Page 167 of Lady of Starfire

“Has Balam said anything?”

Her lips pursed. “Only that this was necessary to keep us safe. That someday, we would understand. When Drake pushed for more, he refused. He knows he makes us uncomfortable, so he keeps his distance.”

They spoke little after that. She was on edge, still clearly upset about what had been said in the clearing, but the moment some of the people noticed her, word quickly spread that she was here. Soon, they were surrounded by people calling greetings. Callan watched as her entire being relaxed. Tension eased. Her real smile returned.

The people glanced at him, eyes widening in recognition, but Tava put them at ease all the same. She passed out blankets and asked about various people by name. She would discreetly fill Callan in on the families. She knew them all. Knew which children belonged to which parents. Knew who had been ill, who had been looking for soap, and who had been needing a few extra pairs of socks. She introduced him to all of them. He’d never remember them all. Not right away. He’d try, and he’d feel terrible when he fumbled names and information, but he also knew she’d be there too. That it truly was no longer his people, but their people. They’d always been more her people than his anyway.

Later, when they were taking a moment to themselves before they rejoined Drake and Azrael, they were wandering beside a small stream when he said, “I have something for you.”

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?”

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