Page 49 of Lady of Ashes

“I suppose we will go tell Sorin what you learned and see what he thinks we should do,” Callan said, beginning to stand once more.

“And what will you do when you are king, Callan? Will you wait for someone else to ?x things for you?”

Callan stared incredulously at the Shifter Beta. “Forgive my rudeness, Lady, but you really know nothing of what you are talking about.”

“I have lived for centuries, young prince. I was born in the midst of the Great War. I was a child when my kind was given our gifts. I know more than you could ever imagine. I have seen mortal kings rise and fall. I have outlived Fae Queens and High Witches and Contessas alike,” Arianna said, something in her eyes turning ?erce.

“My family has ruled Windonelle since the kingdom was founded,” Callan countered.

“Yes, but Windonelle was not always its own kingdom, was it? The three mortal kingdoms were once ruled by one.”

“I do not know what you are trying to tell me, Arianna,” Callan said, failing to hide his irritation.

Arianna pushed to her feet, stretching her arms above her head. Then she reached out and cupped his cheek as she said, “There may be three separate kings on three separate thrones, but theyall follow the same path. I am merely suggesting that perhaps your destiny is another path, but it is not one that can be chosen for you. You must choose it yourself.”

“My path was chosen for me the moment I was conceived,” Callan replied, pulling away from the Shifter’s touch.

“And yet you were willing to forgo that path if Scarlett had accepted your proposal,” Arianna countered.

Callan pressed his tongue to his cheek at that, his eyes darting to the door as Tava entered, carrying an armful of books and papers. What was she doing here in the middle of the day? She caught Callan’s eye, and she bowed her head slightly, leaning back against the wall and clearly waiting for him to ?nish his conversation.

Arianna had straightened and taken a step back from him. “I will give you a few hours to ?gure things out before I ?nd Sorin and tell him what I learned.”

Callan started at that. “You are not going to tell Sorin right now?”

“This is your fate, not his,” Arianna replied, her gaze catching on a guard and a coy glimmer entering her eyes. “I am sure I can ?nd some way to make myself scarce to give you some time.” She glanced back to Callan one ?nal time as she said, “I have learned many things in my many years, young prince, but something I learned early on is that my feet decide which path I take. No one else’s.”

“I am not sure I am afforded such a luxury,” Callan muttered under his breath.

A cunning smirk curled up on her lips. “You misunderstand me, your Highness. Many have tried to direct my path. That was their mistake.”

With those parting words, she set off toward the guard she had been watching, her hips swaying. When she reached him, the guard stiffened as she pushed up onto her tiptoes, whispering into his ear. A wide grin spread across his face and that was when Callan turned his attention back to Lady Tava.

She had started walking towards him, and he met her halfway. Her eyes were full of worry as she held out the books and papers in her hand.

“Your Highness,” she greeted with a slight bow.

Callan sighed. “Lady Tava, I think at this point you can call me Callan.”

“That would be most inappropriate,” she replied, her cheeks ?ushing slightly.

Callan arched a brow. “More inappropriate than me leaving my kingdom for months and then hiding away in a warehouse with the children of the wicked when I do ?nally return?”

Tava huffed a soft laugh. “Fair enough … Callan. But then I must insist you simply call me Tava.”

“Agreed,” Callan said with a small smile. He set the books aside on a table and began ri?ing through the papers she had brought to him. “I am surprised you are here during the day.”

“Yes, well, something has happened,” she replied, and he glanced up to ?nd her biting her lip nervously.

“I am going to hazard a guess that it has to do with your father learning of my return?”

“You know?” Tava asked in surprise.

“I was just informed,” he answered grimly. “Apparently, I am also to take a wife because I have been shirking my duties, according to my father.” She winced slightly at the words, quickly schooling the expression from her face.

“I am sorry, Callan,” she said.

“Why?” he asked, returning his attention to the papers in his hands. “It will be of no surprise to anyone. It is something my father has been pushing for the last few years.”

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