just carrying on animosity—”

“There you go again,” Sorin sighed, cutting her off again, “asking me to focus on something other than the fact that you are not wearing pants.”

She smiled coyly at him as she casually said, “Or underthings.”

Sorin’s eyes darkened as his pupils instantly dilated, and a feral growl rumbled from his chest. He moved so godsdamn fast, she didn’t register it until she felt his tongue licking up her center, ?icking that sensitive bundle of nerves when he reached it.

“Gods,” she gasped, her ?ngers digging into the sofa cushion.

“Not quite, Love,” he said with a satis?ed smirk, looking up at her from his place between her thighs. He brought his mouth to the crease of her left thigh, slowly trailing kisses along it. “Tell me. Did you still want to discuss the feud between the Fire and Earth Courts?”

“Ass,” she breathed as he moved to the other thigh.

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