Page 41 of Enchanted Crown
Her eyes finally met mine. “After. I just spoke to my parents this morning. Right before you were forced to heal my prick ex-fiancé.”
“Never liked him,” Nana stated matter of fact with a wave of her hand.
“I hadn’t decided anything, I just wanted to know my options,” Esta explained. “Maybe Jagen is more fit for all of this than I am.”
The cane thumped the ground lightly. “Don’t fool yourself. None of us are fit for what the last week brought us. The brutality of what happened.” Nana paused. “Now tell me about this other plan. I know nothing of it, but I already like it better.”
So Esta did. She told her everything. About how we were going to Wylan. How we would become bonded there. How she felt safer in a country that she’d never been in because she trusted me to keep her safe.
Nana wiped at one of Esta’s tears as she finished explaining it all. “When do you leave?”
“I wanted to go after all the Yule celebrations,” Esta admitted. “But I don’t think with everythi?—”
“I will serve as queen in your stead,” Nana offered.
Esta shook her head. “You don’t like court life anymore. I would never ask that of you.”
Nana wiped at another of her tears. “My darling girl. Something is going on in this family. Go to Wylan. Bond with your prince.Iwill deal with Dra Skor in your absence.”
“That’s actually perfect.” Amory grinned. “You know she’ll get more done than your father will.”
“And it keeps you away from Jagen, Morana, Oziel, and Lennix, none of which I currently trust,” Nana agreed. “But please, no more talk of abdicating. Things are hard now. I understand that. Your cousin Samori was—” she had to pause, her voice wavering, “so full of life. So young. A pure soul. But don’t let the weight of this keep you from seeing Dra Skor back stronger than ever. Something you have worked so hard to make happen.”
Esta gave her a nod. “Okay.”
The cane stomped onto the ground more firmly. “And stoptrying to carry so much yourself. These three will help you, child. They are worthy.”
Esta looked at her hands as she admitted. “I am tired of constantly feeling like I am failing Dra Skor.”
Nana moved her chin up to look her in the eyes. “You haven’t. Not yet. You are the reason Dra Skor is healing. You and your Wylan prince. So bond to him. Be with him. We will all handle this threat to Dra Skor, but there will be no running from it. We will run toward it. Together.”
CHAPTER 16
Iwas dressed in the Dra Skor fashion, a shirt unbuttoned underneath my black-on-black evening attire.
“Stop sighing,” Emric said lightly. “It’s a holiday.” Then after a pause he added, “Or are you missing your family?”
“I’ll see them in a few weeks.” I shrugged. “It just feels odd to be celebrating a holiday so close to something so tragic.”
“But that is life, Keir,” Emric argued. “The ugly and beautiful go together, and we all just cling to whichever gets us through the day.”
“That’s oddly deep,” John muttered from the door, looking quite dapper himself.
“How’s Esta?” Emric asked. We had healed another four shifters yesterday, one of which was Zaccai. All were being guarded in the infirmary round the clock.
“She’s been a bit better after her grandmother spoke with her,” I admitted. “She’s just tired of lighting the pyres of her people.”
“Can we blame her for that?” John asked.
I gave my head a shake. “Goodness no.”
“Well go sweep her off her damn feet then, yeah?” Emric asked. “Stop being such a misanthrope.”
I mouthedmisanthropeto John.
He rolled his eyes and gave me a shrug.
“Archibald,” Emric called. “Bring me my jacket.”
