Page 73 of Lady of Ashes

“Scarlett, we cannot take everyone,” Sorin said tentatively.

“Why? Why can’t we?” she insisted.

But he didn’t say anything. He just stared at her like she was losing her damn mind. And maybe she was, but Alaric would not take one more godsdamn thing from her.

“I would be able to, but it would take several trips,” Azrael ?nally answered. “I could not Travel with everyone at one time.”

“Nuri, gather everyone together. We leave immediately. Take only what they need. I will make sure they are cared for upon arrival.” Everyone just stared at her. “Why is no one moving?”

“Love, let’s take a moment and—”

“We do not have a moment!” Scarlett cried, and she knew ?ames ?ickered in her eyes. The temperature in the warehouse plummeted, and she reached out a hand to ?ood Cassius with heat. “Send a ?re message to Hazel. Tell her to meet us in Solembra.”

“We are not prepared to house so many, Scarlett,” Sorin tried again.

“The palace is huge, Sorin. We will ?gure it out. They are as much my responsibility as the Courts are.” She could not believe he was arguing with her right now. “It is only a matter of time until Alaric and the other Lords ?nd them.”

“Alaric is a Maraan Lord?” Sorin demanded, his eyes widening.

Scarlett barked a hollow laugh. “No, Sorin, he is not a Maraan Lord. He is a Maraan Prince. He is the son of Deimas and Esmeray, and his need for vengeance is something we are unprepared for. But these children will bring him one step closer if he gets his hands on them.”

“That is not possible. Deimas and Esmeray did not have any heirs,” Sorin balked.

“I do not have the time to argue about this and try to convince you of its validity right now. Send a message to Hazel before Cassius is out of time.”

He tried to keep the wince from his features, but she saw it. She saw how futile he thought this all was.

“She will not be able to enter the palace unescorted. I would have to retrieve her.”

“Then send Briar to do so,” Scarlett demanded. “Rayner can go to him and tell him I am in need of his services.”

“If I may, your Majesty,” Arianna interjected. “The High Witch can enter the Black Halls without an escort. She and Queen Eliné were very close, especially after the death of Eliné’s consort.”

“The Black Halls?” Her attention went back to Sorin. “Is there still staff there? Guards? People to receive the children?”

“There is a small staff that keeps the Black Halls in prime condition, and I am sure more help could be found quickly, but Scarlett—”

Her head whipped to Eliza. “Can you access your magic? Did you take a tonic today? Send a message to Hazel. Please,” she begged. Tears still streaming down her face, she pleaded with someone to do as she was asking, cursing the fact she hadn’t learned how to send such messages yet.

Eliza glanced from her to Sorin before shaking her head. “I want to, Scarlett, but we cannot send ?re messages from the mortal lands. It does not work that way.”

Her heart cracked further at no one moving. No one doing anything to help her. Her eyes landed on Rayner, his grey eyes swirling with ashes.

“Rayner,” she choked out. “Please. Please go get Hazel.”

Rayner held her eyes for a moment longer before he nodded his head once, disappearing into smoke.

She whirled back to Sorin. “If you will not help me, then getback,” she snarled, wishing she could access her shadows to force him to do so.

“I am simply trying to understand, Scarlett,” Sorin said, reaching for her once more.

“Can you not just trust me?” she demanded, knocking his hands away from her.

“The last time I just trusted you, you blocked our fucking bond and ended up here, Scarlett. Forgive me for trying to get a read on the situation before blindly following your requests once more,” he shot back. He immediately closed his eyes, wincing as he pushed out a long breath. “I am sorry. I did not mean that the way it came out.”

“I think you meant it exactly as you said it,” she replied hollowly. She turned away from him, shoving down the surge of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. She knew that ?ght would come. She knew this conversation would have to happen, but she did not have the time or the energy to devote to it now. Not with Cassius’s life hanging in the balance.

“Take us ?rst, Azrael,” she ordered, stretching out a hand to him.

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