Page 45 of Stars May Fall

When I reached the top, most of the tension left my body, and I sat down in the nearest chair. Sunlight streamed through the windows, making it seem as if that dark, terrible place below us didn’t exist anymore.

The guards were still there, lingering at the door.

Meena thoroughly scouted the room as if expecting more unpleasant surprises. “We should leave.”

I faced Gregane as he emerged from the staircase, confident there’d be no tremor in my voice. “I would like the metal now, Mister Gregane. As per our agreement.”

He scowled at Meena, who was still giving him a murderous glare, and took his time going to a neighboring room to unlock a cupboard before taking a plain wooden box from the top shelf. He unlocked the box and took out a silk pouch. He handed it to Callum who shook out its contents: a small lump of black metallic rock.

Callum rotated it in the light of the window before rolling it over his palm and back into the bag. “And a list of its components?”

Gregane held up a finger and found an ink pen and paper. He scrawled a list and handed it over. “That’s everything. And that’s all I’m willing to tell you.”

Callum frowned over the list of words. I moved to peer over his shoulder. It seemed to just be a list of substances with only a few clues as to the amount. He looked back at Gregane. “What’s haemoferros?”

Gregane shrugged with a smug half-smile. “I told you before, if you don’t know haemalcomy, you won’t be able to make this.”

Callum just shrugged back and seemed satisfied. “Good thing we’re not making it then.” He threw the silk pouch into the air and caught it again as if we hadn’t just risked our lives for it. “Well, as pleasant as this visit has been, it’s time for us to go.”

I wondered if anything could ever dampen his cheerfulness.

Meena agreed and rested a hand softly on my arm as I stood, steering me to the front door. The footmen opened it to reveal Lord Lyrason climbing the wide marble steps.

We stopped in shock, as did Lord Lyrason. He looked up and down each of us in turn, his expression becoming stern. “What, by all the kingdoms, are you three doing at my house?”

My sense of victory vanished.

This had not been part of the plan.

KASTEN

Lunch in the throne room hadn’t been tolerable. Everyone’s voices had competed over each other in the wide echoing space. Lord Lyrason hadn’t lasted long either, and I saw his quiet departure after finishing his soup as the perfect chance to also excuse myself.

I admitted myself to one of the small empty side rooms and sat writing up the plans the king had requested for troop maneuverings along with individual orders. I was glad to have the excuse for some peace and quiet and, finally, make good use of my precious time. If I had to be apart from Sophie, I wanted it to be for a good reason, not for some useless drunken lunch in the throne room that was somehow meant to help the various members of the court conduct their business.

I signed off the orders to the first regiment and started on the second. A knock on the door made me glance up with a frown, ready to chase away any intruder. I was surprised to see Lord Venerick standing there alone.

I leaned back in my chair, softening my expression. I didn’t want to push Annabelle away, even if I wasn’t yet sure whether I liked this man or not. “I’m just preparing some paperwork that the king ordered. Can I help you?”

He glanced behind him down the corridor, seeming uncertain of himself. “Forgive my interruption, General. I don’t think anyone was sent to tell you, but I thought you should know.”

I straightened, becoming alert. “What’s happened?”

He clasped his hands together. “Lord Lyrason just returned to the palace with your wife and Callum Tavolyn. He’s taking them straight to the king. I understand they’ve had some sort of altercation.”

His words seemed to slow time as my brain struggled to register them. Sophie and Callum were here with Lord Lyrason, and he was taking them to the king? A trickle of panic threatened to turn into a torrent and drown my lungs. I didn’t want Lyrason anywhere near her.

She was in danger, and I wasn’t with her. I had promised to never let her life be at risk again.

I stood and knocked over the chair in my hurry. I nodded my thanks as I squeezed past Lord Venerick, and ran to the king’s office where he held most of his small personal meetings. The worst scenarios played over and over in my mind. The quiet hum of power in my blood intensified in response to my emotions.

Please let her be all right.

I let out a breath when I found Sophie standing in the corridor, looking at the closed double doors of the office. Some of the tension left my body, but I remained alert, taking in as much of the situation as I could. Sophie’s arms hung loosely at her sides, and she had an unusual stillness about her. Flanking her a step behind were Callum and Meena. All three looked calm and uninjured, though Sophie was wearing a dark blue dress I didn’t recognize and that seemed too long in the sleeves and skirts. She normally preferred pale colors. I would have bet anything that it didn’t belong to her. Her hair was hurriedly knotted at the back of her head instead of worn up in one of hernormal, more intricate hairstyles. Royal guards stood on either side of the doorway, and both seemed tense.

What was going on?

I strode up to Sophie and took her hand. Her large eyes looked up, caught by surprise, as I started to speak. “Sophie, are you hurt? What happened? What did he do to you?” I realized my other hand was gripping my sword hilt and removed it before the guards could become concerned.

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