Page 180 of Lady of Ashes

“What are you leading me towards?” she whispered.

“Your destiny, Lady of Darkness. I am leading you towards your destiny.”

“And if I do not want it?”

“You sentence this world to a fate worse than death.”

“There is no one else?”

“I did not even know there was you until your gifts called to me. Until then, there was no hope. Learning of your existence gave an entire kingdom hope. Gave a world that does not even know they need it, hope,” he answered. He moved as if to step towards her, before remembering he stood before a mirror.

“A siren’s call draws unexpected attention,” Scarlett murmured.

“Indeed.”

“You are a Seer?”

“I am a dreamer.”

“Hope is for the dreamers,” she said softly.

Scarlett pushed her hair back out of her face, her tunic bunching as she did. She felt the cool air of the catacombs along the bare skin of her midriff as she blew out a breath. Her arm dropped to her side.

“Well, that explains a lot,” the man muttered. Then louder he asked, “Have you found a Source?”

“I don’t know what that means,” she replied, exasperated by this entire conversation.

“How have you replenished your shadows?”

“The only way I know how,” she answered, dropping down to sit on the ?oor.

“Can you tell us what a Source is? Or how to ?nd one?” Sorin asked. “We have been researching but have found nothing on the matter.”

The man nodded, understanding seeming to dawn in his silver gaze. His eyes shifted back to Scarlett where she sat on the ?oor. “You have a Guardian, yes? Ranvir reported that you do.”

“You know Ranvir?”

“I do. That is not important right now. You have a Guardian, yes?”

“I do. Cassius.”

“Cassius?”

“That is my Guardian’s name.”

“We did not know his name,” he murmured. A faint smile lifted on his lips before saying louder, “You obviously have a book of Blood Magic, yes? That is where you found the other Mark to block your bonds?”

“Yes,” she said, ignoring the way Sorin stiffened at the mention of Blood Magic.

“As soon as we are done here, you need to get that book and go straight to your Guardian. Show him the Mark right above your hip. As your Guardian, he will need to nullify it,” the man instructed.

“Mark above my hip?” She lifted her tunic slightly, seeing only bare skin.

“It was clever magic, but your Guardian will be able to see it,” the man said gravely. “You will ?nd many things much easier when it is taken care of. Until then, do not touch your power unless absolutely necessary. None of it.”

“Why?” she demanded, pushing back to her feet.

“That is a draining Mark. You have been exhausted lately, no? Your power wanes more quickly? You have been on edge? Yes?”

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