Page 51 of Lady for Embers

“Hold on,” Callan interrupted, holding her stare when Scarlett’s eyes connected with his. “Are you telling me you will not allow some of us to ?ght?”

“Yes,” she said, no room for argument in her tone.

But he was damn well going to argue about this. He’d just lost his family and his best friends to these Lords, and she expected him to stay out of this battle?

Not an option.

“No,” he snarled. “I am going to ?ght, Scarlett.”

“Callan, I do not have the time to debate this with you. You are not prepared for this type of battle. Some day you will be, but that day is not today.”

“I am a king as much as you are a queen,” Callan seethed. “You do not get to make these decisions for me.”

Scarlett pushed to her feet, bracing her hands on the table as she leaned towards him. “Tell me,your Majesty, when you die out there today—because you will. My warriors will understand that your safety is not the priority today—So when you die out there today and leave your kingdom to Eva, who would you like to rule in your stead until she comes of age?”

“You are a bitch,” Callan sneered.

A growl emanated from Sorin, but Scarlett raised a hand to stay him. “I am when I need to be,” she agreed. “And right now, I need you to hear me, Callan. I cannot have you up there. You are not ready for this, but you know who you are ready to protect? Those children. Who will be hidden below decks. I need you there, with Drake and Tava, ready to protect those children at any cost. Because if they get through us, you will be their last hope.”

The entire room fell silent, and Callan swallowed thickly.

“The choice is indeed yours,” Scarlett continued. “I am not your queen, but I would assume you desire to protect those you cherish most.” Her eyes ?icked to Tava, who was seated across the table from him, Drake’s arm draped around her protectively. “They are your only subjects on these ships. They are the only ones who are your responsibility.”

“I disagree,” Callan argued. “Those children are from the Black Syndicate. Part ofmykingdom. They are as much my responsibility as they are yours.” Scarlett’s head fell forward, and then she was turning slightly, looking at Sorin who was obviously speaking down their bond. “Don’t do that,” Callan snapped. “Don’t speak about me when I’m sitting right here in front of you.”

“We are wasting time,” Eliza cut in. “We need to be strategizing. If Callan wants to risk his life and be up there ?ghting with us, it is not our responsibility to stop him.”

Scarlett’s lips pressed together in a tight line, her eyes ?ickering to Tava again, before she muttered, “Fine.”

Sorin’s hand came to her back, but no tension left her body. She was stiff, and Callan could tell she didn’t like the way this had gone. He understood. He really did. She viewedhimas her responsibility. She had claimed him as one of her own. She would die for him, kill for him, just as she had for Tava. Asking this of her went against everything she was.

But how could she ask him to do that same thing? How could she ask him to hide when those children were as much his subjects as they were hers?

Azrael appeared suddenly, Briar and Sawyer with him, Eva clinging to Sawyer.

“Callan!” his sister cried, Sawyer setting her onto the ?oor. She came running to him, and Callan immediately twisted to pull her into his lap. Her eyes were wide, and she buried her face in his chest. How much more trauma would she have to endure? He lifted his gaze, ?nding Scarlett’s stare ?xed on Eva, and Callan knew she was thinking the same thing.

“Nakoa?” Sorin was asking. Azrael had stalked to the table and taken a seat, but Briar and Sawyer were still rooted to where they’d appeared.

Sawyer shook his head as Briar said, “Neve reported he fell protecting Eva and Tava. We didn’t have time to get more than that. We need to prepare.” He paused for a moment before he added, “But Haniel is mine.”

Callan swallowed thickly. The Water Commander had died defending his sister and Tava.

“She stayed there with the children. Two other Fae have joined her,” Briar continued. “But we will need more there.”

“Were all the children accounted for?” Scarlett asked.

“They were frightened and hiding,” Sawyer supplied. “It is impossible to say for sure.”

“I will go there,” Tava said, looking to Scarlett. “I have been spending my days with them. I will help keep them as calm as possible. Keep them busy during... everything.”

“I will go with her,” Drake said quickly.

Scarlett nodded. Her eyes scanned those around her, skipping over Callan. “I do not know you all well enough to say who should be stationed where. Make the plans,” she said, deferring to Sorin as she sank back to the bench. Her head tipped back, eyes closing.

Sorin, Briar, and the others fell into battle talks and strategy. Eva was quiet in his lap, clinging to him, and Callan knew Scarlett was right. He couldn’t leave her while this was all going on. He needed to be with her, defending the ones he cared for. Eva. Tava. Those children that were from his lands. He pushed his pride down, preparing to tell them he would go to the ship with Drake and Tava.

Sorin was handing out assignments. “We will send Rayner with you two. He will aid Neve and those already there, but they will be above deck. We cannot spare anyone to be below deck with you and Drake unless Callan chooses to be stationed there with you.”

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