Page 93

She didn’t notice that Callan had stepped closer to her, not until he gripped her elbow gently. She whirled, instinctively grabbing a dagger from her hip and bringing it to his throat. He froze, but a small smirk spread across his face. “I’m sorry,” she said, panic in her voice. She quickly lowered the dagger, “I didn’t— I wasn’t attacking you.”

“I know,” Callan said, and as she sheathed the dagger, he tugged her close to him. “I have only had one day to look into things. Give me more time.”

“More time means the possibility of more children going missing,” Scarlett said.

“If you are Monrhoe’s daughter…then you are from the Black Syndicate.” It was Scarlett’s turn to still. He was smart, this prince. While she had been pacing and muttering, he had figured out a puzzle of his own. “Is that where the children are disappearing from?”

“Yes,” she whispered. When Callan didn’t say anything, she asked, “Will you stop looking into it then? Because of where they come from?”

Callan cocked his head to the side. “The Black Syndicate is still part of our kingdom, Scarlett. I once told you my wish was to focus on the people within our borders, not on obtaining more. That includes those in the Black Syndicate.”

Scarlett rose up on her tiptoes and pressed a featherlight kiss to Callan’s cheek. “You are a rare gem indeed, Callan. I hope you remain so when you assume the throne.” She made to step back, but Callan slid a hand to her waist and held her against him. “More demands tonight, Prince?”

“Only one,” he said, and he lowered his mouth to hers.

He pulled back a fraction of an inch, and she whispered softly,“Dangerous territory indeed, Prince. This is a dark path you should not travel down.”

“Do not tell me what to do,” he snarled onto her mouth, “and do not call me that.”

This time when he brought his mouth to hers, she kissed him back. He tasted of something sweet that she could not place, and his spring rain and pine scent wrapped around her. She parted for him when he ran his tongue along her lips.

And so they stood in the dark, kissing in the shadows.

CHAPTER 28

SCARLETT

“Idid not stay that night. I had to return to take my tonic,” Scarlett said, staring into the fire. “But we continued to meet nearly every night. As we worked together, we became closer and closer. Rumors began to spread that Callan had a secret lover. I did not attend any other parties or galas. I couldn’t risk being seen at them. But it did not go unnoticed that his time and thoughts, and eventually his bed I suppose, were being occupied by someone.”

Sorin had been quiet the entire time she’d spoken, never interrupting once. Silence fell over them for long minutes. The only sounds were the occasional pop of the fire and the clock ticking on the mantel. Scarlett snuck a glance at him, wondering if she would see anything on his face. She shouldn’t have been surprised to see it carefully blank, his usual mask of indifference in place.

Finally he said, “Callan is the Crown Prince. Surely he could make whatever is keeping you apart disappear?” His voice sounded distant, hollow.

“I do not think that he could, and I do not want to be bound to a throne,” Scarlett answered.

“You do not wish to rule?” Sorin asked, a peculiar curiosity in his voice now.

“I would not rule,” Scarlett said. “Callan would. I would be his queen, sitting beside him at events, warming his bed, producing heirs.”

“Do you wish to rule?”

A dangerous question to ask.

Scarlett studied her hands, turning them over in her lap. “I wish to protect those I love. I wish to be in a place where I can protect those who cannot protect themselves and help those who cannot help themselves. I wish to be in a position where I can free those who find themselves locked in cages they do not want to be in.”

“You do not think you could do that from Callan’s side?”

“Maybe. He has a vision unlike any other, but…no. I do not think I could fulfill such a purpose as a Queen of Windonelle.” When Sorin did not respond for several minutes, Scarlett said, “Tell me of where you are from.”

“You know where I am from,” he answered, turning to look at her.

“I know you are from the Fire Court, buttellme about it,” she said.

Sorin leaned back casually on the sofa, stretching an arm behind her. Those golden eyes went distant as he started speaking, as if he could see his home. “I live in the capital city of the Fire Court, Solembra. The city is nestled in the heart of the Fiera Mountains and is beautiful. The Tana River runs through it. On one side of the Tana are the residential neighborhoods. The other side houses the merchants, shops, and businesses.”

“What types of businesses?” Scarlett asked.

“Everything,” he breathed. “Spices, weapons, jewelry, all manner of food, clothing.”