Page 51 of Sun, Moon & Shadow

“I will accompany you if you agree to allow my companions to return to Nivali immediately, and you personally guarantee no harm of any kind will come to them at the hands of any citizen of Silvergard.” She held her breath.

“I don’t think you’re in a position to be making bargains. From where I’m standing, I’ve got the upper hand,” Lucan said, cocking his head to the side.

“Then I appeal to your honor, Commander.”

His eyes flashed for an instant before his sly grin returned.

“I should warn you, I’m more animal than man. You may be disappointed to find my honor somewhat lacking.” He paused for a beat before giving a resolute nod. “Very well. I agree to your terms.” Nova released a slow breath as Lucan relayed his orders to the guards.

“This crew is under my protection. No harm is to come to them.” He turned back to her and made a mocking bow. “But you, Miss Nova, you’re coming with me.”

The guards released the crew at once. Callan’s captor shoved him roughly, and he fell onto his knees on the deck. Nova rushed forward and knelt before him, reaching instinctively for the superficial wound on his throat. Callan laid his hand on top of hers, their faces hovering close together.

“Don’t do this,” he whispered.

“I have to. It’s the only way to keep you all safe. You need to go—now.” Her words rushed past her lips just ahead of the panic creeping up her throat. The longer they lingered, the more she worried the commander might change his mind. “I’ll contact you as soon as I can.”

Callan’s dark eyes stormed, but he released her hand, his chin dropping to his chest. Fearing she might never see him again, Nova took his face in her hands and rested her forehead against his. She longed to kiss him, to feel his mouth against hers once more, but she denied the impulse.

I will return to you, she thought. A vow she couldn’t bring herself to utter aloud.

Nova dragged herself away from him, defying the undeniable pull connecting them. Callan’s eyes shimmered, his chest rising and falling rapidly, his brow furrowed as he watched her leave. One of the soldiers gripped Nova’s arm, ushering her to the railing where a second soldier pulled her up onto the deck of the Silvergardian vessel.

She couldn’t bring herself to look back at Callan as tears welled in her eyes. She hoped she would live to keep her promise.

Twenty-Four

Callan’s fury simmered for the entire journey back to Nivali. Leaving Nova in danger, again, pained him like a blade twisting in his side. He would have chosen death happily if it meant shielding her from harm. It took every bit of will he possessed to keep himself from ordering the crew to turn the small vessel around. All that stopped him was the grim understanding that his motley band of sailors, none of them warriors besides Arik, wouldn’t stand a chance. So, he manned the tiller and kept the boat on course, his anger sitting like a crushing weight on his chest all the while.

Thorn was waiting at the base of the steps leading to the Great Hall after the ship docked. Callan stormed past his uncle and several curious onlookers, heading directly to his chamber, where he locked himself away for the remainder of the night. He was still in bed when Arik knocked the following morning.

“Are you through sulking?” Arik asked.

Callan exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders as unyielding as it had been when he watched Nova being taken from him. He couldn’t shake his suspicion. His fear. He flung his legs over the side of the bed and stood, snatching up a clean pair of breeches and tugging them on.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Arik asked as Callan searched for a fresh shirt. Callan ignored his friend, continuing to dress. In his haste, he nearly toppled over tugging on one of his boots, and Arik steadied him by the arm. Callan wrenched out of his friend’s grip.

“What in Brumal’s name do you think you’re doing, you fool?” Arik barked. Callan returned to where his other boot sat, the worn leather folded over and drooping dejectedly. He threw himself onto the settee and kicked the boot away.

“Nova is in danger,” he snapped, glaring at Arik, who now stood between him and the chamber door, stance wide and thick arms folded across his chest.

“You don’t know that,” Arik said, with entirely too much confidence for Callan’s liking.

“You trust those soldiers who stole her away?” Callan rubbed a hand roughly over his face.

“If their aim was to harm her, why allow any of us to live? The commander kept his word. They could have devised a way to be rid of us as soon as she was out of sight.”

Callan groaned. He didn’t remember Arik being the sensible one when they were younger. In fact, it was usually the other way around with Callan keeping Arik out of mischief and ridiculous scrapes. Under other circumstances, he might have applauded his friend for his levelheadedness, but in the moment, Callan wanted to act, however reckless and ill-advised his actions might be.

Callan pinched the bridge of his nose, his thoughts turning to his last moments with Nova. The feeling of her forehead pressed against his.

It felt like a goodbye.

But then, he could have sworn he heard her voice inside his mind, distorted and faraway, promising to return to him. Had he imagined it? When she’d pulled herself away from him, it was as if she’d taken a piece of him with her. He felt the absence of it, a gaping hole in his chest. Callan rubbed a hand over his heart, but it did nothing to ease the ache. Arik spoke again, pulling him from his thoughts.

“You’re staying put, Callan. There’s no way your uncle is going to send armed soldiers to storm the Silvergard Estate to rescue her. And you can’t go alone. Even if you could, there’s no evidence she’s in any danger. I’m sure she’ll write.”

Callan sighed gruffly.