Lady of Shadows (Lady of Darkness #2)

Chapter 48 Talwyn

CHAPTER 48

TALWYN

T alwyn Semiria stood in her chambers in the White Halls. She hadn’t slept in days. Every time she closed her eyes, her dreams were filled with omens and terrors. Her chambers occupied the highest tower of the Halls. She had windows on all sides so she could see every direction. She looked out the northwest window now, towards the Fire Court. Things had not gone according to plan. No, things had not gone well at all.

When Talwyn had sent Sorin to the mortal lands to find his twin flame, her cousin, she had expected them to return and Scarlett to come here, to the White Halls. Then she had expected Scarlett to take up her place in the Black Halls to the south. She had expected there to be some sort of natural family kinship, some sort of immediate bond. Instead, there was fear that had turned to utter contempt.

Sorin had kept Scarlett from her. First, he’d kept her hidden, and now she resided with him. She knew they were twin flames, but she had still expected them to come here . Scarlett was a Queen of the Fae Realm. She should be in the Black Halls, not squatting in the Fire Court.

There was a slight breeze, and Ashtine stepped into the room. Talwyn turned to her friend with a frown. “You bring news?”

Ashtine crossed the room and sat gracefully in a chair near the window. “You were right,” she replied in her mystical voice. “The mortal kings are gathering their forces to them, but where they are planning to position them I have not heard. Even the winds do not know.”

Talwyn didn’t reply, returning her attention to the window. There had been no signs of the immortals posing as humans in any of the other realms. Ashtine hadn’t discovered any at least. Then again, they hadn’t known they were in the mortal realm until Sorin made the claim at the meeting the other day. In a few weeks, if the other leaders agreed to attend, she would lead a summit, and hopefully they’d all realize the threat.

She had been shocked when Scarlett had sent word that Hazel would be attending. The High Witch had been a nightmare to work with. So much so, in fact, that she’d sent Briar or Azrael to deal with her the last few times. The soldiers she’d lost to the ruthless Witches still made her see red.

“I cannot possibly let her go back there right now, Ashtine,” Talwyn said softly. “Not with so many unknowns there. She is not ready to face those.”

Ashtine was quiet, contemplative. They had grown up together. Both young princesses, Ashtine of the Wind Court and Talwyn here. Ashtine’s mother had been killed with the other Royals by Esmeray, and their friendship had only gotten stronger when Talwyn’s mother was later killed. While Talwyn was quick-witted and fast to act in dire situations, Ashtine tended to sit back and take things in, likely because she was a Wind Walker and spent much of her time listening among the winds.

“I do not think you will be able to stop her,” Ashtine finally replied. “She seems incredibly adamant about going back.”

“Just because she is adamant does not mean it is the right move,” came a male voice from the doorway.

Talwyn turned to find Azrael, stone-faced and somber.

“Precisely. I know these realms. I know how they work. I know the histories. She has barely scratched the surface,” the queen replied.

“That may be true,” Ashtine cut in. She was one of the few people who ever dared to interrupt her, and when she did, she spoke as if she didn’t even realize she was doing it. “But she was raised in the human lands. She knows more about that realm than any of us. If she had to go to another realm, it is the one she should go to.”

“But she does not have to go to another realm,” Talwyn snapped.

“I cannot believe Aditya is letting her go back. You would think as her twin flame he would want to keep her from such dangers,” Azrael said sourly, crossing the room to join them near the window. He said Sorin’s name as if he were saying a vulgar word. Although to him, Sorin’s name was such a word, Talwyn supposed.

“I would venture to guess that no one lets Scarlett do anything, and it is precisely because he is her twin flame that he is going with her,” Ashtine replied simply.

“And leaving his Court behind after he just returned,” Azrael grumbled under his breath.

“Briar will watch over it,” Ashtine answered.

“Briar? Why not Cyrus?” Talwyn asked, her head snapping to her friend.

“Sorin’s entire Inner Court is going,” Ashtine replied. “Did you not know?”

“He will leave his entire Court defenseless?” Azrael demanded, his voice rising in disbelief. “You cannot allow this.” He directed the last words at Talwyn.

Talwyn had turned back to the window, her eyes looking northwest again. “I do not have a choice, Azrael. She has claimed her Courts.”

“And you just let her come in and take half of your lands?” Azrael snapped.

“They were never my lands to begin with,” Talwyn retorted. Silence fell in the room. Then Talwyn said to Azrael, “Scarlett sent word that Hazel would attend the summit. Have we heard from Rosalyn or the Shifters?”

“Arianna and Stellan have said they would attend. I am still awaiting Rosalyn’s reply,” Azrael answered. He leaned against the wall now, his arms crossed over his broad chest.

“That does not surprise me,” Talwyn replied. “Rosalyn has never left her realm. The last time a summit was called, she was not the Contessa.”

“The last time a summit was called, none of the current leaders were in their positions,” Azrael said grimly.

“And what of the mortal realm? Will they be represented at this summit?” Ashtine inquired airily.

“The mortals are the reason we are having this summit,” scoffed Azrael.

“But they are directly affected,” Ashtine replied. As she stood from her chair, she added, “I think you will find Queen Scarlett will want them represented as well.” She tilted her head to the side, as if listening to something. “I must go.” Then she was gone on a phantom breeze that swept through the chambers.

“I hate when she does that,” Azrael ground out, still standing against the wall.

“You would think one would be used to it by now,” Talwyn replied.

“It does not mean I have to like it when she leaves in the middle of such meetings,” Azrael retorted.

“You are especially pissy today, Az,” Talwyn said, throwing a glance at him. “You are not still upset about the information I withheld, are you?”

“You should have told me,” he growled back.

“I told you, I did not want to say anything until I was sure,” she snapped back. “You are just mad Sorin made you look like a fool.”

“One would think as your Second you would tell me such things,” he replied through gritted teeth.

“One would think as my Second you would stop questioning me,” she snarled back.

The two Fae glared at each other for a moment, then Azrael's eyes narrowed. “When was the last time you slept?”

“I am fine,” Talwyn sighed, her gaze returning northwest.

“You have dark circles under your eyes. You need to sleep, Talwyn. You have used great amounts of your magic these last few days,” Azrael said, his tone softening a fraction.

Talwyn knew the rumors that surrounded them. She knew most suspected Azrael was her lover, and while they had their tumbles, it was more about distraction and release than any type of intimacy. She didn’t know if she could adequately describe her relationship with Azrael to be honest, but he’d stepped up. When her aunt had left and Sorin had… She still couldn’t say what Sorin had done. She had spoken truth when she’d spat at him that his love for her had died with her aunt that day in the courtyard. When she had been on the throne for less than a year, she was pulled to Shira Forst for the first time. Maliq had been there with Rinji and Nasima, and she’d known at that moment who her innermost circle would be. She’d sent Sorin away and gone straight to Azrael. It had been awkward for a while. She had still been learning. Azrael had been running his Court for decades. He’d had to adjust to Ashtine’s odd tendencies.

But when Tarek had been killed, she had nearly lost her mind. Sorin had been too busy consoling Cyrus, and Ashtine didn’t do relationships like normal people. Not knowing where else to turn, she’d gone to Azrael. The Earth Prince had merely blinked when she had stepped from the air into his Desert Alcazar. She had collapsed to the floor, sobs wracking her body. First her aunt had abandoned her, then Tarek had been ripped from her. And Sorin? He had been responsible for all of it. Azrael had immediately ordered everyone from the room. He had silently put his arms around her and held her while she cried. No words were ever spoken. She had cried herself to sleep and awoke in his bedroom chambers. He had been sitting at a desk across the room, going through various papers. As she sat up, he turned to her, and all she had said was, “We have work to do, Prince.”

Since that time, they have been what they are. Since that time, he had come to know her better than anyone else, and not because they shared a bed every now and then. He knew when to push her and when to let her be. He knew the ins and outs of her moods. He had taught her the intricacies of her earth magic. He had helped her hone her Traveling skills, as he was the only other known Traveler in the Courts.

“What I need is a distraction,” she said, finally turning to face him fully. She gave him a feline smile, but it did not reach her tired eyes.

Azrael merely gave her a pointed look and said again, “You need sleep.” He jerked his chin to the bed across the room. Talwyn scowled at him, crossing her arms across her chest. Azrael studied her, his face turning contemplative. “Why won’t you sleep, Talwyn?”

“There is much to be done,” the queen said, waving her hand in dismissal and turning to leave her bedroom. Quicker than she could detect, Azrael closed the distance between them and gripped her wrist.

“Bullshit. Why won’t you sleep?”

Those muddy brown eyes bore into her jade ones, and she glared at him. In a venomous whisper she hissed, “Because my dreams are not pleasant, and I fear they are not dreams at all.”

Azrael pulled her to him, and she stiffened at the closeness. He began rubbing up and down her back, and seconds later she found herself relaxing into him. Her eyes grew heavy. “You will stay?” she asked softly after a moment.

“I shall not leave your side,” Azrael replied, leading her to the bed. She was wearing black pants and her usual white tunic. As she crawled onto the bed, Azrael kicked his boots off and slid onto the other side of the bed, propping pillows behind his back. He pulled a book from a swirl of sand, then he said, “And when you wake, if you still need a distraction, I will be happy to oblige.”

“Idiot,” she muttered as he settled himself beside her. She was quite certain the otherwise always serious male only made jokes around her.

After a long silence, she said, “Sorin will keep her safe, right?”

“Sorin will give his life to keep her from harm, Talwyn. He is her twin flame,” Azrael replied, his tone steely and tight.

“That’s what I am afraid of,” she replied.

She felt Azrael’s fingers on her forehead as he began making long, relaxing strokes down her cheek, through her hair. “That Sorin will give his life for her?”

“That she will give her life for his,” Talwyn whispered back as she closed her eyes and entered her dreams.