Page 20 of Enchanted Shadows
No wonder she always seemed angry. “Well. If you really don’t want to be here, then go get your man. I’d get married on the way home, if I were you. Get away from your family.”
Aletta took a deep breath. “Thank you, General Raikes.”
“Take care of yourself,” I told her with a dip of my chin.
When I spun back to the rather quiet group, Jessina was glaring at me, her eyes trying to leave her head. “You’re just going to let her walk out? And leave? Like that?”
“You can’t save them all, Jessina,” I told her gently.
“But—”
“No buts. She didn’t want to be here. Forcing her to keep up with your training was physically painful for her. I am not going to force someone to be here who doesn’t want to be. And contrary to popular belief, I do not enjoy other’s pain.”
Jessina moved to go after her, but I stepped into her way and stopped her. “Jessina,” I warned.
“I just wanted to help,” she gasped out, her eyes now swimming with tears.
“I know you did. In this case, we have to trust that Aletta will help herself. She knows what she wants, and itisn’tbeing a part of this team.”
She forcefully swatted at a tear.
“Leave it be,” I said more gently.
She nodded, swallowing hard.
The rest of them moved to get set to do their abdominal circuit, but while we were all in our feelings, there was one more thing that needed to be discussed. “Hold up.”
Jessina and Remy were off. Both were from Rallis. Did they have some sort of bad history? I pointed to each of them. “You two haven’t so much as looked at each other for two days. I was trying to wait it out and see if it’d blow over, but it’s not. So what happened?”
“Nothing,” Remy said quickly. Far too quickly.
Jessina was still fighting down tears but said nothing.
“We are going to stand here all day until one of you explains,” Vivian told them.
“She’s not wrong,” I agreed.
Remy let out a sigh. “I snapped at Jessina. Told her she’s trying too hard.”
I looked to Jessina. “That’s what happened? The reason for not speakingfor a few days?”
“It was the way in which she said it, more so than the words themselves.” Jessina jerked a hand toward the barracks where Aletta was gathering her things. “But obviously she’s right, I am trying too hard.”
“Hey,” I snapped. “You care about the team. Never apologize for that. You just have to learn which personalities like the push and which don’t, all right?”
Jessina turned to Remy. “Sorry I pushed too hard.”
“Sorry I snapped at you, it was a long day, but you didn’t deserve that.” Remy shifted on her feet. “And Aletta leaving isn’t your fault.”
And then they hugged. They actually hugged. Just like my mother used to force us to do for sibling squabbles. I was used to altercations with the men, which lasted far shorter and often times ended in blows, but at least they were efficient?
“All right, that’s it,” I said on a sigh. “Grab your stuff. We will do our circuit in a different location. Follow me.”
They all looked to one another confused, but I didn’t answer any more questions, I began walking without turning to look to make sure they all followed. I could hear them scrambling around for their water jugs, though.
“Where are we going?” Magnolia asked.
“A change of scenery sometimes helps,” was all I explained.
