Page 53 of Her Ivory Flame

“I will not let you out of my sight until we figure out what is going on.” His voice was surprisingly gentle and she felt her shoulders relax instantly. “You did good.”

He let out a rattled breath before she could figure out a way to respond. His eyes watched her a few seconds longer, a softness to them that felt more real than she had seen before and then he gestured to follow him towards the castle.

Curiosity got the best of her and she fell into step with him, two soldiers holding onto their horses that had run back to the gate earlier.

“We need to go see Emris.” Kaden glanced at her as he mountedup on his horse.

She just nodded and settled onto her mare, giving her a gentle pat on the neck before they both took off at a gallop to the castle.

What happened today hit close to home and it made her snap out of whatever depression she was in. There was a war coming and if she didn’t get her full power back soon people were going to die.

She wasn’t going to let that happen.

Chapter 21

Kaden ran through the castle ahead of her, her legs doing everything they could to keep up until reaching the throne room and halted.

“Don’t tell Emris about your power’s effect on the creatures yet,” he whispered. “If we have a spy in the castle, we don’t need anyone confirming what everyone suspects.”

She wasn’t going to tell him about the masked male she saw, or at least she thought she saw yet. With the adrenaline running through her, she still wasn’t sure of what she actually saw.

She nodded and he pushed the door open with such force the doors creaked in protest. She couldn’t help but watch the flex of his shoulders and the raw muscles in his arms move beneath his leathers. Not once had she tried to study his physical appearance other than the night of the ball, and that was a different situation.

“Kaden!” Emris yelled frantically from across the hall.

They walked closer to the king, her eyes noticing the scribe and Declan in a frantic conversation.

“Is it true then?” Emris asked while his eyes scanned over their bodies, no doubt taking in all the blood they had been covered in.

“A dozen Trenchers made it to the meadow,” Kaden replied. “Alyra and I took care of them before they got any closer.”

“You let her fight!” Declan roared and rushed to the king’s side. “What if she had gotten killed?”

“I handled myself just fine,” she growled back.

“You are our only hope to win this war and he let you go off into battle before you are ready!” Declan yelled.

She had been successful at avoiding her ex-fiancé over the last few months, and his lack of respect for her was getting old.

“You have no idea if I’m ready or not!” she yelled back. “You have no right to judge my skills when you know nothing about my training. Kaden thought I was ready and so did I.”

Anger took over her and she started to lurch forward, her fist aching to meet with Declan’s face. Kaden threw his arm in front of her sensing her intentions and she paused before running into him. She heard a growl from his chest and he nodded his head for her to step back behind him. If it had been anyone else, she knew he would have shoved them back, but he wouldn’t do that to her and she respected that.

“You assigned me to train her and I am. You know fully well I could have taken them all down myself and it was a good opportunity for her to become acquainted with what we are fighting.” Kaden’s voice was low and she could feel the tension growing around them.

Declan glared at them both while Emris let out a long breath, clearly stressed out by the string of events taking place.

“I will decide what we need to do, I’m sure this was brought on because she is here.” Emris sighed.

“It’s not her fault.” Kaden snapped. “You are the one that decided to parade her around at the ball to show power. Did you not think he would react?”

Emris looked at him in shock, the boldness of his words bordering on treason and she knew the tension was just going to get worse.

“Let’s just go back to my room and take some time to think about things.” she pleaded, her hand grabbing onto Kaden’s arm in hopes he would calm.

She saw his nostrils flare at her touch; she figured because it was something she wouldn’t typically have done, and then tension soon started to leave his muscles.

“No training until we secure the grounds.” Emris demanded towards Kaden. “You are to stay with her at all times now, even at night until further notice.”