Queen of Earth and Stone by Tricia Meyers

Author:Tricia Meyers [Meyers, Tricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Curious Cow Publishing
Published: 2023-11-13T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Callan

He remained in the darkened garden long after Eve had left. He’d gone so much farther with her than he’d ever intended to, and gotten so much closer than he should have. Before even arriving at Stoneweald this time, he’d been determined to not get involved. They could never be more than friends. Hadn’t he learned his lesson already?

He knew Riona was raging in the Otherworld. A promise had been made, a simple one. Protect her, but keep her at arm’s length. The mistakes of the past should never be repeated. He knew the consequences better than anyone and had more to risk than most from failing to keep that promise. He was a godsdamned idiot.

A shrill cry sounded overhead. Moments later a small brown hawk landed in the seat Eve had occupied earlier. He didn’t bother to look at her as she ruffled her feathers and settled in. “I already know what you’re going to say.”

With a flash of light, the hawk was replaced by a familiar female form. Leysa snorted. “I highly doubt that, dumb ass.”

Callan rolled his eyes, letting the familiar insult slide off him. She didn’t mean it, not really. Besides, the jab was deserved. He certainly had been exceptionally stupid where Eve was concerned.

Leysa patted his back gently. She was always mothering him when he did something stupid or needed comfort. If Valerian were here he’d be on the other side, teasing him and probably mocking him truth be told. All of it well-intentioned, designed to get a laugh out of him.

“What have I done, Leysa?” He dropped his head into his palms, elbows resting on his knees. “I never meant for it to go this far.”

“Well, first of all, you’ve managed better than Val or I expected, so that’s something. We never thought you’d hold out this long.” Leysa’s hand on his back stilled. “But seriously, Callan, I don’t know what to tell you. I really think she’ll understand–”

“She’ll understand, Leysa? You really believe that? How could anyone understand that? We all lived through it, the three of us. Are either of you understanding about what happened?” He jerked up, meeting her sympathetic gaze. “She is going to hate me.”

Leysa frowned. “We know it wasn’t your fault. Have you tried speaking with your mother about it? Maybe she can–”

Callan interrupted her with a bitter laugh. “No, I can’t reach her from here, and I know what she’d say anyway. She’d tell me to just wait, that fate has a funny way of working out. ”

“I guess. I still think you should try and talk to her.”

“I know, Leysa, but as I said, I can’t reach her here.”

“Not your mother, you moron, Eve.” Leysa smacked his shoulder lightly for emphasis.

Callan pinned Leysa with a flat look. “What good would it do? I can’t tell her what I am, who I am. You know that. If she knew you were the hawk that attacked her friend, what do you think she would say? I barely managed to get away with not explaining my shadows to her.

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