Page 190 of Lady of Ashes

“It’s only one,” a man yelled from the back. “We can handle one.” Callan looked down at Tava, and she was already shaking her head.

He could see the pleading in her eyes, begging him not to do what he was about to, but there was really no other way out of this.

“I am sorry, Tava,” he murmured, before releasing his arm from around her and pulling back his hood. There were audible gasps and curse words muttered. He was recognizable enough, even in torchlight. “If any of you lay a ?nger on any of us, know that we have more royal guards waiting for our return. There will be no hesitation if they need to come for us.”

Hatred emanated from the mob before him, and the man who had been speaking spat at their feet. He pointed his knife at Tava again. “If you ever come back here again,angel, we will kill you. Get the fuck out.”

The crowd slowly backed away, giving them space to move down the walkway. Sloan kept himself positioned between Callan and Tava and the crowd, but the men didn’t move to attack or pursue them. They didn’t know it was only Finn waiting for them to return, and apparently, they didn’t want to risk bringing more of the royal guard into the slums. Callan had Tava’s hand gripped ?rmly in his, and his grip didn’t loosen, not even when Finn and the horses came into sight.

“What happened?” Finn asked, instantly drawing his weapon when he saw their hoods down and swords out.

“It was a fucking trap,” Sloan growled, reaching for the reins of his horse.

“Are you all right?” Finn asked, his gaze swinging to Callan and Tava.

“We are ?ne,” Callan replied, reaching to help Tava onto the horse.

“Let’s just get out of here.”

Within seconds, they were mounted and had the horses moving down the streets at a quick pace. Callan didn’t breathe easier until they were back in the Elite District, and he didn’t want to thinkabout what kind of prince that made him. That he didn’t feel safe among his own people. No, he didn’t have it in him to contemplate that tonight.

“Please take me home,” Tava said quietly. The ?rst words she’d uttered since leaving the slums.

“If that is what you wish,” Callan said.

A few minutes later, he was helping her dismount and walking her to her front door. It was locked, as one would expect it to be at this hour of the night. He was about to ask if there was another door they should try, but Tava brought her gloved hand up, banging on the door.

“Drake!” she called, something cracking in her voice. She was banging her ?st again. “Drake! Let me in!”

She kept banging on the door, until it was yanked open, Drake standing there shirtless, in loose pants, and barefoot. “Tava? What are you—”

Tava said nothing, pushing past her brother and moving inside and up the grand staircase before disappearing down the hall.

Drake turned to Callan. “What happened?” he demanded. He looked furious. Protective. Ready to defend his sister against whatever threats were plaguing her.

Callan pulled his gloves off, placing them in a pocket of his cloak. “Will you allow me to speak with her?”

“No,” Drake said immediately. “Not until you tell me what has happened. Is she hurt? Is she all right?”

“She is not hurt,” Callan reassured him. “We had … an unexpected night.”

“Explain,” Drake snarled.

“I cannot,” Callan replied. “Not without betraying her con?dence, which I am unwilling to do.”

“I did not even know she was gone,” Drake said, carving a hand through his golden hair. “I got in late. Her door was closed. I assumed she was asleep. No one said anything.”

“Your previous resident taught her many ways to leave this house unnoticed,” Callan said.

Drake sighed. “Of course she did.”

“May I go speak with her, please? If not, I will wait in the sitting room until she comes down.”

Drake studied him for a moment, his stare nearly as piercing as his sister’s. “Third door down on the right,” he ?nally said, nodding towards the stairs.

“Thank you, Drake,” Callan said, clapping him on the shoulder when he stepped past him and headed up the stairs. When he came to her door, he knocked softly.

“I do not wish to speak right now, Drake,” Tava called out, a slight quaver in her voice.

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