Page 174 of Lady of Ashes

What is wrong?he pressed down the bond, but a wall of shadows slammed down along that mental bridge, and he took a physical step back from her.

“When did you learn how to dothat?” he demanded, his tone no longer hushed.

“There is something wrong,” Ashtine said, her head lifting from Briar’s chest.

“It is okay, Ashtine,” Scarlett said gently, ignoring him and taking a step toward her. “I believe you. I believe that these are skystone. I do not need proof. I never did.”

Ashtine shook her head. “Not that. You are … You are different. You are not the same as when you left.”

Scarlett stooped to scoop up the amulets from the ground. “I suppose I am not.”

Ashtine extracted herself from Briar, coming to stand before the queen as she stood. Sorin tensed at her closeness after such a burst of uncontrolled power, but he forced himself to remain where he stood. For an entire minute, no one said anything, and the two females simply stared at one another.

“The turmoil in my soul is a fraction of the tempest that plagues your own,” Ashtine murmured.

Scarlett said nothing.

“I will take you to the libraries,” Ashtine said then, stepping back from Scarlett. “There is one chamber in particular I think you will ?nd of special interest.”

She turned and made her way to the archway, Briar moving to follow. Sorin caught his eye, and the Water Prince understood the silent words he conveyed: they would catch up in a moment.

Sorin stepped into Scarlett’s path when she began to move towards the archway.

“Out with it,” Sorin demanded, folding his arms across his chest. “With what?”

“With what has you in this mood. What Ashtine was referencing. Where you learned to block the bond like that.”

“You have been blocking me out whenever you please since I returned. It only seemed ?tting that I be able to do the same when it suited me,” she retorted.

“Fair enough,” he conceded, and her mouth gaped open in obvious shock at his agreement. “But where did you learn it?”

“A book.”

His eyes narrowed. “The same one you learned that from?” he asked, with a jerk of his chin towards what he could only call shadow armor.

“Perhaps,” she said with a sardonic curl of her lips.

“Why are you so insistent on picking a ?ght with me today?”

“Because you keep asking me annoying questions.”

“For fuck’s sake,” Sorin said, raking a hand through his hair. “I am trying here, Scarlett. I need you to meet me halfway.”

“I am tired, Sorin.”

“You should be more than rested. You slept soundly for hours. Are you feeling unwell?”

“My soul is tired. I mean, yes. I am physically tired as well, which is concerning and something I want to discuss with you, but I mean my soul is tired. I amtired. This, all of this,” she continued, gesturing widely with her hand and sighing deeply. “Today my responsibilities are just weighing on me. I am not trying to be a pain in your ass. Not any more than usual anyway.”

He huffed a soft laugh, reaching over to pull her hood up for her. “Let’s go to the libraries, and when we return to the Black Halls, we take the rest of the day off. We can go to Solembra if you want. Or the mountain chalet. The Water Court and sit next to the sea in the sun and warmth. Whatever you need.”

She smiled weakly up at him. “We cannot afford to take time off right now, Sorin.”

“We cannot afford not to. Not if days like today are going to be the result.”

“Let’s see how long this takes before we plan the rest of our day,” she said, stepping around him and making her way to the steps.

“I am not going to give up on this, Scarlett.”

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