Chapter 28 - A Frozen Promise
Callan
Magdala stared at me, eyes wide, mouth agape. I wasn’t sure if it was because I’d told her I was sending Wrenora away or because I’d barged into her study without knocking.
“Highness.”
“Wrenora is to be sent to the border.”
Magdala blinked hard a few times, and I wondered if my words registered.
“Is there some reason she’s to be—”
“There was a fire mage in this last attack.” I left no room for negotiation in my tone.
She swallowed hard, her eyes never leaving mine. “I don’t understand.”
“My father would never hire a human to do his dirty work—it’s not my father trying to kill me.” I hadn’t discussed the rumors regarding an uprising with her, but it was as good a time as any. “There’s rumor of a rebellion, and with this attack...” I took a deep breath, letting it out long and slow.
She stood, shifting a few pieces of parchment around on her desktop as she stepped around. “I seriously doubt she’s part of any rebellion. Perhaps I can take her into Neev—”
“I promised her freedom, and I will not break that promise.”
“Your Highness, if—”
“I want her gone. As soon as feasibly possible.”
The words came out hot and harsh, the threads weaving around my chest pulling uncomfortably. I didn’t want her to leave. I never wanted her to be away from me. But the thought of harm coming to her was far worse.
“Of course, Highness.”
“Now that I have a suppression gem, there is no reason for a thrall to remain at my fortress. There is no place in my home for a filthy human.” I hoped my words were convincing enough, because they’d taken physical effort to force past my teeth.
Magdala’s chin tipped up, her lips pressed into a thin line. I couldn’t hold her eye contact, feeling the lie tighten my throat. I let my gaze wander over the manuscripts stacked against the shelves I’d found Wrenora organizing.
“I’ll make the arrangements immediate—”
“As soon as she’s comfortable leaving.”
Fucking Nine Hells. I shouldn’t have backed down.
I should have told her to send her away the next day, but my heart ached.
The way my hands had craved to pull Wrenora into my arms after the suppression gem had been successful.
How many times had I nearly yanked her closer, only to remember I’d kill her if I touched her.
I didn’t give Magdala room to say another word before I turned and swept from her office, limping as quickly as I could back to my bedchamber where I planned to spend the rest of the day digging through a manual of weapons to find the origin of the paw-shaped mace my attackers favored.
And all I could think about as I walked was Wrenora’s eyes when I’d stormed into my study the day before.
The way her cheeks had turned pink when I’d removed my pants to stitch the wound on my leg.
The way she’d waited for me, genuinely worried that I’d been gone for so long.
Like she cared for me—truly cared, not just cared for the man who would give her freedom. But cared for me.
I closed my bedchamber door, stumbling back into it with exhaustion and sorrow.
I was sending her away. But it was the last thing I wanted to do.