Chapter 40 Sorin
CHAPTER 40
SORIN
“H ow do we still not know what room of the house she is in?” Sorin demanded. He was staring down at a rough map of the Lairwood Estate. It was the best that Drake could come up with. It seemed hardly anyone had been inside of the house and then only a handful of times and only in the main areas. Even Nuri and Cassius, who had been in the cells below the main house, had had hoods over their heads when led from the lower levels. They’d been scouting the property multiple times over the last three days. They’d figured out there were four main wings, and the wing the family stayed in was in the northeast section of the house, but beyond that, they knew very little.
“What room? We don’t even know what godsdamn section of the house she’s in,” Cassius growled. “She’s in the fucking dungeons for all we know about this place.”
They were meeting in the back room of a local tavern. Sorin hadn’t wanted his presence to be known at the Tyndell Manor, and Cassius had agreed, especially when he had been ordered to start planning wards for the Lairwood Estate.
“I still don’t understand how you could have let her leave your apartment that day,” Cassius said, accusation heavy in his tone.
“We have already discussed this,” Sorin replied through gritted teeth. “It was her choice. You of all people know how difficult it is to change her mind when she is set on something.”
“I do,” Cassius agreed grimly. “Which makes it all the more concerning that we’ve heard nothing from her since I left with Nuri.”
“How could you have left her with Mikale?”
“Enough of this,” Nuri snapped. “You two blaming each other will get us nowhere. Focus on getting her the hell out.”
Lord Tyndell had received word that she was moving to the Lairwood Estate to plan a quick wedding. Something was terribly wrong. The day she’d left with Mikale, he’d felt her somehow. He’d felt her terror and fury and sorrow hitting him all at once in his gut. He’d doubled over with it and had been grateful he’d been in his private office at the castle when it had happened. Since then, though, he’d felt nothing.
Mikale had been a swaggering ass at training all week, and Sorin had let his other men drag him through the most grueling drills. The smug smile never left his face. Mikale was smart enough not to mouth off about anything to Sorin, but when Cassius was around, the comments that came out of his mouth were appalling. If you didn’t know Scarlett’s past, the history, you would never know the underlying messages in them.
“You all right there, Aditya?” Cassius asked tentatively.
There was smoke rising from the places where Sorin gripped the edges of the table. He released his hands to find burn marks under them. “Fine,” he grunted.
Cassius gave him a slight nod, returning his attention to the crude map before them. “Once we figure out where she is, we still have the matter of figuring out how to get to her. He’s not just going to let us in.”
“And there’s the little matter of the safety of our Syndicate,” Nuri said from where she stood, leaning against the wall.
She had spoken little of how they had captured her the second time. Sorin could sense it, though. The rage she was collecting and honing, the revenge she was planning. He had little doubt she would get it, too. Anala help them should she ever meet another vampyre.
“You better figure it out and fast,” came a female voice from behind them.
Tava and Drake ducked into the back room. Drake’s face was grim, and Tava was pale.
“You have news?” Sorin asked, bracing himself for what he was about to hear.
“We have received an invitation from the Lairwood house,” Tava replied. She held a piece of paper out to Sorin.
He took it from her and read:
Lord Tyndell and Family,
We invite you to join us for a dinner celebration of my impending marriage to Miss Scarlett Monrhoe. The Crown Prince shall be in attendance along with my sister, Veda. Scarlett wishes to personally thank you for your hospitality this last year.
Best Regards— Mikale Lairwood
Cassius jerked the paper from his hand, and he heard him suck in a breath. “What is he up to now?”
“He has invited the Crown Prince? Callan will not handle this well,” Nuri said, her voice solemn.
“No,” Sorin ground out. “I doubt he will, but maybe that is the purpose? To pave a way for Veda to provide comfort so he will not interfere with Mikale’s plans for her.”
Silence fell in the small room. He could hear the patrons of the establishment talking and laughing over their meals. Sorin absentmindedly began rolling flames between his fingers, pacing the room. He still hadn’t quite figured out how exactly he was going to get to her in the house once they figured out where she was being kept.
“She told you? Of the night this all started?” Nuri asked now, pushing off the wall. Her voice was full of a tentative curiosity as she came to stand beside Cassius.
“Yes,” Sorin answered, not pausing his pacing.
“When?” Cassius demanded.
His tone finally made Sorin stop and turn to them. They were both staring at him, disbelief on their faces. “The evening before Mikale called on her. When she declined your invitation to escort her home,” he answered slowly.
“Did she tell you everything?” Nuri pressed.
“I believe so. Although I wouldn’t exactly know if she had omitted anything, would I?” Sorin asked. Nuri seemed to be bouncing on the balls of her feet, exchanging glances with Cassius. “Was she not supposed to tell me?”
Cassius swallowed. “She has never, never , spoken of that night to anyone, other than vague references. The only things we know are what we saw and heard. She refused to even tell the Council all the details, despite their methods of retrieving information. Only that she had been forced to choose between Juliette and the child. None of us know what happened after she left the feast with Callan, how she was captured and bound, what Mikale did when we left… How did you get her to tell you?”
“She did so of her own accord,” Sorin answered sharply. “She volunteered the information. I did not coerce her if that is what you are asking.”
“Bullshit,” Nuri said. “I’ve tried for a year to get her to speak of that night. So has Cassius. We all have. To get her to deal with the things she’s repressed for months.” When Sorin didn’t say anything, Nuri said softly, “You are truly hers, aren’t you?” A knowing smile spread across her lips.
“What are you talking about?” Cassius said, now looking between him and Nuri.
“A twin flame indeed,” Nuri whispered under her breath.
“How do you know that term?” Sorin asked quietly, his brows rising in surprise.
“All those things I’m privy to. Remember…General?” she said with a sly grin.
A startled cry broke the silence, and Sorin looked up to find Tava with her hand over her mouth, staring wide-eyed behind him. He looked over his shoulder to where a large red bird hovered outside the window. Amaré.
Sorin quickly walked to the window and let the bird inside, having summoned him with their connection a few minutes ago. Amaré settled on his shoulder with an affectionate nip at his ear. “I have one more task for you, my Friend.” Amaré cooed softly in response.
Drake cleared his throat. “I am not sure what to ask about here…”
Sorin looked up. “Sorry. This is Amaré. He is a phoenix, and my spirit animal.”
“Spirit animal,” Cassius said, not as a question but as an unbelieving statement.
“I do not know how else to describe him,” Sorin replied, annoyed. “I also do not have the time to explain everything, so here is the short version. I am one of the most powerful Fae in the Courts. As someone with my power, I have a kindred animal who can cross the spiritual planes. Amaré is that animal.”
“The spiritual planes?” Tava asked, confusion written on her face.
“Yes. He is the bird of Anala. He can cross the planes and the realms. I send messages back to the Fae lands by him.”
“Does every Fae have one?” Tava asked.
“No. Only the most powerful. They protect and guide their bonded Fae, and keep certain spirits and forces from this world.”
“And Scarlett…?” Tava trailed off.
“Yes, she will likely have one should I ever get her the fuck out of here,” Sorin confirmed. Amaré squawked loudly, and Tava jumped at the sudden noise. “Does Maliq know what we have found?” Amaré’s wings flared as he cooed. No then. “Nasima?” The bird made no sound, just stared at Sorin.
“So you can speak to the bird?” Cassius asked skeptically.
“No, I cannot speak to him,” Sorin snapped, “but there is a form of communication, yes.”
Amaré cawed again and flew to the window, perching on the nearest chair. Sorin walked over and opened it. Snapping his fingers, a piece of parchment appeared in a whorl of flames, and he tied it to the bird’s leg. “To Briar, my Friend. Faster than the winds. Do not let them hear. Do not let Sefarina hear. Eliza shall be here when you return tomorrow.” Amaré flew through the window and a few seconds later, Sorin saw the flash of light letting him know he’d left the land.
“Who is Eliza?” Tava asked. Sorin didn’t give her enough credit. She was quiet and introverted, but she never missed anything.
“You will meet her tomorrow. She is currently making sure everything is in order for when we get her out,” Sorin answered, returning his attention to the map.
“You have someone helping? Outside of those in this room?” Cassius inquired.
“I do.”
“She can be trusted?”
Sorin looked up, meeting his gaze. “I would trust her with my life. I have trusted her with my life. She is loyal to me.”
It was Tava who voiced the next question. “What is your title where you are from?”
“I suppose that depends on who is addressing me,” Sorin answered.
“What would Eliza address you as?” Cassius cut in.
Sorin chuckled. “Eliza usually addresses me as asshole. Sometimes she will toss in fucking idiot to mix things up a little.”
Everyone exchanged confused glances except for Nuri, who grinned like a fiend. “She sounds delightful.”
“She is rarely ever that,” Sorin grumbled, “but as I said, you will meet her tomorrow. Until then, you three,” he nodded to the Tyndells and Cassius, “need to get ready for a dinner this evening. Nuri and I will figure out what to do about the orphans so that when we get her out, everyone will be safe.”
“Then we get revenge,” Nuri said, the maniacal gleam back in her eyes.