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“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.

SCARLETT

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.”