Page 157 of Enchanted Shadows
“What?” I whispered.
“Would you just kiss me already?”
I grinned while using my power to move the water and dinner roll to the nightstand. “Your wish is my command, Princess.”
I kissed her and then took my time massaging her body, starting with her feet. Every bruise and small cut I found from her time in the forest I kissed, every scar from her past, all while wishing I held the power to make them vanish. As I worked my way up, I made sure my hands articulated my promise, a truth so real it felt palpable. The realm could crumble around us, but I would be hers and she would be mine. Nothing and no one would ever take that from us again.
CHAPTER 51
Iwent for a run, sweat dripping as I ran through the forest. Fur blurred and weaved in and out of the trees as the wolves joined me. And when I felt like my lungs were going to burst, when I felt the chaos of the past week didn’t feel so overwhelming, so crushing, only then did I ease up.
Soon Shadow and Rafe fell into step closer to me.
“I don’t even know how to thank the two of you,” I whispered to them both. “For keeping her safe for me.”
Rafe pressed his head into my hand.
I rubbed his head gently. Even as my throat burned, I repeated, “Thank you. You never cease to amaze.” I reached in my back pocket and pulled out a few strips of jerky I’d stolen from the kitchen for the two of them. “Here.”
At nightfall, Kessara and I would bond. The Slay Sisters arrived this morning to help her get ready. I wasn’t sure it was really needed, but they just liked to spend time with one another, and I would be the first to admit that I was hogging Kessara all to myself lately. So I allowed it. Even if I was banned from my own damn room until later this afternoon because of it.
I pet Rafe after he finished his snack and ran my hand down Shadow’s back as I walked back to The Dead Lake. The place it all went down.
I looked to the purple hydrangea tree and still couldn’t believe it. The tree had rearranged itself, growing and launching roots out of the ground to help us. Only the queen’s magic was still alive, and yet even her magic seemed to house her essence. Her need for justice. Just like the forest.
I made sure no one was around to see me talking to the tree before I placed my hand on the bark. “Thank you. I don’t understand how, but thank you.” As an afterthought, I added, “And if there is a way we can help your magic find its eternal rest, please let us know. Leave us hints, smack us with a root until we figure it out.”
A chill ran down my spine as a blossom fell, resting on my shoulder. Like a hand would have. And as it did, I felt as if the tree was content to rest here for now. Maybe not always. Word of what happened with Kessara, Calix, and Bram was already spreading like the wildest of fires throughout Wylan and soon it would reach the rest of the realm. Soon everyone would understand that the tree held power.
I kept the pretty bloom in my hands. “I just want you to know, both of your sons are doing great. They are good men. Good fathers.”
Another bloom fell, this time I held out my left palm and easily caught it next to the other. “Two in a day? You’re going to make me blush.”
I felt a breeze at my back. I imagined the tree was somehow scowling at me and pushing me along.
“All right,” I told it. “I’ll leave you be. But thank you. Truly.”
I walked to the castle feeling lighter than when I had begun, less worried about what the night would bring.
As my heels hit the stairs to head to my old room to shower, a guard found me. “The king would like to see you.”
Worried it might be news related to Bram and the trial, I turned around immediately. I had time to check in and see what was going on, even if I was taking part in a bonding ceremony that night. “Throne room?”
“No. The royal quarters.”
As I walked that direction, I tried not to panic. Nothing was wrong. Nothing would go wrong this day. This was destined to be a great day. I refused to allow it to be otherwise.
As soon as I arrived, I found in a rare occurrence it was just Krew. Krew without the rest of his family that he rarely went without.
“They’re in the kitchens.” A smirk rested on his lips, the thought of his family making him smile.
“What’s wrong?”
“Not a damn thing, Owen. Not a damn thing.”
I let out a sigh of relief.
Krew held up a finger. “I just wanted to give you this.”
