Page 155 of Lady of Ashes

“Did you think the same thing when you sent me away?” he asked.

Scarlett had been climbing off the bed and getting to her feet, but she stilled at his words.

“Yes,” Hazel answered. “It was the only way I could let you go, and it is the only way I survived the last twenty-?ve years.”

“Yet you are here now. Because what? It is the bestdecision?”

“Because a young queen reminded me that hope is for the dreamers, and while I will not ask for your forgiveness or apologize for my choices, I do dream of knowing my son.”

CHAPTER 34

CALLAN

Callan pushed the door shut to his bedroom, not really caring if it latched or not. He’d told his night guard that only Tava was allowed into his suite, but he doubted she’d show up tonight.

He’d only seen her for a few brief moments over the last few days. His mother had been keeping her busy with wedding preparations, and when she wasn’t with the queen, her father seemed to be monopolizing her time. Callan didn’t particularly like that, considering he was in league with Mikale and Veda, but Drake promised he was keeping an eye on her.

He unbuckled the weapons belt he had around his waist, before toeing off his boots.

“Hello, Callan.”

Callan swore as he whirled towards the hearth.

She stood there, the shadows of the crackling ?re dancing around her. Then again, maybe they were her shadows. She was clad in black. Just like she’d always been all those nights ago. Weapons in place. Hood up. A silver braid snaking over her shoulder. Toying with a dagger in her hand.

He just stared at her for a long moment, and she stared back from beneath that hood, waiting for him to make the ?rst move apparently.

“You need to stop sneaking in here,” he said lamely.

She idly spun the tip of her dagger against her ?ngertip. “I no longer need to sneak in, Prince.”

“I suppose you wouldn’t,” Callan agreed, his tone tight. “What are you doing here?”

“While I do not need to sneak into the castle, there are other places I do need to get into, that have wards to keep me out,” she said. She slid the dagger into … wherever she hid all those godsdamn weapons of hers. She crossed her arms and leaned a hip against the wall. “Seems a little backward to me that the castle doesn’t have wards at this point, but I digress. It did make this little meeting easier.”

“What are you doing here?” he repeated.

“We are in need of your assistance.”

“We?”

“You did not think I would let her travel alone, did you?”

Callan whirled again at the dark voice that spoke from the shadows behind him. Sorin stepped into view, a wicked, sensuous smile on his features as he looked Callan up and down once with disinterest.

“Don’t be a prick, Sorin,” Scarlett sighed, pulling her hood back.

“I have done nothing.”

“Look,” Scarlett said, drawing Callan’s attention back to her. “There is something I need, and we have reason to believe Mikale has it.”

“And?” Callan asked.

“Andthere are wards around the Lairwood Estate so I cannot Travel onto the property.”

Callan crossed his arms. “I fail to see how this affects me or my people.”

“You cannot be serious,” Scarlett replied. When Callan just stared stoically at her, she said, “Callan, they … They want your throne.”

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