Page 122 of Enchanted Shadows
I leaned in to whisper to her, my lips brushing against her ear as I said, “This will not be as fun as last night.”
And just as I was about to silence all the damn whispering by kissing her, the king’s voice interrupted with, “Your beloved’s test will be with swords.”
I stilled, both Kessara’s and my heads snapped in his direction.
“A sword fight?” Kessara asked. “I will not allow Calix or Damek to go near him with a sword. Absolutely not.”
“Not either of them,” her mother agreed. “You.”
“Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but as her husband, I do not wish to be another man in her life to actively hurt Kessara.”
The queen gestured with two fingers for some guards to bring her something. “Show to us that you can protect her. That is all we ask.”
“By fighting her?”
The king added, “If you can protect yourself against her advances and also not harm her, then we will find you worthy. A good marriage is both offensive and defensive, after all.”
I whispered to Kessara, “Is this really happening?” A little bit twisted, though they might have a point.
A guard brought over two swords in scabbards and held them out to us.
“Let’s just get it over with,” Kessara groaned, taking one.
I took the other, then gestured for Miles.
“I don’t like this,” he stated as he came over.
I handed him my crown. “Me either, but I have played enough silly court games that one more will not kill me.” My eyes flicked to Kessara as I added, “I hope.”
Her eye roll of a response had me laughing.
Miles took the crown but added, “If Damek moves his butt from that throne toward either of you, he seals his fate.”
His fate was already sealed, and we both knew it. I turned to Kessara and unsheathed the sword at the same time she did. She took both scabbards and gave them back to the guard who’d offered them to us.
Just as I moved away to gain a starting stance, she gripped my wrist hard.
I leaned in, sensing her worry in the grip she held on me.
She whispered, “I’ve worked for Damek for years. I know the way he thinks. He’s doing this because he wants to know how many people it will take to kill you. Please, Owen. Don’t let him see how good you are at this.”
Her compliment did something funny to my chest, so I couldn’t help but lean in and whisper back, “All of them. That is how many people it will take him to kill me. He can send themall.”
“Owen,” she pleaded. “I know it’s not in your nature to throw something, to ease up, but I’m asking you. Please.”
“If I allow you to best me, then I will not gain the approval of your parents,” I argued.
“I’d rather you walk back out of Agria with me than have their approval. We don’t need it anyway.”
I brushed a quick peck over her lips. “Stop worrying, Kess. Bring it. You know you’ve been wanting to stab me anyway.” When her worry didn’t wane with my joke, I whispered in her ear, “He fears what he cannot tame. And it isn’tmehe should fear.”
“Can you two hurry it along? Some of us are hungry,” Damekcalled. “Also funny that you rush to get rid of your crown. Almost as if you aren’t used to wearing one.”
I kept my voice bored, my eyes on Kessara, as I responded back, “A true leader wouldn’t always have to wear one to remind people of his power.”
Kessara said quietly, “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Did she mean with her brother or in actually playing this little game they were thrusting on us? “I do. No holding back for once?”
