Page 161 of Lady for Embers

“You are just upset she beat you to it by mere seconds,” Cethin said with a dark chuckle, slapping Razik on the back as he made his way over to the Fae princes.

They had all eventually found their way to the center, which housed a large fountain with several benches surrounding it. Callan had been sure he would be the last to arrive, immediately spotting Hale and Tava seated on a bench across the clearing when he found the center, but to his surprise, it was Sorin and Scarlett. Who arrived together. Smirking like fools.

Apparently after Eliza made it known she had won the sword with her celebratory ?re into the sky, the king and queen had found another prize to claim, ending whatever feud they’d been having.

Cassius was taking a turn with the sword, Cyrus standing nearby speaking with Auberon, but his eyes kept darting to the Queen’s Hand. Razik stalked off towards them. He was about to turn and ask Drake if he was ready to go back to the other estate where they were staying, when Scarlett appeared at his side, making Callan nearly jump out of his skin. He hated when she did that.

“Drake, I was hoping to speak with you and Tava.”

Drake’s brows rose. “Sure. Of course.”

“I know it is late. I meant to speak with you after dinner, but then the maze and well...” She was aimlessly braiding her hair as she spoke, and she shrugged as she trailed off. “I thought we could all use some fun amid the chaos.”

“Let me get Tava,” Drake said, looking for his sister.

“This cannot wait until morning?” Callan asked.

“You do not need to attend, Callan,” she replied, tying off theend of her braid. “But I think this is something Drake and Tava would prefer to learn privately and not around a breakfast table or in a council room full of others.”

Drake reappeared with Tava, curiosity sparking in her turquoise eyes. A little later, Scarlett was Traveling a small group of them back to the estate and directly into the sitting room of her suite. She immediately bent down to remove her boots, Sorin snagging them and moving them to a spot beside the door. Cassius and Cyrus had joined them as well, and Callan’s interest was more than piqued at this point.

They were all settling into armchairs and onto the sofas when Scarlett approached with a book in her hand. She perched on the arm of the chair Sorin had settled in, his arm instantly sliding around her waist.

“Before we start,” Cyrus said, “I just need to clarify. You agree with Cassius on this?”

Scarlett rolled her eyes. “For the hundredth time, Cyrus, yes. I agree with Cassius.”

Cyrus crossed his arms, a look of dismay on his face, but he didn’t say anything else. Scarlett’s attention shifted to the Tyndell children, who occupied a sofa to her right, while Callan was seated in another armchair. “This is going to be a shock for you two,” she said bluntly.

“At this point, I would expect nothing less,” Tava said, her feet tucked up under her as she leaned into her brother’s side.

“That is a fair point,” Scarlett agreed. “But this... Well, just look.”

She opened the book to a page she had marked with a piece of parchment and held it out to the siblings. Callan couldn’t see what they were looking at, but Drake went utterly still and Tava’s face drained of all color.

“What is this?” Tava whispered, her hands shaking as she reached for the book.

“A book of mortal bloodlines,” Scarlett said, her voice quiet and sympathetic.

“But why is this drawing in here?” Drake asked, sounding hoarse as Tava drew the book to them, placing it in their laps. The siblings both leaned over it, Tava’s ?nger tracing over something Callan could not see.

“That was the last Queen of Rydeon,” Sorin said. “Cyrus andCassius found this book earlier today in the library. We believe she is of some relation to you, for obvious reasons.”

“Are you saying they are related to the Rydeon royal line?” Callan asked, moving to the edge of his chair to try to get a better look at the book.

“It would certainly appear that way,” Sorin answered.

“What was your mother’s name?” Cyrus asked.

Drake looked up while Tava continued to run her ?nger along the page. Drake was shaking his head, his lips pressed into a thin line, clear denial in his eyes. “No. There has to be some other explanation for this.”

“There might be,” Scarlett answered. “But as of right now, that does not appear to be the case.”

“What was her name?” Cassius asked again, more gently than Cyrus had.

“Octavia,” Tava whispered. “Our mother’s name was Octavia Tyndell.”

“That is not a coincidence,” Cyrus said, sitting back on the sofa, an arm spreading across the back behind Cassius.

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