Page 154 of Enchanted Shadows
It was that moment I wondered what this would mean for tensions with Agria. The fact that we had killed an heir to the second most powerful Agrian bloodline. But the prick had more than deserved it. I should think an attack on the queen of Wylan would be enough to get us out of whatever political mess we found ourselves in.
The blood pool expanded beneath him, his head lolled to the side, eyes permanently open. And when the final ember of life bled from Calix Cyncrest, the rooted cage around us began shifting, moving itself, the long, strong strands unraveling to seek out the dirt beneath us. As if anything else would have been preposterous to consider.
Miles and I stood there watching them shift and move. When standing witness to a miracle, sometimes the only reaction was to take it in, in all its glory.
The last of the roots finally back sleeping beneath the dirt, an explosion of dirt brought my sword back into view at my feet.
My sword that the former queen’s magic had kept safe for me, refusing to let it fall into Calix’s hands.
“Thank you,” I gritted out from around the pain as I crouched to retrieve my weapon. I patted the dirt at my feet before picking it up in my left hand.
Free of the cage and shadows, I looked around to see a ton of people had arrived, including a castle healer who was tending to my wife.
Immediately I strode for them, for Kessara.
She was apparently still fighting off unconsciousness as she gasped, “Owen?”
I moved to be near her, sitting on the ground, dropping myweapon, and pulling her across my body with my good arm. “I’m here. It’s over. He will never hurt you again.”
As she sobbed into my chest, the healer informed me, “She wouldn’t take this tea until she knew you were okay. She’s been in and out of consciousness.” The healer took a better look at me and said, “Sir, your forearm.”
I suspected I’d need a surgery in addition to time to heal. “I’ll be fine.”
“But the bone, sir, is protruding from your arm.”
Kessara, still droopy, moved to look at me. “You’re going to be okay?”
Though pain was still wracking my body, I was happy to say the words, “I’m going to be a pain in your ass the rest of our lives. We’re going to be okay, so drink the damn tea.”
Someone draped a blanket over us as she did, the fact that I was still without a shirt becoming painfully obvious as I finally felt a chill from around the adrenaline and power easing out of my veins. Only a few sips in, Kessara finally fell asleep in my arms.
And then Wren was there, finding us and throwing her arms around us.
“He has a broken forearm,” the healer said with disdain, shoving her away.
She made a disgusted face at it and moved away from my arm.
And then Molly joined us. Vivian. Sam.
“Not another group hug?” I groaned as the healer began scolding each of them. I didn’t care, though. In fact, I thought I might rather be becoming a fan of the group hug. Not that I was going to tell my team that anytime soon.
“Oh, shut up and take it,” Sam said.
“Wait,” I quickly counted. We were missing a team member. “Where’s Pippa?”
As we all shifted to look for her, we found her stomping toward Bram. Miles had Bram’s hands held in his magic and was trying toexplain to Pippa that he was not going free, but she wouldn’t hear it.
Just before she got there, her eyes found mine. She already knew what I would say. To tighten her core and throw her whole body behind it.
So that was what she did as she punched outward, her fist colliding with Bram’s nose beautifully.
“Not again!” he groaned as blood began spurting everywhere.
“Mess with the Slay Sisters and get wrecked,” Sam called.
And though it wasn’t really the time or place for it, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Pippa the Pepper, everyone.”
CHAPTER 50
