Page 59 of Enchanted Shadows
“Of who? Your family?”
She nodded, wiping at an eye. “And of myself.”
“Ofyourself?”
She gave me a shrug. “I almost participated in helping my older brother hurt my younger brother. I was nothing more than a puppet.”
I vowed in that moment to hunt down her older brother and give him the life he deserved. A short one. I clenched my jaw but forced my voice to come out gentle. “You were manipulated, Zara.”
She put a shaky hand to her forehead and let out a long sigh. “I think I should leave.”
“My cabin?”
“No. Training.”
What the hell? “No.”
“No?”
“No.”
She spun to me, that furrow in between her eyes back with a vengeance. “You let Aletta and Harlow leave when they were ready to.”
“You aren’t leaving,” I snapped. “I won’t let you throw this away because you’re scared and panicking. Not until you tell me everything, what’s really going on here. And definitely not if I don’t think you’ll be safe hiding in Nerede.”
She stood, anger replacing the confusion in her features. She gestured wildly toward the barracks. “Don’t you get it?! When I woke up last night, I thought it was my family trying to kill us. Itcould havebeen my family trying to kill us. Trying to get to me.”
“Zara.” I didn’t stand or raise my voice to match hers. “You’re trying to leave because you are scared, and you think that will keep the team safe.”
“Yes!” she hissed.
“Your guardian Amos thinks you are safer here than in Nerede, so why would you jeopardize that?”
“Because I don’t want anyone else in the crosshairs!”
I gave my head a shake. “No. My answer is still no.”
Both of her arms went out at her sides.“Why?”
I stood then slowly, taking a step toward her. “Because even in trying to quit, you are attempting to do what’s best for the team. You are leading, without even trying to.” I cocked my head as I took another step. “Why’d you tell Jessina to elbow me when I caught her leg?”
“Because you always reach for the kick and leave your body open,” she explained.
I grinned. “Exactly. So why not use that yourself? Why not be the one to finally hit me?”
That stunned her into silence. “Because I am not meant to lead.”
“Bullshit,” I spat.
Her eyes scanned mine. For what? I had no clue.
“Until you tell me a better reason, I’m not letting you leave Kavan Keep. And I’m sure as hell not allowing you to quit something you’ve worked so hard for.”
She gasped out a breath.
“Do you still not trust me?” I asked quietly.
She shook her head. “No. I do trust you. I just—” she cut off, again struggling against the weight she was carrying. A weight I was certain wasn’t all hers to bear. “It hurts.”
