Page 234 of Lady of Ashes

“What?”

“Scarlett,” Tava said, taking a tentative step forward. “This is where Mikale kept her before Sorin … He did that.” She pointed to the melted door handle.

Call it curiosity, but he found himself moving forward. He carefully pushed the door open, the hinges creaking slightly, and they both stilled.

The room was small and sparse. An uncomfortable-looking bed took up much of the space. There was a small bath off to the side. A dresser and armoire stood on one wall. A nightstand was on either side of the bed. There was one small window to the right, but there was nowhere to go this high up.

Tava stepped farther into the room. “We …” She trailed off, seemingly to collect herself before trying again. “We may as well check the room since we are up here,” she whispered, as if speaking would alert spirits they were here.

Callan couldn’t blame her. This room felt haunted. Like the shadows that followed Scarlett were born here.

Tava moved to the nightstands while Callan made his way to the dresser.

Gods, even the air in here was sti?ing. It wasn’t warm by any means. There weren’t even ashes in the darkened hearth. The room was drafty and cold, but the air was … heavy with whatever had happened in here.

“Callan,” Tava called softly. Her tone had him shoving the empty drawer he was looking through shut and moving to her side. But before he’d reached her, a cold voice had them both spinning towards the bathing room.

“Somehow I am not surprised that it is you two that have found this room.”

Veda Lairwood stood in the doorway. She was in a black dress, her hair unbound and loose around her shoulders. But the two long knives she held in her hands had Callan shoving Tava behind him and drawing his short sword.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded, not knowing what else to say because whatwasshe doing here? She was supposed to be gone, out of the city.

“What amIdoing here?” Veda asked, a sharp laugh escaping her. “I live here, your Highness. Your turn.”

She leaned casually against the bathing room doorway, appearing to wait for his answer. When he didn’t say anything, she shrugged, apparently unconcerned.

“We knew, you know,” she said. “We knew you were searching for something. We just didn’t know what. It was clever though. Getting Mikale sent on that tour to Toreall. Getting two of us out of the way in one shot.” A chilling smile curled up on her lips. “Of course, it also paved the way for this perfect little trap.”

“What do you want?” Callan demanded, trying to slowly move himself and Tava towards the door.

Her head cocked to the side. “What I have always wanted, Callan. To be your queen.”

“Why?”

Her brows ?ew up. “Why does any noble lady wish to be a queen?”

“You are not a noble lady,” he countered.

“Rude,” Veda pouted, taking a step into the room. “I am more of a noble lady than that one you are hiding behind you. Where I am from, I may as well be a princess.”

“Then go back,” Callan bit out.

Veda scoffed. “We do not wish to go back. We were promised this world once our task is completed.”

“Then why is it so important to be my queen?” Callan pressed, trying to keep her talking as they inched closer to the door.

Veda sighed heavily. “It is simply easier with one of us on the throne, but you two certainly managed to ruin that, didn’t you? He was very unhappy with this little development.”

“He? Mikale?”

“Mikale,” Veda scoffed. “My brother is not who we answer to.”

“The Assassin Lord then?”

The ?icker of surprise that passed over her face was gone as quickly as it appeared. “You learned much in your time away.”

“I learned enough,” he answered.

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