Page 103 of Enchanted Shadows
He held up a hand. “You are my sister. Like hell will I allow you to walk into a place, a place that has tried to tear you apart, all by yourself.”
Kessara’s eyes found mine and I noted the way she took a shaky breath. She’d been fighting and spying on one younger brother, protecting the other. This sibling dynamic was entirely different for her.
Krew continued, “Would it be better for you to leave with his ship or on one of ours?”
Kessara considered his words a moment. “On his.” Her eyes went to me. “You aren’t going to let me go without you, are you? Even if I take the king up on his offer to send some of Wylan’s men?”
“That’s a no,” I confirmed. “I am Wylan’s best man, therefore I’m going.”
She turned back to Krew. “Then for his sake, we should likely go with Calix. It will give them less time to plan anything untoward.”
“Will your brother Damek try to punish you or have any cause to hold you in Agria?”
She snorted a laugh. “Not anything that doesn’t equally damn himself.” She gestured with an open hand toward me. “I’m most worried they’ll try something on Owen. They’ve lost out on my breeding potential since he married me.”
Jorah’s eyes went to mine.
Ask me how worried I am,I told her telepathically as to not interrupt.
You are still taking all of Team One,Jorah told me.Every last one of them.
Kessara and Krew talked for a few more minutes before he reached for Jorah’s hand. “We will see you down there. A few minutes fashionably late just to mess with one Calix Cyncrest.”
“Thank you for your help,” Kessara said kindly.
Krew turned at the door. “I will confess it is against my nature to allow you to leave at all, knowing what you could be walking into. But if you think it’s best, we will anxiously await your return.”
As they left, Kessara stood there in her dark blue day dress, just staring. She looked too casual to be a princess but too dressed up to be one of my most fearsome trainees.
“He’s worried about you,” I told her.
“I know. He is . . . .”
I knew exactly what she meant. “He’s a king. The real deal. And one hell of a man.”
She took the arm I offered her. “I’m sorry I keep needing you.”
I smirked. “I might need you back someday. Shall we go rile your ex-lover a bit?”
She tried to smile, but it was tight around her eyes. “We shall.”
Down in the throne room, sunlight was pouring through the windows. Calix was already there when we arrived. Two rows of chairs were set up on either side of the aisle to the throne chairs.
Calix, guarded by Miles and Allen, was already there on one side.
So naturally, I headed us toward the other row, making sure to keep Kessara as far away from him as possible. Calix’s eyes landed on where Kessara’s hand was on my arm before scanning her over.
Was he really stupid enough to think I had forced her into this? If anyone had forced this, it’d been him.
Just as we sat down, another door opened, and Amos came walking in.
“Reyes,” Calix greeted. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“Wish I could say it was good to see you,” Amos responded back.
Amos took the open seat beside Kessara.
“Typical,” Calix commented. He looked to his watch. “As is the fact that the king and queen are late.”
