Lady of Shadows (Lady of Darkness #2)

Chapter 24 Callan

CHAPTER 24

CALLAN

“D o you spend your entire day in here?” Scarlett asked, plopping a small stack of books onto the table.

Callan looked up, a little surprised. They had met in the library nearly every day in the weeks that had followed the Courtyard incident. The surprise was not that she was here, but that she was here so early in the day. Normally, she met him in training clothes later in the afternoon. She had explained she trained with Eliza in the mornings and had magic lessons with Sorin after lunch, so they had begun spending a couple hours before dinner together researching in the library. She wasn’t in training clothes today, though, either. She wore gray fitted pants with a soft blue sweater and a black cloak around her shoulders. Her hair was out of its usual braid and flowed down and around her shoulders.

She sank into the chair across from him, pulling a pear from her cloak pocket and taking a bite. “Are you sure they allow food in here?” he asked her with a raised brow.

“It’s a pear, Callan, not a four course meal,” she answered, pulling another from her pocket and tossing it to him.

He caught it with ease as he said, “You are early today.”

“Sorin has a meeting this afternoon with Talwyn so our magic lesson was canceled today,” she answered tightly.

“Talwyn is coming here?” Callan asked, stiffening.

“I do not know where they are meeting.” She pulled the book from the top of her stack and flipped the cover open.

“That would probably explain the three extra guards trailing me today,” he grumbled, returning to his own book before him.

“More than likely,” she said with a smile.

“I am surprised he does not have a dozen guards with you,” Callan muttered under his breath.

Scarlett looked up from her book and gave him an impish grin. “Oh, he does. They’re getting me more books.”

“Your guards are looking for books?”

“Levels below us,” she answered with a wink. “They were getting on my nerves.”

“Some guards,” Callan said with a huff.

“Maybe they learned from Finn and Sloan,” she crooned.

He looked up from his book and gave her an unimpressed smirk. She was staring at her own book, her hair falling like a silky sheet over her shoulder. He’d always loved her hair down, out of the braid that meant she was all business. She’d always seemed more relaxed when her hair was down.

He was about to comment on it when he noticed the book she was reading. “You can read that?”

She brought her eyes to his. They were pure icy blue today, made even bluer by the pale blue of her sweater. “I can. It is the Old Language of the Fae.”

“You learned it that quickly? I have been studying it here and there and find it incredibly complicated.”

“Apparently I was born knowing it,” she said with a shrug.

“Are all Fae born knowing the Old Language, then?”

“No. Only some,” she said, returning her eyes to the book.

“The most powerful ones,” he supplied.

“I suppose so,” she replied shortly.

He chose to take the strong hint in her tone and drop the subject. They sat together in silence for the next half hour, each left to their own books, when she sat back, tapping her fingers on the table. “Have you learned any more about what Deimas and Esmeray supposedly wanted across the sea? What supposedly set off the Great War?”

“That is incredibly random,” Callan said, sitting back in his own chair.

“Just something I’ve been thinking about. I mean, it’d have to be pretty big if they went to war over it.” She began twirling a piece of her silver hair around her finger absent-mindedly while her shadows curled around her arms.

“I have not, although I did read something that suggested Deimas and Esmeray were not the ones who isolated Avonleya, but that Avonleya set up a powerful enchantment to keep them out,” Callan remarked. She tapped her fingers on the table again.

“That would be a twist,” she murmured, seemingly more to herself than to him. “Deimas and Esmeray would have searched for the work around…and sought out help from the Fae. From her sisters.”

Interrupting her musing, Callan asked, “What do you mean a work around?”

Scarlett’s eyes came back to his, pulling her from her thoughts. “Sorin said there is always a work around to magic. Even enchantments and spells. Avonleya was apparently very powerful. More powerful than the Fae. Deimas and Esmeray would have sought the work around if whatever they were seeking was that important and valuable. Nothing else you can think of?”

“Not that I can recall, but I will look through my notes,” he offered.

“No, that’s okay,” she said with a wave of her hand. “If it’s only been mentioned once in all your research, it’s likely not truth anyway. Just speculation.” She leaned back over her own book, her hair falling around her once again.

Before he could stop himself, he blurted out, “Have dinner with me tonight.” She stilled. She seemed to stop breathing entirely as her eyes stayed fixed on the book before her. “It is just a meal, Scarlett, not a marriage proposal,” he added slyly. Her eyes dragged up to his at the words, and he forced a half smile at the scrutiny in them. Her damn hair swayed around her as she sat back in her chair once more. Still, she said nothing. “We can expand where we interact, can we not? I mean, for an entire year we met solely in my chambers. Now we seem to only speak in a library. We are allowed more than one location at a time, are we not?”

For an entire minute, she said nothing. Callan forced himself not to squirm under her intense gaze. She made no movement. It was a preternatural stillness he’d realized only Fae could achieve. He was about to tell her to just forget he’d said anything when she said slowly, “All right.”

“Really?”

The corner of her mouth twitched up. “It’s just a meal, right?”

“Right. Yes,” Callan fumbled.

“All right then. Send word as to when and where,” she said, returning to the book before her.

“I will.”

And despite himself, despite everything he knew deep down, he allowed a little part of himself to hope.

S CARLETT

Scarlett strode into Sorin’s chambers, two books tucked under her arm. She didn’t know why she hadn’t thought of it sooner. Books written in the Old Language likely had more history than those in the common tongue. She knew Talwyn had been meeting with Sorin and the other Royals today. About what she didn’t know. Her mind kept going back to what Callan had said about Deimas and Esmeray seeking something across the sea. She wondered if Sorin knew anything about that particular theory or what they might have been looking for. Maybe he’d be back by now and she could ask him about it.

She paused by the table to set the books down and said as she did, “Darling, what a pleasant surprise.” She’d sensed another presence as soon as she’d opened the door. She’d scented him a moment later.

Cyrus chuckled from the sofa in the room. “Hello, Scarlett. You didn’t read enough in the library today?”

She turned to face him, leaning against the table and crossing her arms. “As I’ve repeatedly told Sorin, there is no such thing as reading enough. Besides, it’s research.” She tapped the books in emphasis.

“Sorin said you were doing research with the mortal prince. You are spending a lot of time with him,” he commented too casually.

“Jealous, Darling? You’re simply taking too long to make your move,” she crooned with a smirk. Cyrus didn’t fall into their usual flirty banter, though, and the look on his face made her stomach flip-flop. “Where is Sorin?” she asked as nonchalantly as she could. “I thought you two were meeting with Talwyn this afternoon.”

“We did.” His tone was grim.

“How did it go?”

“Not well.”

She straightened, the dread in her stomach growing. “Where is he, Cyrus?”

“Not here.”

“Where is he?” she demanded again.

“He has gone where he goes to drink and brood. When he wants to do so alone.”

“I’m afraid he doesn’t get that option today. Where is he?”

Cyrus sighed. “I didn’t wait here to take you to him. I just wanted to let you know he likely will not be home until tomorrow sometime. So you wouldn’t worry. If you want someone else to stay in these chambers with you tonight, I will do so.”

“No. He does not get that option either. Where is he, Cyrus?”

“He will not let you in.”

“Cyrus!” she snapped, smoke curling in her mouth and her shadows darkening.

“Fine. He has a mountain home up in the highest peaks. He has wards all around it, and he doesn’t let any of us in. He goes there when he wants to be alone.”

“You mean when he wants to throw a fit,” Scarlett said. “Take me to him.”

“He will not let you in,” Cyrus repeated.

“The fuck he won’t. Take me to him.”

Cyrus, finally accepting she would not back down, sighed. “I cannot portal, Scarlett. I have no way to get you there.”

“Then summon Briar. He can make me a portal.”

Without a word, Cyrus reached up and sent a fire message to the Water Prince. A few minutes later, Briar stepped into the room. He bowed slightly to Scarlett. “I saw what happened today,” he said grimly.

“He is at the chalet, and she insists on going to see him,” Cyrus replied.

Briar’s eyes settled on her. “He will likely not let you in,” he said slowly.

“As I have already told Cyrus, he does not get that option. Take me to him,” Scarlett snapped, striding towards them. Cyrus and Briar exchanged a look and a water portal appeared.

All three of them stepped through, and Scarlett blinked at the brightness of the snow-covered mountainside. She had forgotten they were entering the cold winter months, that Winter Solstice was quickly approaching, and wished she’d had the foresight to grab that fur-lined cloak Sorin had gotten for her. Before them, nearly a quarter of a mile away, was indeed a mountain home. It was smaller than she had been expecting, but there was smoke coming from the chimney.

“We cannot portal any closer. His wards prevent it,” Briar said from beside her.

“He will not let you in, Scarlett,” Cyrus said again. “He has never let anyone else into that house.”

“No one?” she asked, turning to him incredulously.

“Only once,” Cyrus said gravely, his eyes studying the chalet.

Scarlett began walking, trudging through the snow. Sorin had come for her. Sorin, who did not leave her alone. Sorin, who had sat in the darkness with her so many times, who had pulled her from the river. She would climb down into his pits with him just as he had done for her.

She could feel Briar and Cyrus watching her as she made her way among the drifts. This was taking too long. She was also not wearing proper footwear for this, she thought as she looked down at her now soaking wet silk shoes. Not trusting her own power yet, she glanced over her shoulder at Cyrus, who sent a small flame ahead of her, melting a path to the front door. For Sorin, she could do this. She felt the zing of the wards push against her magic, but she punched through, picking up her pace on the now clear ground.

She finally reached the front door and knocked tentatively. There was no reply, but she could feel him somehow, on the other side of the door. She could feel his temper and his bleakness and his misery.

She knocked again, more firmly. This time she got a growled response telling whomever was at the door precisely what they could go do to themselves.

Brooding indeed.

She banged on the door with her fist. “If you’re going to throw a temper tantrum, Prince, at least let me drink with you,” she yelled through the door.

She felt him pause. “Tell your escorts nice try, but I will be home tomorrow.”

“I am not your damn messenger, and I demanded they bring me to you. They tried to deter me from coming. Let me in, Sorin,” she replied, wiggling the locked door handle.

“I will be home tomorrow, Scarlett,” he snarled back.

Scarlett.

Not Princess. Not Love.

She looked over her shoulder, biting her lip. Briar and Cyrus still stood, watching her. Cyrus's arms were folded across his chest. With her Fae sight, she could see his ‘I-told-you-so’ expression on his face.

Fine. He wanted to be a prick? She would play that game.

“Sorin Aditya, you stubborn ass, let me in!” she cried, banging her palm on the door.

Silence.

“I will sit out here. All fucking night, Sorin. I will sit here in the snow and the cold.”

“Tell Cyrus that if he does not take you home, I will kick his ass from here to Threlarion.”

“My home is wherever you are. If you demand I go home, I am already there. Let me in.”

Still, the door remained closed. He was really not going to let her in? After all they had been through? After all she had shared with him?

No. That wasn’t an option.

“You promised, you lying bastard!” she screamed now. She could feel the tears pooling in her eyes as she banged on that door with clenched hands. Her shadows wreathed her fists, the wood of the door groaning under each hit. “You promised you would not leave me alone in the darkness. You came for me, and I have come for you. I am yours, and you are mine. Let me in!”

She heard both Briar and Cyrus gasp at her words, but she didn’t care. Let them think what they wanted.

Then she heard Cyrus swear as that door slowly cracked open.

Sorin looked like every emotion she could feel emanating off of him. His eyes were hollow. His dark hair looked like he’d been running his hands through it repeatedly. He wore a short-sleeve tunic with his pants, his jacket presumably shucked off in the space behind him and his feet were bare.

“What do you want, Scarlett?” he asked after a long moment of silence, staring at each other. She could smell the liquor on his breath.

“Let me in, Sorin,” she whispered. She saw him glance behind her, and she peered over her shoulder. Cyrus and Briar stood, shock on their features.

“We can talk tomorrow,” he said, his eyes coming back to hers.

“Fine. Then I shall sit with you in the darkness. Let me in,” she said, trying to push past him. He was immoveable, though, not budging an inch. She reached up to touch his cheek, anything to bring him back to her, but he jerked out of her reach.

Oh, she recognized this kind of temper, and it did not scare her. She smirked at him. A smirk she knew would make him see red. His nostrils flared. “Go home, Monrhoe. I will be back tomorrow.”

“No, Aditya ,” she said with quiet calm. “Let me in.”

“I do not want company right now,” he growled.

“I do not care. You’ve shoved your face into my business when I didn’t want company numerous times,” she retorted, crossing her arms. “Let me in.” He did not move.

“Quit being a stubborn brat,” he ground out.

“Quit being an obstinate jackass,” she retorted. The two stared each other down, glaring at each other.

“So what? We will just sit here and get drunk together?” he asked with a sneer.

“If that is what you desire, yes.”

“And what if I desire something else?” His eyes raked over her, and she fought the urge to flinch. “Or is that reserved for your mortal prince?”

“Do not be a prick,” she growled. “You do not get to call me a whore because you’re having a hard day, but if that kind of release is what you need, I’ll go find someone for you to be with.”

He blinked at her, and she saw the flicker of surprise pass across his eyes before they became unreadable again.

“Tell me what happened.” She rubbed her hands over her arms, trying to warm herself. His eyes flickered as he noted the movement, her wet shoes, but he still did not move to let her pass.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because they are not your burdens to bear,” he snarled.

“So you will punish yourself by bearing them alone?” she snapped back. “That’s not how this thing works between you and me.”

“There is no you and me,” he hissed. Scarlett stilled at the venom in his words. “There is you, and there is me.”

“I don’t believe that for one second. We’ve been through too much together.”

“Then maybe that is my punishment, hmm? Going through all this trouble to get you here for nothing.”

The words slammed into her, and she stumbled backwards from him. “I understand that you had a shitty day, but that does not entitle you to be cruel to me, Prince of Fire.”

“I told you to leave. You did not listen,” he snarled, his face colder than she had ever seen it.

“So it gives you permission to speak to me like I am garbage?” she demanded. She could feel her shadows hovering at her fingertips, and she trembled with the effort to control them.

“You have called yourself that on more than one occasion,” he said with a shrug.

Tears burned in her eyes, but she refused to cry in front of him. Not this time. Not when he was the cause of it. Again.

He stared at her with cold indifference. She heard footsteps behind them, and Sorin’s eyes flickered to the movement. “Your escorts are coming to claim you,” he sneered, stepping back to shut the door.

“We are not done here!” she cried, spearing her shadows out from her to block the door from closing.

“Oh, I think we are. I have nothing else to say to you.”

“Then I have something to say to you,” she retorted, stepping right up to the threshold of the door, going onto her tiptoes so she was inches from his face. “You are a fucking coward. You crawled into the pits of hell for me, and when I come to claim you, to return the godsdamn favor, you shut me out. You push everyone who loves you away. You push me away. You say it is to protect us, to keep us safe, but it’s really to keep yourself safe. You know how I know that? Because we’re the same, you and me. We’re the same in every fucking way.”

And she couldn’t stop them. She couldn’t stop the tears from running down her face, hot and angry and full of hurt.

“You sit up here in this fucking house, throwing a fit, sulking and feeling sorry for yourself because you think you what? You deserve this? You deserve to suffer? To be alone? No one deserves that, Sorin. And I certainly do not deserve to be told I am a whoring piece of shit, least of all by you. The only person I have shared my darkest secrets with. You don’t get to call me trash when I am the one who risked baring my entire soul to you. Stupid? Na?ve? Maybe, but I am not your godsdamned punishment. I am not some piece of property that you have been inconvenienced with.

“If you do not want this thing we have, that is fine. I can find my own way. I do not need to stay here.” Her shadows swirled around her, a vortex of darkness. “I can find the stars somewhere else with someone who won’t toss me back into the river and shove my head under water when they have a bad day. Someone who won’t treat me like a fucking burden.”

Sorin’s face had paled. She felt a hand at her elbow and whirled to see Cyrus at her side, ire on his face. Briar stood next to him, just as furious. A water portal opened behind them.

Sorin stepped from the chalet, reaching for her, his fingers brushing her other hand. “Scarlett—”

“Do not touch me,” she spat, jerking her hand from him and stepping back into Cyrus. His arm curled protectively around her waist, and a shield of water sprang up between her and Sorin. “It is certainly not a necessity right now.”

“Scarlett, wait,” he tried again, his hand dropping to his side. He flung the door of the chalet open wide and stepped aside. “Come in. I will let you in. Come in. Please.”

“I have dinner plans with my mortal prince tonight,” she sneered. “I’ll see you when I see you.”

She turned to step through the portal, but she didn’t miss Cyrus's words to his Prince as she did so.

“You are a fucking idiot.”