Page 100 of Enchanted Shadows
“I—” she shook her head. “Not yet. We will. There just hasn’t been time. We did the wedding ceremony and will do the bonding soon since training is on break.”
He somewhat calmed at that, even as he took in the huge ring on her hand. “Zara. Three months. You disappear for three months, head off to Wylan, and wind up married? Are youkiddingme?”
“Watch your tone,” I warned.
“Undo this,” he snapped to me as he swatted the air. “Whatever this is. She was betrothed to me first. She will bond with me.”
Miles unsheathed his sword. “Talk to the commander or his wife like that again, and you can find yourself in a cell. Or worse.”
Calix inhaled deeply as he again swatted the air, multiple fancy rings across his dainty fingers. “Unbelievable.”
“She never consented to a betrothal with you,” I added.
He didn’t hesitate. “You sure about that?”
I looked at him right in the eyes, around his obnoxiously high nose. “This can go one of two ways, Calix. Miles here can deliver you to a room. You can get some sleep and we can all speak like adults before the king and queen of Wylan. Or you can keepinsulting my wife and wind up in a cell for an indeterminate amount of time. So, which is it?”
The shadows seemed to want to rush to him, so I knew he was good and mad. But I wasn’t in a hurry, so I waited him out.
“This isn’t over,” he spit. And to Kessara he added, “Do you really think it’s this easy? To get over what we had? To what? To marrythisjackass? This nobody from Wylan? We both know you haven’t bonded with him yet for a reason.”
I had to hold Kessara back now.
“He istwicethe man you will ever be.” Kessara’s veins were lit up, likely with her rage.
Jorah and Krew must have called in some help also because all of Team Four running guard duty arrived in the hallway. In force.
“Commander,” the lieutenant called.
I knew he was wanting me to make the call on what to do with this absolute piece of trash. I looked to Calix. “What will it be?”
The silence settled in, and with every ticking second, I felt Team Four readying for blood.
“I will wait for the meeting before the king and queen of Wylan,” Calix finally stated. “Only so I can figure out how to undo this.”
“Afraid there’s no undoing it,” I told him. “It really would be too bad if an Agrian delegate such as yourself committed an act of war on Wylan soil and found yourself unable to return home.”
“Your threats do not scare me,” he glared.
I shook my head. “Not threats. Facts. Should my wife find herself cornered in your Enchantment again. That would be an act of war.”
“And should I go missing, that would also be an act of war.”
“Oh good, we have an understanding.” Could my voice hold any more sarcasm? “See you in the morning.”
“What wing of the castle should I deliver our Agrian delegateto?” Miles asked me. “Closest to the mountain, I hope. For... ease of transfer.”
I rattled off the old delegate wing location. It was farthest away from both Valanova brothers and easy to watch. There were no escape routes out of that room either.
“You got it,” Miles told me.
The next hour was filled with hurried plans. We met with Krew and Jorah. Artem and Amos were put on lockdown with a team of four men staying on watch. Four men who would be in the room with Artem, not outside it, and never leave him. Amos said Artem didn’t look excited about being babysat, but considering the evening’s events, he didn’t complain. I was insanely glad we had the foresight to keep him away from the celebration tonight just in case. Calix had likely waited until dark and made his way into the castle.
Adrenaline was still fueling my veins by the time we made it to my room. Calix was here. My enemy had finally reared his pretty face. No more waiting, the dance of battle had begun. One I had no intention of losing.
I shut the door to my room, knowing damn well I would not be getting to sleep anytime soon as I said, “We’d better get some sleep. We have a busy day tomor?—”
I cut off as Kessara grabbed me, her hand reaching around my neck. Before I could form a thought more, her chest smashed into mine as she kissed me.
