Page 73 of Lady of Starfire

And breaking through all of that was a hope that was not his. An anxiousness that was scarcely being suppressed. It was shadows and white flames, wildness and darkness. It was a star shining brighter than any other.

Sorin?

Her voice echoed in his mind, so tentative and full of hope. He whipped his head to her, finding her just outside the circle, two tears tracking down her cheeks. Her hands were clasped beneath her chin, but on one of those hands, stark against her ivory skin, was a Mark that flowed down her fingers.

Another burst of power surged into him, and he could not control it as flames flared out from him. But Scarlett had a shield of shadows up in the next breath, keeping his flames away from them all. He tried to pull them back, but they raged and burned and only flared brighter. So he let them burn. Let the magic get to know him, and when the last of it left Talwyn, and she sagged against him, he pulled her close while the fire burned.

She was shaking violently, her palms still bleeding while his were already healing. He ripped a section from the hem of his tunic, making two strips of fabric that he tied around her palms, all the while trying to rein in this mighty power.

“What do you need?” he asked gently as he tightened the second strip of fabric around her hand.

“I’m fine,” she rasped. “Just get me Az.”

It took another few minutes, but the raging flames finally died down. He suspected Scarlett was using some of her own magic to help. He could faintly feel it brushing up against his, but she was conserving most of it for later when she faced Alaric.

The others were all gathered around the edge of the circle, and Scarlett and Luan rushed forward. Luan dropped before Talwyn, pulling her away from Sorin. He smoothed her hair back, bringing his brow to hers, brushing tears away with his thumbs. She murmured something that was too low for Sorin to hear, even with his enhanced senses restored. Whatever she’d said had Luan’s eyes closing briefly, a look of grief crossing his features as he gathered her close to him. She was still trembling. Luan rested his chin atop her head, and when he opened his eyes, they met Sorin’s.

And in that moment, Sorin understood just how much Talwyn had sacrificed.

Sorin?

He looked up to find Scarlett standing over him, watching him carefully. Pushing to his feet, his left hand caught his eye as he did so. His twin flame Mark back in place, exactly as it should be. He looked at his right arm where a Source Mark had returned. His gaze lifted to Scarlett.

Hey, Love.

She leapt at him with a breath of laughter. He caught her as her arms looped around his neck, and she pressed her lips to his. Her legs wound around his waist, and he clutched her to him.

“It worked,” she rasped onto his lips. “I cannot believe it worked.” Another kiss. “How do you feel?”

“Tired,” he admitted, and she pulled back with a frown. “Not a mortal kind of tired,” he clarified. “The kind of tired you feel when you need to fill your power reserves.”

He could still feel it all beneath his skin. A great well of power that he barely had leashed. He did need to rest, to get to know his magic in this capacity.

“You can rest while we go to the continent,” she replied, lowering her feet to the ground.

He nodded in agreement. His attention went back to Luan, still holding Talwyn in the dirt. “Take her to your rooms, Luan. Let her rest as much as she can.”

Luan did not look at them. Just Traveled from the arena without a word.

“Do you need to worry about them trying to run?” Cethin asked from where he stood next to Saylah.

“No,” Sorin said. “Luan is loyal to Scarlett, and Talwyn will insist on going back to the continent.”

Cethin nodded, but Sorin could tell he wasn’t so sure. He turned and said something to Razik, who Traveled out a moment later.

Saylah stepped forward, and Sorin bowed his head while Scarlett stiffened and turned to face her mother. “I have fulfilled my end of our agreement. Can I trust you to now fulfill yours?” Saylah asked, keen silver eyes watching her daughter carefully.

“Are you questioning my word?” Scarlett asked, head tilting in that calculating way of hers.

“No more games, Scarlett,” Saylah warned, taking another step towards her. Cassius was at Scarlett’s side in an instant, and the goddess smiled in approval. “Remember what I told you must happen to save this realm.”

“You mean what must happen to fix your mistake,” Scarlett countered.

Saylah’s lips pursed in disapproval. “Call it what you wish, Daughter. It does not change fate.”

“Lucky for me, I make my own fate,” Scarlett purred.

“This is not a game—”