Page 82 of Enchanted Shadows
That somewhat surprised me.
“We all know they travel with an entourage. And Agrians are close enough to Dra Skor to have a healthy respect for dragons,” he explained.
“It’s hard not to when you can easily become snackified,” I agreed.
Amos and Artem laughed.
“Owen,” my mother said to my back. I had been so busy getting congratulations and being passed around, I had seen her from afar but not spoken with her yet. Amos and Artem moved to grab drinks, passing us off to the next clump of people.
I tugged my wife over to me. “Kessara, these are my parents.”
“Lovely to meet you finally,” she told them. “Though I feel as if I already know you. I am quite fond of two of your children."
"Kensie is somewhere here too,” I told her. “Then you will know all of us.”
My mother moved to hug her, but it was my father who stated quietly, “We do know the real reason for all of this.”
Had he thought she was being deceitful?
“I know that,” Kessara smiled, “but I can assure you the sentiment remains the same. I do not know King Krewan yet, but I knew I could ask for help because of the type of man your son is. His being willing to step up and help me, albeit under unconventional circumstances, is a testament to his character. I came to Wylan looking for a safe haven in my half-brothers. I found one in your son instead. I didn’t realize I’d be marrying him, but here we are.”
He gave her a dip of his chin as if her answer was acceptable enough.
“A princess in the family,” my mother was gushing. She swatted at me. “And I guess a prince now, too.”
My father and I exchanged a glance, and I smiled.Walnut, he mouthed to me. We both knew I wasn’t built to be a prince or wear crowns. I was built for action, to fight.
We were passed along and stood with Krew and Jorah for a bit, and then we were called over to eat.
“One hour done,” I whispered to Kessara as we sat.
“Feeling any urges to flee yet?” she whispered back.
I laughed. “Yes.”
“I suppose you’ll have to endure until after our dance. Also, I’m hungry. So please not yet.”
“Burnout will do that to you,” I reminded her.
She reached over and squeezed my hand. Hard. “Must you keep reminding me of this?”
I squeezed her hand back. “Yes. I know exactly how thick-headed you can be.”
“I really want to cover you in shadows right about now,” she told me as she took her hand back and moved to take a sip of water.
I took a sip of my whiskey as I repeated what I’d said to her weeks ago, “Make it count, honey.”
Krew and Jorah toasted to our happiness, and the meal was full of chatter and laughing. No one asked us about how we met or about children. Most knew what was going on here; it felt more like a family dinner than a wedding reception for the most part. It was all the people I loved most in a single room. So I wasn’t sure why I had been so nervous for this. I suppose it was because I had been in this room dozens of times as a guard or for various training celebrations, but never like this.
Before the cake was brought out, we opted to do our dance together.
Just before we got into proper dancing position, Kessara blurted out, “Do you find it odd that I am used to you touching me—but in a far more aggressive manner?”
I knew she meant sparring and training, but the words themselves were suspect. I moved her closer by her lower back, beginning to move us to the live music being played. “And you say I’m the one with a way with words.” I turned us around effortlessly as I added, “Would it help if I told you to move your ass every so often? Like we are running right now and not in the middle of being made a spectacle?”
“We’ve been a spectacle at training lately too,” she admitted.Her graceful footing on the balance beams did transfer over to dancing too, it seemed.
Wanting to keep her talking, I asked, “Give me something real. What’s your age?”
