Page 26 of Lady for Embers

“You did not disagree with me. That I have not earned such a title.”

She shrugged slightly. “I hated it when people would say things to try to make me feel better or downplay what I was feeling. Is it my place to say if you have earned it or not? That is up to you to decide. You and your people, not me. But if you feel you have not yet earned it, if you feel your people do not believe you have earned it, there is nothing stopping you from starting the work to earn it now. If you think more is needed to be worthy of that crown when it is placed upon your head—because it will be, Callan. Iwillrestore your kingdom to you—then you have between now and then to become worthy of it.”

He scoffed. “You make it sound so simple.”

“It will not be,” she said, taking another pull from the bottle. “In fact, it will be grueling and hard, and you will often wonder if it is truly worth it.”

“Thanks for that,” he muttered, taking the bottle she held out to him. She shrugged again and then sighed, as if in pain. “I cannot believe I am going to say this, but if the Fates do exist, and that is a very strongif, then I would have to believe that you were made for such a time as this, Callan. You were destined for your throne, as I was for mine, but if you do not want that path, then you do not have to take it.”

“And what happens then? To my people?”

“They would no longer beyourpeople. It would no longer be your concern,” she said simply.

“I cannot simply... walk away from them.”

“Then I guess you have your answer. So get up... your Majesty.”

She took the liquor bottle back from him and got to her feet. Then she was sauntering down the stairs towards those sparring. “Okay, assholes,” she called out as she neared. “Who’s sparring with me?”

Cyrus glanced at her. “We already told you: no one wants to spar with a cranky queen who hasn’t eaten. Did you eat breakfast?”

She glanced at the bottle in her hand. “I drank it?”

Cyrus snorted as Sorin said, “You have been drinking this morning?”

She slid the bottle behind her back. “Of course not.Tea. I drank tea.”

“Scarlett.”

“Sorin,” she mocked. “Spar with me.”

“Not if you have been drinking. I thought you were taking a day off?”

“Winner gets to pick the position tonight,” she taunted.

For a split second, confusion clouded his features. Then Callan could see the heated look he gave her even from where he still sat on the steps.

“Such a dirty tongue this morning, Princess,” Sorin crooned, his voice dropping low and predatory.

“Still a queen, you know,” she said airily.

“I am well aware,” he replied, prowling towards her.

“I guess if you’re not going to spar with me, I’ll go to Briar’s ship. It’s bigger anyway.” Then she was squealing around laughter as Sorin hoisted her over his shoulder. “Sorin! Put me down!”

Callan couldn’t hear what he said to her as he made his way to the prince’s cabin, but he found himself smiling as he watched them. If she could ?nd something to laugh about after everything she had faced, he could do the same. He could focus on one moment at a time. He could ?ght for the glimpses of light.

He pushed to his feet, jogging lightly down the steps and making his way to the Fae warriors.

The Fae. A race of people he’d become so embittered towards because of what they had represented to him, of what he had thought they were taking from him.

How foolish he’d been. Wrapped up in his own little world of royalty and propriety. Raised to ?nd value in what others could give him rather than in what he could provide to those who had nothing to offer in return. He’d often contemplated lately how silly it was to shelter a Crown Prince when he was one day expected to rule over a kingdom.

Now he contemplated how idiotic he’d been toallowhimself to be so sheltered.

“Cyrus,” he called out as the Fire Second turned to speak to Cassius.

He looked back over his shoulder. “Callan?”

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