Page 239 of Lady of Ashes

The closer they free fell, the more they could make out Veda’s cries. “You will kill us both, you crazy bitch!”

The drops of blood landing on the faces of those watching were getting bigger, no longer sprinkles of red, but none of them could look away.

The shadow dragon appeared below them, catching Scarlett, but Scarlett shoved Veda away from her.

The Maraan Lady screamed again, only to have bands of white ?ames appear around her torso, halting her sharply a few feet above the ground. The Lady jerked, another cry falling from her lips. Scarlett leapt gracefully to the ground a moment later, the shadow dragon dissipating into the night. The ?ames disappeared then, Veda thumping to ground directly onto her back, another scream of agony coming from the female.

Scarlett reached over her shoulder, slowly pulling the sword from her back where she had somehow managed to sheath it during that free fall. Her face was splattered with blood, more red than the ivory color of her skin. None of them had moved, not even the Fae.

“Oh, Veda,” Scarlett tsked, lifting one leg to the other side of the prone female, straddling her so she now stood directly over her. “Haven’t you learned yet?”

“Learned what?” Veda coughed out, more blood spraying from her mouth.

“A Lady of Darkness cannot die,” Scarlett purred. Then her head cocked to the side. “Maraan Lords can though. I have killed one before. Can Maraan Ladies be killed the same way? I will admit, I amdyingto ?nd out.”

“She is terrifying,” Tava whispered in a hushed voice, pressing into Callan’s side.

“You have no idea, little fox,” Callan murmured, his arm sliding around her waist.

“That sword is not shirastone,” Veda rasped. She appeared to be trying to push herself up with her hands, but they just slipped on the grass, slick with her own blood that was pouring from her back.

“Hmm,” Scarlett mused, seeming to study the blade. “That is true.” Then she lifted her head, her eyes meeting Veda’s once more. “But the seraphs I burned to death seemed pretty dead when I ?nished with them.” At her words, blinding white ?ames igniteddown the blade of the sword, lighting up the entire yard. Callan had to look away, shielding his face while his eyes adjusted. Tava had buried her face in his chest, and when he turned back to see what was happening, his hand came up to keep her face there. He covered her ears, trying to drown out Veda’s screams.

“Do not look, Tava,” he said hoarsely, his throat thick as he watched Death’s Maiden plunge that sword into Veda’s thigh.

“That is for Cassius,” Scarlett said, her voice so lethal, Callan found himself dragging Tava away from her a few steps.

But as horrifying as this was to witness, he couldn’t say he was sorry. Not when they had tried to force his hand in a marriage to thisthingwrithing on the ground. Not when they had fucked with his life so godsdamn much, forcing him to ?ee for his life. And not with what came from Scarlett’s mouth next.

The sword sliced across Veda’s clavicle, dragging deep. “That is for Tava.”

A hand was cut clean off just above the wrist, ?ying a foot away, more blood spraying as she said, “That is for thinking you ever had any right to touch Callan.”

Veda’s cries and shrieks were incoherent now. Garbled words gasped in pain as the torture continued.

The sword was slicing through her stomach. “That is for thinking you could fuck with me.”

The last swipe came across the female’s throat. Scarlett dropped the sword to the ground beside her as she bent low, her face inches from Veda’s where blood seeped from her neck. Scarlett’s voice was eerily soft, but they all heard her. “And that is for thinking you could ever win.”

She stepped back then, and as she did, ?ames of bluest wild?re started at Veda’s feet, quickly crawling up her body. But no more screams came from her. Somehow Callan knew that Scarlett had stood over her, making sure the life faded from her eyes before she had moved away.

Sorin moved then, dragging a dagger down his own forearm as he approached his wife. He took her hand, slicing a gash across her palm before placing it atop the wound he’d cut into his ?esh. Scarlett scarcely seemed to notice, her eyes ?xed on Veda’s body while it became nothing but ash.

Tava shifted, and Callan lowered his hands from her ears as she peeked out, watching Sorin and Scarlett. Rayner had moved,picking up Scarlett’s sword and wiping the blade on his pants in an attempt to clean it somewhat.

Sorin’s other hand came to Scarlett’s chin, tilting her face up to his, and Scarlett’s eyes ?icked to him. The blood on her face seemed to glisten in the moonlight. “You are so fucking beautiful,” Sorin said. “But please stop riding the godsdamn shadow dragon.”

A smirk curled onto Scarlett’s lips. “Take me home and give me something else to ride then, Prince.”

A second later, Sorin was slamming his mouth onto hers, her hand still clasped to his forearm, and the other came up to grip the back of his neck.

“Oh my gods,” Tava gasped, her hand ?ying to her mouth as she averted her gaze. Callan glanced down and could see her blush in the glow of the body burning before them.

But before anyone could say anything else, a cool voice cut through the night.

“I am hurt, your Majesty. You did not invite me to the fun.” Everyone stiffened, turning to the trees where two ?gures emerged.

One cloaked and hooded. One on four paws with jade green eyes that glowed in the night.

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