Page 78 of Lady of Starfire (Lady of Darkness #5)

The only light was the moon, shining brightly in the cloudless sky. She turned, her hair fluttering in the breeze. The soft smile she gave him made his chest tighten. “You being with me tonight was enough, Callan.”

One hand was intertwined with hers, and he dipped his other hand into his pocket, fingering the three items he carried with him everywhere.

He pulled out one of them and held it up before her.

The chain was silver and hanging from it was an amulet of white sapphire.

Three interlocking circles side-by-side. Falein’s symbol.

Tava sucked in a sharp breath. She lifted a hand as if to reach for it, but then drew it back, fingers covering her mouth instead. The moonlight reflected off the sapphire, and with it, he could just make out the faint, shimmering silver dust contained within.

“What is that?” Tava breathed.

He smiled, extending the necklace to her. “Arianna calls it energy. I simply call it magic.”

Callan had asked the Beta to make him the piece of jewelry.

When he had explained to Arianna what he wanted, she had taken him to a room in their palace full of finery.

She’d gone straight to a cabinet full of jewels and told him to pick one, that she would shape it into whatever he desired.

He’d chosen a white sapphire, knowing she wouldn’t want the flashiness of a diamond, but needing something white and pure that would reflect her light.

Arianna had shaped it as he’d asked, and when she’d slipped it onto the silver chain and handed it to him, she’d said, “I made a few enhancements. I hope you do not mind.”

“What does it do?” Tava asked, tentatively reaching for the necklace again.

Callan shrugged. “As far as I can tell, it simply adds the Beta’s flair to her creation.”

Tava laughed softly. “It is beautiful, Callan.”

He motioned for her to spin, and she lifted her hair so he could clasp the necklace around her neck. She turned back, fingers already sliding the amulet back and forth on the chain.

“Thank you,” she whispered, pressing onto her toes to kiss him.

His fingers tangled in her hair as he slid a hand to cup the back of her head. “I meant what I said earlier, Tava,” he murmured onto her lips.

She pulled back a little to see him better. “About what?”

“You are already their queen.” His hand dipped into his pocket again.

“We simply need to make it official.” She took a step back, eyes wide as she stared at the ring he held between his thumb and forefinger.

A sapphire of the deepest blue was flanked by two diamonds on either side, all set in a band of gold.

Arianna had made this for him as well. “I spoke with Drake last night,” Callan said. “He gives his blessing.”

“Callan, we cannot—”

“I know I said when this war was over I would make you my wife at the first opportunity, but I realized that is ridiculous. You are already their queen, Tava,” he repeated. “What is the point in waiting?”

“There is no way to get a union sanctified,” she said, fingers fiddling with the amulet at her throat. “We cannot approach a Divine. Not with the state of things.”

His lips curled into a grin. “Juliette can do it.”

Divines were the priests who were said to be able to communicate with the gods and unite two souls in marriage. Callan didn’t know if the Divines of the mortal lands could truly do such a thing, but Juliette, as an Oracle, certainly could.

“This is madness, Callan,” she said.

“Is it?” he countered. “I know you cannot wear it at the manor. I can keep the ring here with me, but we would know. Drake would know. Juliette and Azrael. You would still need to be crowned, of course, but so do I. We can hold the coronations together. When this is over.” She said nothing, eyes going from his face to the ring and back again.

“If you want a grand ceremony, we can do that later as well,” he added.

“I do not wish for that,” she said softly. He’d known she wouldn’t want such a thing. In fact, he knew that a small, intimate union would be exactly what she’d want.

“What do you wish for?” he asked, taking her hand and pulling her back into him.

“You,” she whispered.

“Done,” he replied, brushing his lips across hers. “What else?”

She huffed a small laugh. “You think there is more I desire?”

“I told you, Little Fox. I will never deny you a thing.”

An hour later, a thick gold band with small alternating sapphire and diamonds inlaid along the entirety of it was on his finger. He’d asked Arianna to make him a set, and the Beta had again taken his request and made it her own.

Juliette had randomly appeared by the stream—conveniently with Drake, Azrael and Arantxa in tow—and here they stood. The union complete. He had a wife and a queen.

Drake was hugging his sister, murmuring congratulations into her ear. Then he reached to shake Callan’s hand. The moment their hands touched, Juliette sucked in a sharp breath. Startled, they all turned to face her, Callan reaching to tuck Tava into his side.

Juliette was staring beyond them, but when Callan glanced over his shoulder, there was nothing there. Her eyes were a vibrant violet and were nearly glowing.

“She sees things she does not understand,” Arantxa said, stepping between Juliette and the rest of them, a hand on the dagger at her hip. “Glimpses of truth. Glimpses of what could be.”

“Is it like the winds speaking to Ashtine?” Tava asked.

“No,” Azrael said. “This is different. The winds are wild and whisper of whatever they please. The Fates use Oracles to speak for them, to push for a destiny they desire.”

Juliette blinked. The faint glow of her eyes receded, but they remained a darker shade of violet. She swallowed, her throat bobbing with the motion. “When Scarlett took the wards down around the mortal lands …”

Everyone went utterly still.

Her gaze settled on Drake. “Your once-father said you do not understand the cost.”

“I recall,” Drake said slowly.

Juliette looked between the three mortals. “It would be wise to learn that cost before nothing can be done.”