Page 80 of The Spark that Ignites
“I did it for her,” Callias said, his words biting. “I don’t want the little one to suffer. Whatever magic created that wound is heinous.”
“Of course.” Emmery looked away, trying to ignore his tone. She couldn’t help but feel incompetent, not being able to heal Aera’s wound. “We both appreciate it.”
He nodded, turning his back to her as he cleaned his tools and Emmery lingered, seeing if she could draw anything from him. “Where are you from, Callias?”
He kept cleaning, his hands busy. “Delmira.”
She recalled the map and Delmira’s northern location. Did they all have accents? His was surprisingly strong if he hadn’t been back since the barrier closed. “Were you born there?”
“Yes.” He continued cleaning. “The king and queen are my parents.”
Emmery nearly choked. “You and Vesper are so casual about being royalty.” She gripped the counter and leaned against it. “Should I call you Prince Callias?”
“No, Callias is fine. I haven’t been back since thekhaosflame went out.” His muscled shoulders flexed as he scrubbed the dirty containers. For someone who worked with plants, he sure had the physique of a warrior.
“You must miss them.” Emmery wrapped her arms around herself nervously. “Are you ... ever going back? If the barrier were to open of course.”
His tone was flat. “No.”
“Why not?” she asked, trying to frame it gently though it felt intrusive.
“You ask a lot of questions.”
She shrugged. “I’m curious.”
His sigh was bloated with annoyance. “I was engaged to marry and chose not to. If I return, I’ll have to follow through with it.”
“Oh,” Emmery blurted, following up with an equally moronic, “How old were you when it was arranged?”
“Since the dawn of time,” he said, his tone condescending as his eyes slid to her. “Why?”
Emmery’s stomach dropped. Having your future decided before you could form your own thoughts and opinions of the world was unfair. Izora had faced the same fate. Maybe the two of them were close. “That must have been suffocating.”
“As royalty, there are expectations,” he put simply.
“Was it—” Emmery cleared her throat. “How does Briar feel about the engagement?”
That stole his attention, and he slowly turned, narrowing his eyes on her like homing in on a target. “What do you mean?”
“Well.” She fidgeted with her tunic, suddenly nervous. “You two are together, right?”
If looks could kill, Emmery would’ve dropped dead.
“You shouldn’t assume things,” he said, his voice practically a growl.
Emmery opened her mouth to speak but he set the pot and tools down, unrolled his sleeves and walked to her, his face cold as stone, eyes blazing a sea of blue. Her breath caught as she stared up at him and she fell mute. He was tall—far taller than Vesper—and he certainly didn’t have the same calm disposition.
“Listen,” he started, his tone a punishing hand. “I know you aren’t from here, but you need to understand.” His breath was hot on her face as he towered over her.
Her golden eyes widened.
“Do noteversay that toanyoneabout us. It could get both of us into irreversible trouble. Briar and I are not together and if we were, we would be sentenced to death. Our kind—” He shook his head. “It’s illegal. A Fallen and a Hollow cannot be in love or procreate, and even platonic relationships are frowned upon.”
Staring at him, unease settled into her gut. She reached for words, but none came.
He blinked slowly, his stare sharp. “Do you understand?”
Emmery nodded, her legs numb with fear. She shouldn’t have pushed him. Maybe his trust would never be earned, and she should give up now. Vesper and Briar would do. Or maybe he just saw through her bullshit.
