Page 145 of Lady of Shadows

Eliza gave him an amused smirk, and she sat back in her chair, crossing her arms. “What would you like to know?”

“Does it matter? You will not answer my questions anyway.”

Eliza gave a soft laugh. “I tell you what, Princeling. I shall give you a free pass. I will answer three questions today. As long as it will not reveal any secrets of my prince or queen or endanger this Court.”

“No making me dig in a book first?”

“Would you like to dig in books first?”

Callan narrowed his eyes at Eliza, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Everything with the female had always been a trap or a test. “Is Scarlett avoiding me?”

“I don’t know.”

“Bullshit. You are friends. I saw you embrace her after her argument with Sorin.”

“That was not an argument,” the general replied as she reached for another of Scarlett’s books. “That was a fight. A gigantic fucking fight.”

“And they have…resolved their issues?”

She smiled slightly. “One could say that.”

“Where is she today?”

Eliza flipped a page of the book she was looking at. “Today? She has been quite the traveler today.”

“What does that even mean? She has gone down to the city? Is that where she was heading when she walked by the bridges?”

“No. That was not where she was heading, and the city is one place she has not been today.”

“I thought you were going to answer my questions,” he ground out.

Eliza flicked her gaze to him briefly before returning her attention to the book before her. “Today, human prince, Scarlett has been in the highest peaks of this mountain range, the formal dining room of this palace, the House of Water in the Water Court, and at this very moment, is in the Witch Kingdoms.”

Callan nearly fell out of his chair. “She is where?”

“Was something I said unclear?”

The Witch Kingdoms. He had read about that territory. He wasn’t sure which was more terrifying— the Witches or the Night Children. Having had the displeasure of interacting with Nuri a few times, he honestly couldn’t say.

“Why would she be in the Witch Kingdoms?” he said slowly.

“She went to visit the High Witch.”

“Why would Sorin let her go see the High Witch?”

At that question, Eliza stilled and slowly brought her eyes to his. “Sorin does notlether do anything.”

“Did he at least go with her?”

“Yes.Thatwas an argument, but she eventually relented.”

“Thank the gods for that,” he muttered.

“I’ve answered several questions for you today, Princeling. Now it is your turn,” Eliza said, returning to the book before her.

“I did not agree to such terms.”

“Then only answer if you wish. How long will you pine for her?”

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