Page 54 of Stars Above the Never Sea (The Last Faeyte #1)

Ryn inhales. “My mother was dead, struck down as she tried to shield us. My father was still fighting, but he was about to lose. That final blow was upon him, but Callan intercepted before it could strike. He fought off one of his own to help us. Shouted for me to take Leesa inside, and he carried our father in. Told me to bar the door until it was over.”

His smile is not quite a smile. “He has helped us often, over the years. My father has been ill for a long time. Callan made sure that we were not forgotten in the chaos. Perhaps— perhaps it was a redemption for him, and if it were down to me, I’d believe he’s earned one.

But regardless of the reason, I am grateful. For Esa and my father especially.”

I force myself not to look in Callan’s direction. “I’d like to see Leesa again.”

“She’s with Merrick this afternoon, for her lessons. She’s no child anymore, though. None here that day remained so.” He stands, lifting his hand in greeting at a call from ahead of us.

When Rio jogs over, I find a genuine smile lifting my lips. Ryn vanishes back inside with a murmured farewell, and I curl my hands around the parchment Jonas gave me before slipping it into the pocket of my frock-coat.

He grins at me, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I hear you have a preference for your guard rotation. Tobias is quietly furious.”

“You’re not in trouble, I hope?”

“No.” He sighs. Callan joins us, brushing his hands together to try to rid of the black ashy marks that coat them. “But I do come with a message.”

He hands me another wheat-colored scroll, set with a deep green wax seal. When I slide my nail beneath and unroll it, my eyes scan the spiked letters before dread crawls up my throat. “It appears I’ve been invited to a private dinner tomorrow evening.”

Beside me, Callan stiffens. I hand him the note. His fingers curl around it, but he doesn’t look down. “With Petyr?”

When I nod, his jaw turns to rock. “I see.”

Ignoring him, I focus on Rio. The parchment in my pocket is calling my name, but I find myself curious. “Was there any mention of why?”

He shrugs. “Tobias only gave me the note, and strict orders to give it to you.”

“Fine.” Ignoring the glowering, bronze-eyed male beside me, I make for the path that heads up to the temple. “We should head back. I’m tired.”

“Selene.”

I don’t look at him. “I was invited. I have to go.”

“Not that.” Callan catches my hand, tugs me to a stop and turns me. He searches my face. His voice is low, and behind him, I catch sight of Rio turning, giving us his back. A whistle fills the air. “You were right. There is more—always more that can be done. But there is much that you don’t know.”

The wind has raised a flush on his cheeks, a smudge against his golden skin from the work he was helping with at the hearth. “Would you tell me these things?”

He squeezes my hand. “I would, but they are not mine to share. But I am trying. If that’s not enough, then I’m sorry for it.”

I study him. Emryn, and Leesa, and Jonas—they are alive because of him. “The day of the Shift, you said you were following, but you didn’t get to me in time.”

Because he stopped. Stopped to help a man and his children, not knowing how it would one day come back to this moment. To Jonas, in the bed, and to the parchment in my pocket with my name written upon it.

He looks as if he’s in pain. His eyes close, his chin lifting. “I wish that I had.”

You cannot escape your fate . “You were meant to be there that day, Callan. Not for me. For them.”

I pull the parchment from my pocket. “Jonas gave me this. The Mother gave this letter to him before the Caelumnai ever arrived. He’s been waiting for me to come back for ten years, so he could give it to me. And if you had not stopped, they would be dead, and I would never have received it.”

A full circle, dictated by fate.

At Callan’s shocked expression, I put the parchment away.

He stiffens when I throw my arms around him. Arms gingerly close around me, before they tighten. Callan’s hand spreads across my lower back, splayed beneath my wings. “What’s this?”

He saved them.

My cheeks warm as I pull back and avoid his eyes, suddenly embarrassed. “It seems that you have a role to play in my fate, whatever it is.”

For some reason, those words don’t sound right. They sound awkward, and uncomfortable. But they seem to cause him some sort of amusement. “I believe so, yes. Although I’m not sure we’re completely aligned on what that role might be.”

Pursing my lips, I keep walking. Thoughts tumble through my head, so many threads that my head spins trying to keep track. “You were supposed to be there that day.”

That much is clear, at least.

“Yes.” His strides match mine, both of us moving at a quick pace. “And I believe we were supposed to meet again, on Volatus .”

My nod is slow agreement. “Let’s hope the letter might reveal more. Perhaps I’ll read it when I get back.”

“ Selene .” He stops me again. Rakes a hand through his hair once more, tugging at the strands as if in frustration. “I don’t want you to have dinner with him.”

I look behind us. Rio looks as though he’s suppressing a laugh. “He’s not going to hurt me, Callan. Not when he needs me for the Never.”

Although I doubt he’ll be pleased at my lack of progress. “Rio can come with me. Or you.”

Rio coughs into his fist. “I can wait outside the door.”

“Not helping,” Callan snaps at him. “I haven’t been invited. No doubt intentionally.”

Bemused, I blink. “I don’t understand.”

Callan’s mouth opens. And then he shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter. But I’ll take you tomorrow.”

It takes me a moment to nod. “All right.”