Page 106 of Enchanted Shadows
“I will not hurt them,” he amended. “But we will leave for Agria in the morning.”
That had to be the emptiest promise I’d ever heard.Hemight not hurt me, but he also wasn’t going to keep anything else from hurting me. He’d walk me right into a blade and smile while he did it.
“Good,” Krew snapped, holding up yet another paper. “Here is another letter. One which states that you are officially an enemy of the country of Wylan for your treatment of my sister. You are never to return. Now get the hell out of Wylan. To return would be to dig your own grave.”
CHAPTER 33
Going from the tense meeting to seeing the women off for their break was an abrupt change in emotion. Calix was back to being heavily guarded in his room. His meals would be brought to him there, as Krew wisely refused to let him wander the castle free.
We had the thirty days of our training break to get this drama with Kessara’s family settled. Miles might joke that I spoiled this team, but the truth was, more than it was spoiling, I had never been so unfocused as I had with this training group. Between Theon’s loyalists and Kessara’s presence, things had spiraled out of control. I needed to do better. I needed to be able to focus and train them up to the level I knew they were capable of. And I knew neither Kessara or I would be focused and dialed in unless we did this now.
So off to Agria we went. In the morning.
The rest of the team had gathered in the open area next to the gardens with their bags, so that was where we headed.
“Will the two of you be in Nerede for the harvest festival?” Elsie asked us.
Kessara’s eyes went to mine as if asking for permission.
I didn’t know what she wanted to say, but I didn’t mind. “If we are here for that, but unfortunately I think we will just miss it.”
“We are leaving for Agria in the morning. My mother has beckoned me to make sure I’m still alive. And the Commander won’t let me go alone.”
“Tomorrow?” Wren repeated.
She gave them a nod. “Unfortunately.”
Fern turned toward me. “Do you want me to go along with you? There is plenty of water on the way, and the rainforest has rain as well. It’s not as if I have family here to be with.”
I appreciated her offer. Her immediate urge to help. “The training breaks are there for you to take them. It is for your mental health as much as anything. You need a break, Fern.”
“So do you,” Wren snapped at me.
“I do,” I admitted. I needed to sleep for a week straight. “And I will. Hopefully we will be back within a week or so. There will still be plenty of time to rest before training starts back up.”
Sam’s eyes darted to me and to Molly, who she whispered something to.
“What?” I asked.
Molly moved to whisper to Wren.
Sam smiled at me. “Nothing. I’m not sure how I’m going to live my life these next thirty days without you telling me to move or pick it up.”
I smirked. “You’ll manage. Enjoy your holidays, Slay Sisters. I will see you back at the barracks after. Ready to get to work.”
They hugged one another and said goodbyes as the four carriages pulled up which would deliver them home. We stayed until every last woman had boarded.
Kessara let out a deep breath, her eyes trailing the last carriage.
“Worried?”
Her eyes found mine. “Yes and no. Honestly, I was thinking I hoped that I’d see them all again.”
“You are a part of this team, Kess. You aren’t going anywhere,” I reminded her.
“Except that I am. Back to Agria.”
My voice went serious. Lower. “Over my dead body will I let them force you to stay.”
