Page 21 of A Courage of the Chosen

My eyes search his, fearful of what will happen when he learns how much I’ve failed them—failed him. Will he still look at me the same way?

We’re on the same side in this war, there’s no doubt about it, but there’s still so much about each other that we don’t know, and my history with him is one where he’s prone to being a general ass.

“I . . .” my mouth fills with saliva that I swallow down. “I lost the Craobh. He took it.”

The silence that follows tears me open, and Callahan’s face becomes the unreadable mask that he’s spent so much of his life wearing.

My anxiety spikes down our connection, and hurtles for him without my permission. Before I can cut it off, it’s met by a solid wall at the other end. The way he keeps me out so thoroughly stings as Callahan continues to look at me. Calm on the surface but roiling underneath, the tick in his jaw the only giveaway that there’s anything going on for him.

“What happened?” The question is low, and his eyes dart between mine as acid burns my throat.

“It snapped free during our fight, and I thought it would kill him when he picked it up, for some reason it didn’t. I tried to stop him but I couldn’t. I’m sorry.”

Callahan falls quiet again, and I can’t get a grasp on what’s going through his mind, but I can feel him pulling away from me.

“Say something, please,” I beg on a whisper as the first tear falls.

Still, he says nothing.

He rises from the table, and I scramble up after him as he heads for the door.

“Where are you going?” I ask.

“I can’t be here right now.” His voice is flat and lifeless in a way it hasn’t been with me since we started training together.

We’ve come such a long way since then, but his reaction is reminiscent of that cold version of him, and that was the last person I wanted to be around.

Without looking back, Callahan walks away.

Chapter 6

Tavish

I didn’t much care for all the luxuries of being the Crowned Prince of Elfayne, all the rules and court politics bored me senseless. And don’t even get me started on the way the women threw themselves at me in desperation. But I do have to admit that I really miss my fucking bed.

These caverns, deep in the Jura mountains, have served as the Dorche stronghold in the northern-most parts of Elfayne for the best part of the last century. Too far off the beaten path for anyone to stray here, and surrounded by terrifying creatures that most don’t want to disturb has meant that we haven’t been discovered.

What once was a system of naturally formed caves have been reshaped and repurposed into a remarkable expanse of rooms and halls befitting my father’s ego, and capable of hiding a force as great as ours.

I have chambers here, of course, but they’re just not the same. Missing the small luxuries that make it a place you actually want to be. And I have nothing to remind me of my queen down here.

She’s never walked these underground halls with that curiosity sparking in her green eyes. There’s no memory of stolen moments with her in the depths of the library, or heated kisses when the sun has set.

I know she’s in the palace now, likely sharing her story. The council won’t believe her, even with General Macleod and a few soldiers having seen me use my magic to disappear. They’re too proud to admit that they’ve been played. The thought makes me smile, because if they’d believed her too quickly, it would mean I’d have to accelerate my plans. And if there’s one thing I need right now, it’s time.

Time to move the chess pieces without Father realizing.

Time to win her over.

It’s only been a matter of days since I last saw her, but with the bond sat next to my heart, it makes me miss her more than when that fuck Broderic took her from me on the streets of Claver, and what came after. It’s like she’s right there, just out of touch.

One or two things have reached for me, strong emotions and thoughts that slipped her control without realizing, and I’ve soaked up every morsel she offers.

Whatever this thing is between us, it’s tricky, and I’ve spent far more time than I’ll admit to working out the nuances of it. She can’t fully keep me out, even when she’s trying.

Having a part of her coiled tight like a viper in my consciousness is too much of a temptation. I’ve had to stop myself from just leaving the dark threads open between our minds, and channeling every thought I have in her direction, since most of them are consumed with her anyway. The door is there, looming and gravitational.

But Elsie isn’t ready for me to be permanently in her mind, privy to every thought and feeling she has. After everything I’ve done, she isn’t in the place where she can give me her forgiveness and stand by my side as we rule this world, and the one she was raised in.