Page 154 of Lady of Ashes

“Similar, yes,” Hazel agreed. “They wanted their secrets kept. This was how they went about it.”

“So it is more than the Bargain Mark on your arm?” Scarlett asked.

“Yes. The Bargain Mark was from your mother and relates to you speci?cally,” she answered. The light faded from her palm, and she turned her attention to Cassius’s side where he’d nearly bled out. “You need to ?nd a Source. You both do.”

“So I’ve been told,” Scarlett muttered.

“Why would I need a Source?” Cassius asked. “I’ve never exhibited magic like Scarlett.”

“The queen is different,” Hazel answered. “But you are still half- Avonleyan. You will have at least one of your father’s gifts, likely more, and will need full power reserves to utilize them. In addition, your Ward will draw on those power reserves if her life is in danger.”

Cassius looked to Scarlett, and she nodded in con?rmation.

“How does this Source thing work?” Scarlett asked at the same time that Cassius asked, “What were my father’s gifts?”

“Are,” Hazel corrected. “Whatareyour father’s gifts. If Ranvir appeared, he still lives. Those are both excellent questions, and you would do well to ?nd the answers.”

“Helpful as always,” Scarlett muttered.

“Can you tell me his name?” Cassius asked.

Hazel pulled her hand from his side. Her ?ngers curled slightly at her sides, and her lips pursed. She exhaled sharply before she said, “Tybalt. Your father’s name is Tybalt.”

“And my parents?” Scarlett asked.

Hazel shook her head. “I cannot speak of them.”

The small kernel of hope that had sprung to life in her chest wilted, and she didn’t know why she’d even let it form. Cassius reached for her hand at the same moment she felt Sorin’s ?ngers brush along her lower back.

“Your eye will be permanent,” Hazel said, her gaze searching Cassius’s face.

“Scarlett told me.”

“The wound from your side will take the longest to heal completely. You will need to continue to take Fae blood until you ?nd a Source,” she continued. “And your leg will never completely heal, but it will get better. Your magic will stabilize it, however, when you use your magic too much, it will ache and could become a problem.”

“Thank you, Hazel,” Scarlett said.

“We should go prepare for tonight,” Sorin said softly.

“What is tonight?” Cassius asked.

“We are going to visit Callan,” Scarlett said. “We need his help to ?nd another one of the keys.”

This morning, she’d met with the others and Nuri to discuss the keys. They still had no idea where the Fae or mortal keys were, let alone the missing bloodline. But they knew where the Witch key had last been seen, so they could at least start with that one. The problem was that its last known whereabouts were inside the Lairwood Estate which was warded against her and the Fae. They wouldn’t be able to get in undetected, and if it had been discovered and Alaric now had it, she couldn’t risk going to the Black Syndicate right now.

“I’m coming with you,” Cassius said, immediately throwing back the blankets.

“No, Cass,” she said, grabbing his arm to keep in bed. “You cannot even walk to and from the bathing room by yourself. You cannot travel with us to the mortal lands.”

“What if you need me?”

“What I need is for you to heal completely before attempting to protect me,” Scarlett chided.

“She speaks truth,” Hazel said. “Pushing yourself will delay the healing and keep you down longer. I know the Guardian bond is driving you to protect her, but you will not be much help right now.”

“You are very blunt,” Cassius muttered.

“Feelings and emotions have no place in such decisions,” Hazel replied.

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