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She purses her lips but nods, seemingly satisfied.
"There’s a test," Kade explains, though he doesn't know if he’s ready for her to take it. Or if she’s ready. But he's getting desperate. If Elara’s it, her role is critical. Especially with everything moving so quickly now.
"A test?"
"Only the worthy can lift Excalibur. I would have told you all of this, especially about the test, the moment you survived the transformation, but Excalibur went missing, stone and all."
Elara blinks. "So, it isn't in the cathedral anymore? Fate doesn’t have it?"
Kade shakes his head. "She never had it. She just took me to where she knew it was. The sword itself had been de-powered after Arthur died by a powerful witch named Nimue. Its magic was stored in an amulet, and that amulet was given to the Knights of the Round Table for protection. However, sometime during one of the shifter-were wars, it disappeared."
Kade pauses, not sure if she's going to like the implications of the next part, but he can’t shield her from it all forever. She's a part of this, no matter how much he wants to protect her. Her fate is as sealed as his.
"I've been searching for it ever since Fate led me to Excalibur. But of course, now the sword’s gone too. But I think the amulet is what was stolen in the heist the shifters conducted recently. That massacre in the woods is somehow linked to all of it, I just don't know exactly how."
Elara sways where she sits, and Kade worries she might pass out. “Why are you finally telling me all this?”
"You want to know, and it's time. I have to find Excalibur before it falls into enemy hands. I’m sure it's been hidden away with all that's going on." Kade stands, wishing it wasn’t so hard to leave. But he’s said enough.
And he’s getting too close.
"Watch out for the wolves. They aren’t your friends, even if they aren't your enemies either, Elara."
“Kade, wait!” she calls, running up to him and grabbing his arm.
The electricity between them sparks and sizzles, and Kade can see her face heat with embarrassment, but she doesn’t let go. Contrary to what he knows is right, Kade steps closer until he can feel the heat of her body radiating off of her and warming his bare chest.
“C-can I help you?” she asks, her bottom lip trembling slightly.
Kade reaches up and cups her cheek, his thumb ever so slightly grazing over her bottom lip as he fantasizes about leaning in and tasting the sweetness he knows resides there.
“I would love for you to help, but I can’t risk that. You’re too important.”
“I don’t want to be important! I don’t want all these secrets! You’ve followed me all this time intent on protecting me, but you always leave!”
“The last thing I ever want to do is leave your side…” Kade leans in, pressing his forehead to hers and inhaling her every exhale as if he needs her to breathe. “But you’re not meant for me, and being near you is tearing me apart.” He takes one last look deep into her eyes and then turns and runs, the wolf in his veins fueling his movements. The unnatural feeling of being away from Elara is already pounding in his head.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He can hear Elara crying from behind him, but he can’t stop. This is a secret he can’t share, won’t share, because it would mean she’d stop looking at him like that and turn those beautiful pleading eyes to someone else. To Laith.
11
Elara
Elara steps left, her focus on Laith as he watches her with just as much intensity and mirrors her movement. She can smell the green of the grass, the warmth in the air, the hint of autumn clinging to the trees. She can hear Denzel shuffle ever so slightly to the side as he watches the sparring match, hear the way his breath slows as she and Laith continue to circle each other. Hear the faint flick of his tongue over his bottom lip.
She can see Laith’s intention to move a split-second before he does.
He faints right, but she meets him on the left. She ducks the swing aiming for her head, then leaps over the kick at her midsection. Laith growls, rushing at her as frustration tinges his cheeks a darker shade of red. Elara sweeps her leg out, tripping him. With quick-footed movements, he rights himself, ensuring the attack is little more than a glitch in his momentum.
He tries to strike her. Elara blocks.
He leaps. She retreats.
He grabs hold of her arm. She yanks and twists.
Elara almost allows herself a smile as Laith plows into the soft grass. She’s improving in ways she didn’t know possible. She feels almost untouchable. As if she’s faster than she can imagine, stronger than she ever imagined.
