Page 233 of Lady of Ashes

Callan couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face as they continued to follow Finn’s horse in front of them. Sloan trailed behind, keeping them in the middle. And for just a moment, he let himself imagine it. Let himself imagine building something with someone who wouldn’t slip out before the sun rose. Someone who he wouldn’t have to meet in secret or with masks on. Someone who he wouldn’t have to hide in the shadows but who he could be seen with in the light.

Minutes later, they were passing the gates to the Lairwood Estate. The guards had been noti?ed by Drake they were coming. What lie he had told them, Callan had no idea, but they didn’t question anything when he helped Tava down from his horse. Sloan told them to keep the horses out, that this would not be a long visit.

Hopefully that would be the case.

They went around to a side entrance where Drake was waiting. Tava was ushered through ?rst, and he immediately reached up to push back his sister’s hood. “You all right?” he asked her tightly.

“I am ?ne, Drake,” she said, patting his cheek lovingly. “I do not like that you are a part of this.”

“Need I remind you thatyoumade me a part of this the night Cassius brought a Wraith of Death through our servant’s entrance?” she asked, a brow arching as she pulled her gloves off and stuffed them in her cloak pockets.

“No, you do not need to remind me of that,” Drake scowled, his focus turning to Callan and the others. “Most of the staff have retired for the evening. But even still, be discreet.”

“We all know what to do,” Sloan said. “Let’s get on with it.”

No one said anything as they all made their way into the house. Drake and Callan turned to the stairs, Tava following. When they reached the second ?oor, Drake turned to his sister.

“Come, Tava,” he said, motioning for her to follow him down the hall. “I will go with Callan,” she said, turning to continue climbing the stairs.

“Tava—”

“I have her,” Callan said, cutting him off. “Do not worry. She will not leave my sight.”

Drake pressed his lips together, clearly unhappy with how this was going.

“We do not have time to debate this, Drake,” Tava said, moving up the steps. “Go.”

Drake watched her for another few seconds before turning and heading to the ?rst room. Callan could swear he heard him muttering under his breath something about “get rid of the assassin and still have a mouthy woman bossing me around.”

Callan quickly caught up to Tava, and as he fell into step beside her, he reached for her hand. He felt her stiffen slightly before allowing her ?ngers to intertwine with his.

After inspecting the ?rst three rooms, it quickly became apparent this portion of the ?oor was guest rooms.

“I cannot imagine it would have gotten shoved into a guest room,” Tava said when they moved to the room across the hall from one they had just searched.

“What if they did not keep it at all?” Callan said.

“That is a possibility,” Tava conceded. “But again, we need to start somewhere. Scarlett was adamant about ?nding it.”

She moved to the nightstand beside the bed, pulling open drawers and quickly ri?ing through sparse contents. Callan did the same in the small armoire. There really were not any other places to look through, so they made their way back out to the hall.

“There was another set of stairs,” Tava mused in a hushed tone when they came upon a bathing room.

“What?” Callan asked, opening the cabinet doors above the sink.

“Off to the side of the main stairs,” Tava said, crouching down to look through drawers. “There was a small staircase. I think we should go back and see where it leads. Honestly, searching a guest wing is likely pointless.”

“All right.” He had to agree with her logic on this. If the Lairwoods thought the amulet was worth something, it wouldn’t be hidden here. It would be kept somewhere safe. And if they’d thought it was just a piece of junk, they would have tossed it, and this entire escapade was a waste of time.

He led Tava back to the main staircase, and she pointed to a small stone archway off to the side. There was indeed a narrow staircase that seemed to spiral upwards.

He went first, her hand once again clasped in his. The staircase wound up, and Callan began to wonder how much longer it would go on when they finally reached the top landing. There was a single door at the top that was slightly ajar. But as they drew closer, Callan saw it was ajar because it could no longer latch. The handle appeared to be … melted.

“Oh my gods,” Tava whispered, sucking in a breath. A hand came to her mouth, her eyes widening.

“What is it?” he asked, his body tensing in alarm.

“This is where he kept her,” she whispered.

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