Page 36 of Enchanted Shadows (The Enchanted Kingdom #6)

I t took one shaky breath out of Kessara for me to demand, “You’re staying here with me.”

Amos looked to her and back to me. Both of us were standing, while Kessara still sat at the table. “Likely smart. Don’t leave her alone,” he agreed. “Not until he shows his face.”

“I won’t,” I told him with a nod. I was sure he felt torn between keeping Artem and Kessara safe. Artem was the more acceptable heir in Agria, so it appeared Kessara was left to me. And that pissed me off a little on her behalf.

How long had she been the spare heir despite being oldest?

How long had she been oppressed because two powers flowed in her veins instead of one?

It made her valuable, but only to a certain extent.

Her blood was powerful, but not purely Agrian.

Instead of that being a strength, her people saw that as a weakness. Yet somehow still a tool.

I’d do whatever necessary to make sure she mopped the floor with them all. They didn’t deserve her.

Amos finished explaining, “Thought you two should hear it from me. He’s made it to Nerede’s shores.

He hasn’t done anything other than get settled at an inn this evening based on everything the king’s men in Nerede said.

It will take him a day or two to ask around and figure out where you went.

He will listen and lurk in the shadows for gossip.

But best believe once he knows, he will be coming up this mountain. ”

I wasn’t afraid of this challenge at all. “Let him.”

“How is Artem?” Kessara asked. He was safely tucked away in the castle, some of our guards helping keep him that way.

“Mostly just worried about you,” Amos answered.

Because Calix was after her. Not Artem. Artem was the tagalong heir, but the catalyst to this entire mess. If Kessara hadn’t been so loyal to her little brother, trying to do the right thing by him, would she have run a long time ago?

Amos gave me a quick pat on the shoulder and left as swiftly as he came.

I shut the door, making sure it was locked. As I turned back to Kessara, she was looking around the cabin.

“Where is your whiskey?” she demanded.

I smirked, heading to pour her one. “I will get you one. But only one.”

“Why?”

“Because I need you sharp.” I placed the glass before her with a thunk and repeated, “Only one.”

She tipped it back in one go. I might have found it attractive if I didn’t fully understand that she was needing something to edge off the fear which was consuming her.

“Your turn to eat,” I told her. “I would like to ask a few questions and give you my thoughts on everything you were gracious enough to share.”

She looked to her plate, mostly shoved around, and back to me. “I don’t know that I can.”

Screw it, I grabbed the container of cookies and slid them her way. “Try starting with these? I’m not one to judge a person for starting with dessert.”

She gave me the barest of smiles and picked one up.

“First things first,” I began. “The most important question.”

She swallowed her first bite and took another.

“Do you love him?”

Her brows drew together as she chewed. Once the bite of cookie was gone, she said, “At one point I was sure I did. A point in time where I might have even helped kill for Calix, but no. I do not love him. The puppet has no choice but to love the puppeteer, when their lifeline is wholly wrapped up in him. I no longer need him to feel alive, thus his manipulations no longer have the same hold.”

That was all I needed to hear. “I think Calix is smarter than you give him credit for. I think he knew exactly what he had in you, Kess. And I think he will fight like hell to get you back.”

Her eyes went a little glassy. “I’m so sorry for bringing all of you into this mess.”

“I’m not. I rather like a challenge.” I had to pause and clench my jaw together. “Don’t you dare cry for him. He’s taken enough from you, don’t you think?”

She gave me a little nod and took another bite of cookie.

“I doubt my opinion matters much to you, but you are not responsible for those three deaths either. Your brother is a coward. Used your power to make those deaths easy for him to bestow. That cowardice is on him, not on you.”

“But I’m a coward also. For not telling him no. At first, I didn’t know why he would have me hold them down, but toward the end, I knew. I knew and I still went along with it. Closed my eyes as if that would help ease the guilt. By not having to see it.”

“Did you really have a choice? Your parents wouldn’t hear you. Your youngest brother was at risk. I did some things for Theon I hated myself for. Including standing there when he put a bruise on Jorah’s wrist.”

Her eyebrows bounced toward her hair. “How’d you get over it?”

“I watched him bleed out on the throne room floor.” Graphic? Maybe. But it was the honest answer. “And I am watching his own sons tear down the walls he built, heal the countries he poisoned. The legacy he worked so hard to secure is obliterated.”

She took a bite of her cookie, as if lost for words. When she got the bite down, she asked, “Are you sure I can stay the night, Owen? I thought I needed to be at the barracks until we are officially dismissed after the celebration.”

“You can and you will. Perk of marrying your general. I’m the only one who can kick you out for messing up. And I’m not kicking you out. Extenuating circumstances and all that. You’re staying.”

We chatted about the last few days of training, the celebration ball in two days’ time while I got her to eat a little more.

“Owen?” she asked as she crawled into my bed.

“Yeah?”

“Get over here. You’re old and I need you the next few days. Can’t have you all stiff.”

I sat up to look over at her. “Your way with words is just enchanting .”

Her eyes went wide. “I meant your neck! Your stiff neck!” Her hands flew to cover her face. “The one attached to your big he—” Her words cut off entirely. “I’m just going to just shut up now.”

Some opportunities you just couldn’t turn down. “I’ll be stiff no matter where I sleep, Princess.”

“Owen!” she began laughing. Then laughing harder. “Just get over here. Please.”

It was again the “please” that got me. Maybe she didn’t want to sleep alone after being told that Calix was coming for her.

I grabbed my blanket from the couch and opted to sleep on top of the covers.

It felt less invasive to her that way since we were crowded in closer in this bed than we had been at the castle.

“All your beds smell like you,” she commented on a sigh.

I snorted a laugh, not expecting that. “Apologies.”

“They smell . . . safe.”

“Kessara, he can’t have you. You’re no one’s property.”

“Technically I’m yours,” she said from around a yawn.

“Let’s keep it that way then, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

She went quiet, all curled onto her side, so I didn’t say anything further.

I listened to her breathing until I was sure that she was asleep. I stared at the ceiling with my wife asleep beside me well into the early hours of the morning. I couldn’t kill her ex until he showed his pretty face, but for now?

For now, I could plan.