Lady of Shadows (Lady of Darkness #2)

Chapter 45 Callan

CHAPTER 45

CALLAN

C allan sat at their usual table in the library, waiting. She hadn’t come to sit with him yesterday, and it appeared she wasn’t going to be coming today either, seeing as it was nearing the time she usually left to get ready for dinner. Tonight was supposed to be their weekly dinner, but he wasn’t holding his breath that she would show up at this point.

He had not seen her since their argument in the gardens. Well, that wasn’t true. He had seen her that morning striding for the front gates. He had called after her, but she had hardly paused. And when he had tried to follow, terrifying panthers of shadows had snarled and snapped at him before they continued trailing her out of the palace.

Of course, Sorin had been allowed to follow her.

Callan ground his teeth together at the thought. He was always allowed near her. He was always allowed to brush her fingers or stroke her hair. Meanwhile, he had to evaluate every gesture and word these last few months.

Apparently, it didn’t even matter anymore. She wasn’t planning to stay in Baylorin. She was going to leave after she saved the orphans. And she would. She would save them all, and then she would disappear. Not into shadows, but into flames and ashes. Into the arms of a Fae prince rather than a human one.

Callan slammed the book shut that was before him, swearing.

“I didn’t know you knew such language, Princeling,” came a feminine drawl from behind him.

He turned in his chair to find Eliza smirking at him. She was in her usual attire, bedecked in her weapons. “What do you want?” he snapped.

“You are in a mood today,” Eliza replied, sliding into the chair Scarlett usually occupied.

“Why would you deign to notice?”

Eliza clicked her tongue. “While your temper is cute and all, I reside with a prince whose temper literally elicits fire, so you don’t really scare me.”

“Is there a reason for your visit this afternoon? Or is it just to tell me about the amazing Fire Prince?”

Eliza studied him a moment before she asked cautiously, “Have you spoken to Scarlett today?”

“No. I tried to follow her, to speak with her, and she sent her panthers to stop me.”

“Yes, those are new and quite terrifying,” she mused with a grin of delight.

Callan shook his head. “You would get along well with those of the Black Syndicate.”

Eliza’s eyes snapped to him. “What would a prince know of the Black Syndicate?”

Shit. That was a secret that apparently had not been shared with Sorin’s Inner Court. How much did they even know about Scarlett’s past?

“I know the same as everyone else. It is where the darkest and foulest criminals and beings are trained and come from.”

Eliza gave him a suspicious look. “Do you know anyone from the Black Syndicate?”

“Do you?” he countered.

“No. Your turn,” she said with narrowed eyes.

When he did not reply, her eyes grew wide. “You do. You do know someone from the Black Syndicate. That is a tale I would love to hear.”

“Maybe someday I will share it with you,” he replied coolly.

“Color me impressed, Princeling,” she said as she shuffled through the books on the small table. “What exactly are you researching these days?”

“Those are Scarlett’s,” Callan answered tightly. “I have been reading up on the various territories.”

“Learn anything interesting?”

“Yes.”

When he didn’t elaborate, the general lifted her eyes to his. “Anything you’d like to share?”

“Anything you would like to share?”

Eliza gave him an amused smirk, and she sat back in her chair, crossing her arms. “What would you like to know?”

“Does it matter? You will not answer my questions anyway.”

Eliza gave a soft laugh. “I tell you what, Princeling. I shall give you a free pass. I will answer three questions today. As long as it will not reveal any secrets of my prince or queen or endanger this Court.”

“No making me dig in a book first?”

“Would you like to dig in books first?”

Callan narrowed his eyes at Eliza, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Everything with the female had always been a trap or a test. “Is Scarlett avoiding me?”

“I don’t know.”

“Bullshit. You are friends. I saw you embrace her after her argument with Sorin.”

“That was not an argument,” the general replied as she reached for another of Scarlett’s books. “That was a fight. A gigantic fucking fight.”

“And they have…resolved their issues?”

She smiled slightly. “One could say that.”

“Where is she today?”

Eliza flipped a page of the book she was looking at. “Today? She has been quite the traveler today.”

“What does that even mean? She has gone down to the city? Is that where she was heading when she walked by the bridges?”

“No. That was not where she was heading, and the city is one place she has not been today.”

“I thought you were going to answer my questions,” he ground out.

Eliza flicked her gaze to him briefly before returning her attention to the book before her. “Today, human prince, Scarlett has been in the highest peaks of this mountain range, the formal dining room of this palace, the House of Water in the Water Court, and at this very moment, is in the Witch Kingdoms.”

Callan nearly fell out of his chair. “She is where?”

“Was something I said unclear?”

The Witch Kingdoms. He had read about that territory. He wasn’t sure which was more terrifying— the Witches or the Night Children. Having had the displeasure of interacting with Nuri a few times, he honestly couldn’t say.

“Why would she be in the Witch Kingdoms?” he said slowly.

“She went to visit the High Witch.”

“Why would Sorin let her go see the High Witch?”

At that question, Eliza stilled and slowly brought her eyes to his. “Sorin does not let her do anything.”

“Did he at least go with her?”

“Yes. That was an argument, but she eventually relented.”

“Thank the gods for that,” he muttered.

“I’ve answered several questions for you today, Princeling. Now it is your turn,” Eliza said, returning to the book before her.

“I did not agree to such terms.”

“Then only answer if you wish. How long will you pine for her?”

“What?” he balked.

“Was my question confusing?”

“No.”

Eliza waited, flipping pages slowly.

Callan sighed. “I cannot help that I love her. I cannot help that, despite having tried to move on, no one comes close to her. I cannot help that a part of me will always hope she will come to my side and become my queen.”

“And what will it take to quell that desire?”

She did not look at him at the question. The general just continued to flip pages of that damn book.

“I suppose,” he said through gritted teeth, “that should she marry another than my hopes will die.”

“Where does she find these books?” Eliza asked suddenly, sitting straighter.

“I do not know. She has them with her when she arrives, but the last time… We went for a walk in the gardens and argued. She apparently did not come back for them,” Callan answered.

“She has had a busy couple of days,” Eliza murmured, half-listening as her eyes flew over the pages before her.

“What has happened?”

Eliza stood, her eyes still on the book. “If I know her at all, she will seek you out soon and explain everything. You truly do not know where she found this book?”

“No,” he said slowly. “Why? What is it about?”

“Blood magic. Old, ancient, powerful blood magic.” When she lifted her eyes to Callan’s, her gray eyes were a storm of shock and terror. “She knows far more than she is letting on. She knows where they’re coming from,” she whispered, more to herself than him.

“Where who is coming from?”

“I must go, Callan. I am so sorry. I will find you later.”

Callan could, once again, only stare as another female left him standing alone in the dark.