Page 206 of Lady of Ashes

He led them through a grand room, an elegant dining room, and into a decent sized study. But the moment the study doors opened, they all froze. Sitting behind a gleaming oak desk was a woman, who if it wasn’t for the dirt covering her skin and in her hair, would surely be stunning. She had golden hair beneath the dirt and mud from what Scarlett could tell. Her skin was pale, and she was thin. Far too thin. She wore a thin red dress that clung to her. A gag was in her mouth between dry and bloodless lips, and her amber eyes had a reddish tint to them. They widened with dread when they entered, chains securing her to the chair.

Shirastone chains.

“Your grace,” Auberon cried, rushing forward to his Contessa’s side. He hissed when he touched the chains, jerking back. Nuri and Scarlett moved to come to her side as well, but a deep voice came from the left.

“Scarlett, my dear. I have been looking forward to seeing you again.”

Scarlett pulled the spirit sword that was sheathed down her back, her shadow armor slithering into place atop the Witch-­leathers she was wearing.

“And you have mastered more of your darkness. Delightful,” Lord Tyndell said, clapping his hands as if this indeed excited him.

“Help Auberon with the Contessa,” she said to Nuri. “I will take care of this.”

Nuri didn’t ask questions, just rushed to the Contessa, who was screaming around her gag.

“How did you ?nd her?” Scarlett asked.

Lord Tyndell made a show of seeming to consider her question before ?nally saying, “Your Court has spies. So does ours.”

“Like Tarek?” Scarlett countered.

“He has been a valuable asset, yes,” he agreed.

He took a step forward, and Scarlett raised her sword, leveling itwith his chest. Her shadows writhed into panthers before her, and white ?ames sparked off the blade.

Lord Tyndell’s smile only grew.

“Do not take another step,” Scarlett said, her voice soft venom. “Nuri, get them out of here.”

“Working on it,” Nuri hissed back.

Lord Tyndell clasped his hands behind his back, making no move to try to keep the Contessa for his own.

“Who is here with you?” Scarlett demanded.

“They are keeping your … associates busy at the moment.” Dread ?ooded her veins like ice water.

Sorin?

Scarlett. What is wrong?

She swallowed thickly, glancing at Nuri and Auberon. The latter was trying to loosen the gag from the Contessa’s mouth, but it was apparently kept in place with magic. Nuri was struggling with the chains.

We found the Contessa. She’s … Lord Tyndell is here.

Get out of there, Scarlett. Now.

But she couldn’t leave the others.

“You will ?nd Traveling ineffective inside the estate,” Lord Tyndell said as if he’d read her mind.

“Fuck this,” Nuri suddenly said. “Grab the chair, Auberon. We’ll ?gure out the chains after we’re out of here.”

Scarlett was completely ?ne with that idea. She kept her sword trained on Lord Tyndell while Nuri and Auberon hauled the chair across the study and out the door. Scarlett slowly started backing towards the door to follow.

“Leaving so soon?” Lord Tyndell asked. “I would love the opportunity to catch up with you, my dear.”

“I do not plan on leaving without killing you ?rst,” Scarlett retorted, her shadow panthers prowling forward.

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