Lady of Shadows (Lady of Darkness #2)

Chapter 14 Callan

CHAPTER 14

CALLAN

C allan stood at one end of the Great Hall listening to the musicians play a lively tune. All around him Fae twirled and danced, laughed and shouted to one another. There were even a small number of humans present. He watched as the Fire Prince made his way through the room, and his people came up to him and shook his hand, welcoming him home. He greeted them all by name. Every single one, as if he personally knew every person in his city. He scooped up babies and children, swinging them through the air to delighted giggles. He ate off trays of food as they came by, like everyone else. There was no high table where he and his household sat and presided over everything. He mingled and laughed and visited with them all.

Callan couldn’t deny it was inspiring. It was a vision he had once told Scarlett he had for his own kingdom. He had once told her that he wished to focus on those already in his kingdom’s care, and watching Sorin, he realized this was what he desired. He desired people who would see him as one of them, not fear him as a king and ruler.

A flash of vibrant red-gold hair in the corner of his eye caught his attention, and Callan turned to see Eliza striding through the crowd. Gone were her usual leathers, although he had no doubt daggers were still strapped to her thighs beneath the cerulean blue dress she wore. Her mask was a lighter shade of blue with rose gold accents that seemed to reach for her unbound hair cascading all around her. Her sleeveless dress revealed every tattoo down her arms and across her chest. She came to a stop beside Rayner who was in black pants and a black tunic. On anyone else, they would have been considered plain, but on Rayner, they looked regal. His black mask covered his eyes and nose. Eliza grabbed his hand, dragging him to the dance floor. She laughed as Rayner grumbled something to her. Callan watched with no small amount of shock as the two began to twirl around the dance floor.

“It is odd to be on this side of things,” Finn commented from beside him.

“We have been guests at various feasts and balls in the past,” Callan replied.

“Yes, but here nobody knows who you are. It is unknown that you are a prince for the most part,” Finn said simply. “The threats are substantially less. It is just different. That is all.”

“It is not all that different,” Sloan grumbled. “We are still on the lookout for her.”

The words were like a calling as the double doors at the end of the hall were opened, and Cyrus strode in with Scarlett on his arm. She was stunning in her dress of dark teal and silver. Even with the shadows, which seemed to have become a part of her, she looked more like a princess than the wraith she had been two years ago at a different Samhain ball.

Two years that seemed like a different lifetime.

Callan had expected her to come with Sorin and had been more than a little surprised when the prince had arrived without her. Callan had wondered if she would even come when she wasn’t with him. Every head turned to look at her as Cyrus led her into the crowd. He leaned over and murmured something in her ear, and she grinned wide, giving him a little shove with her elbow. Cyrus led her to the long table laden with food, and the two began filling plates with the various delicacies that had been prepared for the evening.

“Will you approach her tonight?” Finn asked, his eyes also fixed on her as she moved along the table, chatting casually with Cyrus.

“If I did not know any different, I would think she was from here,” Callan said instead.

“She is Fae,” Finn replied.

“I do not mean like that. I mean, watching her interact with Sorin’s Court, one would think she has always lived with them. They are like a…”

“Family,” Finn finished. “It is as if you are watching her with her family.”

“Do you think this is what she was like with Cassius and Nuri and others in the Black Syndicate?” Callan asked, tracking her as she and Cyrus found a bench along the wall and sat among a few others, digging into their now full plates.

“I do not know. I do not know how you could know that,” Finn supplied.

She again broke into laughter at something Cyrus said. “It is almost as if I never knew her at all.”

S CARLETT

Scarlett’s heart felt relatively light for the first time in days as Cyrus spun her to a song on the dance floor, despite her encounter with Mikale earlier that evening. She had been delightfully surprised by Cyrus's dancing skills. She had seen Sorin milling about with his people. Cyrus had told her he would likely be kept busy by them all evening, especially since he had been gone for the last three years. Cyrus had kept close though, making sure she was never left alone amongst people she didn’t know. Eliza and Rayner had joined them for food a while ago, and Scarlett had almost not recognized the female without her fighting leathers.

The song was just coming to an end when a voice from behind her made her freeze in Cyrus's arms. “May I have your next dance?”

Cyrus's eyes were on her with a question, and she closed her own for just a moment, breathing deep. Then she put a smile on her face and turned to face Callan. “Of course, Prince,” she replied. Cyrus's hand tightened on her own, and she squeezed it back, conveying she was fine.

“I will get us drinks,” he said.

“I will find you in a moment,” Scarlett answered.

The next song started up, and Callan held out his hand to her. She tentatively took it and braced herself for the memories that were going to drag her under. All of it was familiar as he began leading her through the steps—her hand in his hand, his hand on her waist, the flow of their steps together, the look in his eyes. After a few beats of silence, he said softly, “I did not know if you would say yes.”

“It would be foolish to refuse an invitation from a prince, would it not?” she asked with a tilt of her head.

Callan’s eyes narrowed slightly at the words, the same words she’d said to him two years ago. “You look beautiful tonight.”

“Thank you.”

“That is it? No other remarks?”

“About how I look this evening? What would you like me to say?”

“We used to talk, you know. We used to have real conversations.”

“What would you like to discuss?”

She watched as frustration darkened his eyes. “Do you think we will be able to return home soon?”

She stumbled at his words, but he held her up, pulling her a little closer to him. “I do not think it would be safe for you to return to Baylorin until we have figured out Mikale’s plans. He could very well use you to get to me.”

“You will not return home?”

“Of course I will return,” she snapped.

Relief flashed across his face. “If Mikale is the problem, Scarlett,” he said slowly, “we can rectify that simply enough. My offer from the garden still holds.”

Scarlett blinked at him. Gods, it was hot in here. Her mask was so godsdamned hot. She struggled to keep her breathing even, and her shadows darkened slightly around her. “Callan,” she started as evenly as she could, “if you knew all that I am, you would rescind that offer in a heartbeat.”

“You have not given me the chance to know all that you are,” he retorted. As if realizing his sharp tone, he took a breath and continued more gently. “I thought you had, but watching you here, interacting with Sorin and his Court, it has only made me love you more. It has only made me wish you could be that carefree and relaxed with me.”

“That is just it, Callan. I cannot. You live in a world of formality and royalty.”

“And this world is not the same? Sorin is as much of a prince as I am. More so even,” Callan replied. “You once told me you do not wish to be chained to a throne. Would staying here not be the same?”

“You do not know everything, Callan,” she replied softly, searching his eyes. She shoved her temper down. She would not get upset with him. Not tonight, in front of all of Sorin’s guests.

“Because you refuse to tell me anything. ”

“I am telling you as much as I can.” Smoke curled in her mouth, and her shadows crept down her arms. She glanced around, noting Cyrus on the edge of the crowd, drinks in hand. He was visiting with another male, but his eyes were on her.

“Why does Mikale desire you so badly? Simply because you are Fae?”

“Yes and no,” she replied softly. The fire in her veins turned to ice. She saw Callan glance at her hand which must have turned ice cold as well. The temperature had dropped in the hall, and Scarlett struggled to control the stream of emotions that were imploding on her.

“Why can you not just give me a straight answer?”

“Because I am trying to keep you safe, Callan. I am trying to protect you. It is all to keep you safe.”

“I did not ask you to keep me safe,” he answered, his voice low and gruff. “I would rather be by your side on your adventures than behind you in your protection.” When she did not reply, he continued. “You know why I asked you to dance tonight, Scarlett?” She brought her eyes back to his. “I asked you to dance because this is the first time I have been allowed to have a private conversation with you, and even now, it is in front of hundreds and being monitored by his Court.” Scarlett swallowed. “You have nothing to say?”

“I am sorry, Callan,” she said, her eyes going to the floor.

“No, that is not enough,” Callan said, shaking his head. “Look at me, Scarlett Monhroe. Look at me and tell me why you allow him to help you and see all of you and not me. What has he done that has allowed him such an honor?”

She slowly brought her eyes back to his. Her shadows slithered around her wrists and hands, hovering just within a breath of Callan’s own. He went slightly rigid, his eyes widening. She could see Finn and Sloan out of the corner of her eye, making their way through the crowd to them. Cyrus had shoved the drinks into the hands of the male and was doing the same. Without missing a beat in the dance that was coming to an end, she stepped closer to Callan. “My answer has not changed since the day you asked me on the journey here. He understands my darkness, Callan, and he does not fear it,” she said, her voice low. “He has never once looked at me with the unease I see in your eyes. He does not have guards coming to protect him from me.”

“Cyrus is making his way here, too,” Callan countered.

“Cyrus is making his way here to guard you , Prince.” Her shadows crept forward once more, but then ashes and cloves and cedar wrapped around her.

“May I steal her for the next dance, Crown Prince?”

Her shadows paused as the song ended. Callan’s eyes were fixed on her own behind his mask of forest green, his hands still holding her to him. She stepped in closer to him so she could whisper in his ear. “This is only a glimpse of who I am, Callan, and you can hardly stand to face it. The light is easy to love, isn’t it? But what of the darkness? What would you do with all of me?” Finn and Sloan were behind him, and she sent her shadows creeping towards them.

She felt a hand on her elbow. “Dance with me, Scarlett.”

“Yes, please quit hogging the Crown Prince all to yourself.” There was Eliza, taking Callan’s hand and pulling him away and across the hall to dance. Callan’s eyes were still on her though.

“Scarlett.”

She finally broke Callan’s stare and turned to Sorin. He was in what she had come to realize was his usual attire—charcoal gray pants, red tunic, and black jacket. His mask was red with gold and only covered his eyes.

She sighed, noting where Cyrus had stopped in the crowd when Sorin had reached her. He stood, waiting for a signal from his prince.

“You have duties to attend to Sorin. I will have Cyrus escort me back.”

“You will go be alone on a night the dead are free to roam?” A small smile graced his lips.

She did not return it.

“I feel as if I am one of them anyway. Maybe I would enjoy their company.”

Sorin’s face turned hard, and he clenched his jaw. “One dance.”

“You have people to greet and speak with, Sorin.”

“I can take a break.” He extended a hand to her as another song began, a slow paced ballad.

She sighed again and took his hand. “I do not need a keeper.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, Princess,” he said, pulling her to him.

They danced in silence for the first minute. She felt herself gradually relax as he led her around the floor, her hand grasped gently in his and held to his chest. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.” She felt ice rise in her again, and a moment later heat warmed her hand.

Another beat of silence. “Numerous people have asked who you are this evening.”

“Oh? And what did you tell them?” she asked, arching a brow behind her mask.

“That you are darkness incarnate and blessed by Saylah herself,” he said with a shrug.

“You did not,” she scoffed, pinching his shoulder where her other hand rested, her mouth quirking to the side.

He grinned at her, relief seeming to pass over his eyes as he tugged her closer. She could feel every inch of him pressed up against every inch of her. “I thought of telling them you are the most stunning female in this room.”

“They can clearly see that, although Eliza might take that title this evening,” she said with a small smile, her eyes snagging on the female dancing with Callan on the other side of the hall.

“No, she doesn’t,” Sorin said, his voice low and husky.

Her eyes went back to his, where she found him looking at her like she was the only person in the room. She felt her cheeks flush and was suddenly glad for the mask, but she held his gaze. They said nothing for the rest of the dance, and their eyes did not leave each other. The world melted away, as though it were just them. The only two stars in the sky.

When the song ended, she went onto her tiptoes to whisper in his ear. “When you are done with your princely duties this evening, come find me.” She let her shadows curl around his ear as she stepped from him, turning to make her way to the doors.

She was nearly to them when Cyrus fell into step beside her. “Leaving so early?”

“Stay, Cyrus. Enjoy yourself. As I’ve repeatedly told your prince, I do not need a keeper,” she replied, the guards opening a door for her.

“Perhaps not, but I’d love to keep you company,” he said coyly, his tone becoming sensuous and flirty, attempting to lighten her mood as he followed her through the doors.

She paused in the hallway, looking over her shoulder at him. She smiled, a cruel thing, as her shadows darkened around her. She sent them swirling to him, and the guards at the doors shrank back, looking to Cyrus for orders. “Show me your darkness, and I’ll show you mine, Darling.”

She saw Sorin emerge from the doors, Eliza and Rayner coming up behind him a moment later, but Cyrus held up a hand to halt him. Sorin signaled the guards to close the doors, which they promptly did. Cyrus stepped farther into her shadows, flames wreathing his own wrists and winding through his hair, swirling with her shadows. “Darling, my darkness was left in a clearing, exacting revenge for my love, who was slaughtered in front of me. I can certainly dredge it back up if that’s what you desire, but I find it much more fitting to unleash it on my actual enemies.” Scarlett saw the others stiffen. Her own shadows seemed to freeze in place. He took another step towards her. “We all have shadows, Scarlett. We all have nightmares. We all have regrets. We all have darkness. You get to decide how much control that darkness gets over you.”

Scarlett held his eyes. “What was her name?” she asked softly.

“Thia.” The pain that flashed across his face was heart-wrenching.

“How?”

She could tell he understood the question. Not how did she die, but how did he continue to laugh? How did he continue to put one foot in front of the other? How did he not let the darkness win?

“Time. It’s hard to see a way out,” he said softly. “Most do not understand that the darkness can be beautiful, but you don’t learn that until you’ve come to understand that the darkness is not something to defeat but something to befriend. All stars are born in the dark, Scarlett. The darkness allows us to see them. You decide if they are worth fighting for.”

Her shadows swirled, and Cyrus let his flames mingle with them. She held his gaze as she said quietly, tears glimmering in her eyes, “My mother was slaughtered in front of me when I was nine. Slowly. I hear her screams of pain in my sleep, but they get overshadowed by the constant replaying of when I was forced to kill my sister by plunging a dagger into her heart to save a little girl after I was raped in exchange for the freedom of my family.”

“Holy fuck,” she heard Eliza mutter in horror.

“Mikale visited me tonight, before the feast, touching me. His hands roaming where they willed. He told me that if I figured out who had my mother killed, I would figure out who is behind the attacks on my people in Baylorin. I either feel nothing at all or I feel everything all at once, and I can’t decide if it’s truly worth it any more, Cyrus. I sometimes don’t believe I will find my way back.”

Sorin began striding to her in an instant, but Cyrus gripped her hands first and replied, “I’ll let you in on a secret, Darling. The stars are always worth fighting for.”

A fire portal burst to life behind her. Sorin scooped her into his arms and stepped through.