Page 73 of Enchanted Shadows
“Thatta girl.”
By the time I answered all of Kensie’s questions and left back for Kavan Keep, I didn’t exactly have their blessing in this endeavor, but I did still have their respect. And that was the entire reason why I’d taken the time to go there today.
All that remained tomorrow was the wedding. By this time the following day, I’d be a married man.
There weretwo people waiting for me by the time I made it back to the cabin.
“Hey, how’d it go?” Wren asked as she stood up. She’d known I was going to see our parents today as Emric had filled in for the strategy session with the women. I would’ve just taken her with me were it not for that “no outside contact” rule. The one she’d already broken.
“Better than expected,” I admitted. “You wait up for me just to ask that?”
“No.”
“Anything happen this afternoon I should know about?”
“No,” they both responded.
Molly blurted out, “We came to ask if we could have time tomorrow to help Kessara get more dressed up than usual. Make it special for her. We know this marriage is happening to protect herfrom her ex and her brother, but that doesn’t mean it has to be dull for either of you.”
Wren added, “She already told us the team couldn’t come. It will be just the two of you and a royal sage.”
I gave them a nod. “She is correct. That’s what we agreed upon. But if you would like to do something kind for her, who am I to tell you no?”
“We will need out of the afternoon session,” Wren said, batting her eyelashes at me.
“No way. Not with the final trial coming up.” I tipped my head up to the trees. “I’m tired. And need to get to bed. How about I meet you halfway. We will start our morning run a half an hour earlier than usual, and strategy will only run for half as long, giving you an extra hour to work with.”
“We’ll take it!” Molly exclaimed, fist in the air. “We’ll definitely take it!”
“Happy last night of being single, brother.” Wren patted me on the shoulder.
“You do realize this is temporary?”
Neither of them responded. They must have been holding out hope that I was secretly in love with Kessara. I wasn’t. It wasn’t love. It was just a mutual respect.
“Off to bed, you two,” I commanded. “If only so that I can.”
“Yes, General,” Molly said.
Wren stopped just before leaving and turned back. “I know none of us say this as often as we should, but I’m really proud of you.”
“For getting fake married?”
“For stepping up to save her.”
I moved to give her a quick hug, if only so any and all tears could stay at bay. “Can I tell you something?”
I ignored the excited look Molly was giving me.
“You can tell me anything,” Wren said. “You know I always kept your secrets. Kensie was always the snitcher.”
She wasn’t wrong. And that only made me nervous about all I had told Kens that afternoon. I leaned in as I whispered, “I don’t think it’s possible to find another team of women with such poor taste in men.”
She whispered back as she and Molly turned to leave, “Don’t talk about yourself like that.”
Laughing, I headed into my cabin. Tomorrow night Kessara would be staying here with me for our wedding night. John had thought that best for appearances. And then once training wrapped up, she would be with me at all times. My days of being on my own were numbered.
Tomorrow everything would change. For better or worse.
