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“No need, Kelia and I are finished.” She handed me the decanter. “Take this to Callum. It’s his favorite.”
Taking the wine, I stood and bowed my head. “Thank you.”
“We will discuss arrangements for you to leave. I have a feeling you won’t be going alone.” She flicked me away, returning to her cooler approach. Leaving, I closed the door behind me.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know she was here,” the general whispered, but loud enough for me to hear.
“Shut up, Daviti, and come serve your queen.”
Laughter followed as the rustle of fabric and whispers sounded inside. I smiled, holding the wine to my chest. If the queen could find happiness after everything she’d endured, maybe I could too. Leaving the pair, I headed toward the room Callum stayed in, across from mine.
I lifted my hand to knock and paused. What was I going to say? I had no idea if what the queen said was true, and if it was, what did that mean? I still had to return to the surface and help in the last battle, and Callum had won his freedom.
Draining the glass in my hand, I let the liquid soothe my throat. Not only was I feeling off from what the queen did, but seeing Callum sent a different sort of panic through me.
He at least deserved a goodbye. I could grant him that. I knocked on the door.
“Who is it?”
“Kelia, the queen sent me with plum wine.”
“It’s open.”
The moment I entered the room, I regretted it. Callum sat on a bench, shirtless, carving a piece of wood. He glanced at me beneath dark lashes, his expression conflicted.
Ignoring the stare, I walked to the table near him and placed the wine on top of it. “The queen said this is your favorite wine.”
“It is.” He returned to his carving, whittling away at the wood.
“What are you making?”
“A figure for Mab.”
“Oh. That’s nice.” I was never good at small talk, it seemed unnecessary, but now I wished I had some idea of what to say.There were many things I wanted to discuss with him and struggled to even start.
He continued carving, not speaking and when the silence was enough to drive me out the door, I knew it was time to say goodbye.
“I’ll be leaving in the morning, and as agreed you are free. I just wanted to thank you. Without you this mission wouldn’t have been a success.”
He stopped, his knuckles lightening as he gripped the knife. “That’s all you have to say?”
“Aren’t my thanks enough?”
With an angry huff, he abruptly stood, sending the chair backward. “No, Kelia, it’s not enough.”
His chest heaved as he eyed me across the table, attempting to pull my secrets forward with his gaze. “I desire an explanation.”
“For what? You’ve got your freedom. There’s nothing else to discuss.”
Pushing away from the table, he stormed toward me, furious. “Was this all a game to you? The magi who cares for nothing but her mission. I’m not a toy, nor do I care for being played with.”
“If you think I’d waste my time on such frivolous things you don’t know me at all.”
“Get out.”
“Excuse me?”
“Get out!”
