Page 192 of XOXO

“I need you to go on a mission with me. If our father approves of it.”

She gasped before letting out a loud squeal. “I would be honored. Let me get my cloak.”

My father cleared his throat, halting her movements. “I don’t even know what this mission is about, not to mention that Wynter isn’t a King’s Guard yet.”

“It’s not that kind of mission, Father. I need Wynter to assist me in getting gifts for everyone at Castleva manor.”

“I knew this day would come.” My father let out a hard breath. “Make sure you have her back before dark. She needs–”

“I’ll get my cloak!”

Wynter took off fast, her black hair bouncing on her back and I laughed.

After a quick hug, I told him my plans for the gifts and he thought they were great. Conversing with my father was something I would have never done before Ember had helped me mend my relationship with him. My whole life, I’d blamed him for my mother dying during childbirth, never once realizing how much he was hurting. After finding the love of my life, and having her die in my arms before being resurrected by the God of Fire, Volcanis, I knew that pain ‌well.

Wynter returned minutes later with the biggest smile on her face. “I’m ready!”

We bid farewell to our father and headed straight for the portal. Because we had numerous places to go, this task would occupy us for the entire day.

Shortly before dark, my sister and I crossed the wards of Blackveil Castle.

“Today was a lot of fun, Val,” Wynter said as we passed a half dead tree. “Thanks for inviting me to help.”

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you. I really hope everyone loves their gifts. Especially Ember.”

“Do you know what the other guards got for Flaik Luna?” Wynter asked as we approached our father’s castle.

“Only Cash because I was with him when he bought Cinder the entire market.”

Wynter laughed, lifting the hem of her dress before ascending the front steps.

I pulled the castle door open and held it for her, and gave the guards on duty a nod before following her inside.

“Did Zayn get anyone a gift?” she asked, stopping inside the corridor.

Confusion washed over me and I shook my head. “Not that I know of. Why?”

Wynter pushed her dark hair behind her ear, a shy expression flushing her cheeks. “I was just wondering.”

Remembering Wynter had a crush on Zayn, I sighed and let the subject drop.

“It’s getting late. I better wield to father that I’m home.”

“I already did before we came inside.”

Wynter snickered, a bit of jealousy behind her eyes. “I don’t know how you can do it so far away!”

“When you come to Castleva, I’ll teach you how to wield your thoughts farther.”

The way Wynter smiled reminded me of our mother. “I would love that.”

Like my father, I wasn’t looking forward to my sister becoming a King’s Guard. Not because she wasn’t a warrior—my father had taught us more about weapons since birth than almost anyone else in the kingdom—but because, to me, she would always be that annoying little girl who used to follow me around, begging to have snowball fights. Even though she was born with the guardian mark, and it was her destiny to protect the kingdom, she was still innocent in my eyes.

At the age of twenty-one, she was far from a child. She was a full-blown woman still under the watchful eyes of my father. When she finally came to Castleva, and I had to deal with her big personality daily, I knew I was going to have my hands full. And that scared the shit out of me.

Pushing my worries aside to deal with when the time came, I said my goodbyes to my family before heading back home.

Chapter Six

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