Page 138 of Lady for Embers

“I thought I felt them the night we arrived, but I wasn’t sure. It was late. There was a lot going on.” Sorin nodded, wincing as Scarlett knocked Cyrus to the ground again when her shadows looped around his ankle and jerked his foot out from under him. “Every time I sense them, they move before I can pinpoint their location.”

“What do you make of it?” Sorin asked.

“I think they are just watching right now. Observing us. Likely reporting back to Cethin,” Rayner replied.

“Are they here now?”

“In and out. They are beginning to linger longer.”

Sorin nodded again. “I know you are extra protective of Tula right now, Rayner, but I need you to stay and ?gure this out. The Avonleyans have not given us any reason to distrust them yet, but we have only been here a few days. That does not mean anything.”

“I can do both,” Rayner said, and Sorin could hear the slight defensiveness that had entered his tone.

“I know, Rayner, but you can trust us to help keep Tula safetoo. You know that, right? We have people with the children at all times.”

“That did nothing on the ship,” he retorted sharply.

Before Sorin could reply, Cethin and Razik were making their way over.

“I am going to draw from her,” Cethin said. “I want to prepare you so you do not become protective.”

“Thanks for the warning, I guess,” Sorin said tightly. This was going to go against every instinct.

“Razik is here to help... encourage you and her guardian to let this happen. Honestly, it would be easier if you guys would go, but—”

“Neither of us will allow that,” Sorin interrupted.

“I ?gured that would be the case.” His gaze cut to Razik. “Only if necessary, Raz.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Razik muttered, waving him off as Cethin began to make his way towards Scarlett and Cyrus.

“This is not a good idea,” Rayner said softly. “Cassius does not know how to control his power. If he thinks Scarlett is in real danger—”

“What do you mean he cannot control his power?” Razik asked harshly, his head snapping towards them.

“We do not entirely understand his gifts. He has only accessed them a couple of times, and only when Scarlett is in danger,” Sorin answered.

Razik swore viciously under his breath before shouting, “Cethin! Wait!”

He was rushing towards him, Cethin having paused and turned to look back at him. Sorin could see Cethin’s eyes widen slightly, his gaze darting to Cassius across the arena with Sawyer. The pair had stopped sparring and were speaking with Auberon, watching Eliza and the mortals.

“Why are they so concerned about Cassius?” Sorin muttered.

Scarlett and Cyrus had heard Razik yelling at Cethin, and they had stopped their sparring, making their way over. Scarlett was nodding at whatever Cethin was saying, and Sorin could already tell by the look on her face he was not going to like what she had to say when she began moving towards him.

“You and Cass need to go,” she said.

“Fuck no,” Sorin answered.

“Sorin,” she sighed. “Briar and Azrael can stay. Eliza. Cyrus. You can literally leave every other Fae and mortal here with me, but you and Cass will be too overprotective.”

“No,” Sorin gritted out. “This was all ?ne until they realized Cassius did not have control over his power. Cass can go if necessary, but I amnotleaving you here with them.”

Her nose scrunched a little, her brow creasing. “Why would they be concerned about Cassius’s gifts?”

“I do not know. Perhaps we should ask them,” Sorin said.

When Scarlett did, Cethin answered, “Razik will have to interfere if Cassius’s magic takes over. That is something we would rather not do.”

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