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“We actually went to the Witch Kingdoms first,” Cassius said loudly, cutting into the bickering. “We are looking for the High Witch. We were told she is here.”
“She is,” Scarlett said. “Why do you need to see her?”
“According to Nuri and Mordecai, she is the only one who can help us find what the Sorceress is after.”
“Is that so?” Scarlett murmured darkly. “They haven’t said anything about that.”
“They are here?” Cyrus asked.
“They were here for the attack on the Citadel but were detained as prisoners of war,” she answered.
“Clever, Seastar,” Cassius said.
“They are being kept under surveillance in a room.”
“Princess?”
They all turned to find Sion.
“The council room is prepared. There is also food and drink.”
“Thank you, Sion. Would you fetch Nuri and Mordecai? It sounds as though they should be part of the upcoming discussion,” Ashtine answered as she and Briar began leading the way to the council room.
They were filling breakfast plates when Scarlett asked Briar and Ashtine, “Have you two discussed where you will live with the babes at the end of this?”
Briar’s hand halted in mid-air before he placed the cinnamon roll he held on Ashtine’s plate. “We have had little time to discuss such matters yet.”
“Hmm,” was all Scarlett said in reply before she moved to the table, setting her plate aside and immediately forgetting about it.
Sorin lowered into the seat next to her, handing over a pear. “At least eat this, Scarlett.”
She made a noise of acknowledgment, mindlessly taking a bite while lost in her thoughts, no doubt altering her plans to accommodate whatever news they were about to get.
Everyone else was getting settled with their own plates when Mordecai and Nuri were brought in, and behind them was Hazel. The High Witch’s eyes went straight to her son, who stared back at her with a terse expression.
Azrael, Cethin, Kailia, Rayner, Hale, and Auberon had also been summoned for the meeting, and when Luan had appeared with Talwyn beside him, Sorin tensed for Scarlett’s reaction. But she said nothing, looking over the dethroned queen with a quick assessing glance before turning away.
“There’s something you neglected to share, Sister,” Scarlett said, fingers drumming on the table beside her plate.
Nuri dropped unceremoniously into a chair that Mordecai pulled out for her. “Is there? It is hard to remember every little thing I have been doing for you, especially as I’ve been recovering from having godsdamn shirastone shoved into my shoulder.”
Scarlett propped her chin in her palm. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
Nuri gave her a snarky sneer as she flipped her off.
“I am assuming since these two are here,” Mordecai cut in, pushing Nuri’s finger down and nodding at Cyrus and Cassius, “this is about the Semiria rings.”
“Why would this be about those?” Scarlett asked, straightening in her seat.
Breakfasts were forgotten as Cassius and Cyrus told them what they had learned, with Mordecai offering clarification when needed. Nuri didn’t say a word, and Sorin had to wonder if she didn’t want to, or if she couldn’t due to some order from the Blood Bond.
When they were done, Scarlett twisted to look at Hazel. “Can you do this? Help them find this missing Semiria ring?”
“Yes,” Hazel answered. “There is a spell in my mother’s spell book that will work.”
“Then we need to get the other two. To destroy this portal key, correct?”
“Eventually, yes,” Mordecai said.
