Page 11 of Enchanted Heir
Molly and Owen had been hurt the most.
“I didn’t really think Krewan was ready to marry me tomorrow, but I also didn’t think he hated me,” Molly said quietly.
“He doesn’t, Molly. It was Keiran that got to pick which woman,” I offered to her.
“It could have been any one of us,” Renna added.
Molly wiped at her eyes. “This is horrible. I didn’t want to switch. I’m not sure if I ever thought Krewan was my happy ending or not, but I did like being in his Assemblage.”
“I’m sorry, Molly,” I repeated. “It’s my fault.”
“Not all your fault,” Renna gently reminded. “Also the king’s. Also Keir’s.” The look she gave me after the last option let me know she was not impressed with Keir currently.
“I understand if you need some space or time or are mad at me for a while,” I told Molly calmly. “I get it. Take your time.”
“Shut up,” Molly snapped. Then she got up and hugged me, grabbing Renna and bringing her in too. “These boys and their crowns will not break us. Not the three of us.”
“That’s the spirit,” Renna laughed.
I was stunned. A tear slipped out of my eyes. She wasn’t going to hate me forever?
“But Molly,” I added. “You’re going to be whispered about. Both of us. We will forever be known as the women who switched.”
“Because we aresensationalwomen?” Molly shrugged. “The way I see it, not one buttwoprinces wanted to spend time with us. The rest of Wylan may assume it is our bedroom skills, but you and I both know that’s not it.”
I smiled but added, “Trust me though, all the whispering gets old.”
Molly shrugged, her eyes going to Renna. “People will always whisper.” She pulled back and looked at me. “So Prince Krewan, huh?”
I shrugged. “I have no idea what’s going on. I’m still processing it all. I’m in Krewan’s wing instead of Keiran’s now as a safety precaution.” I thought for a moment in how to best word the next thing I needed to say. “If Prince Krewan were to send me home right away, the king would be suspicious, so I might have to stick around for a little bit.”
“More card games, then?” Renna said with a smile.
“More card games it is,” Molly sighed. “For as long as I last anyway.”
I didn’t want to tell her I thought Keir might keep her around for a long time, if for no other reason than spite.
We chatted a few minutes more before Renna and I returned to Krew’s wing. On the coffee table in the room we had been talking in, sandwiches were waiting for us. Krew’s was long gone, nothing but crumbs remaining on his plate.
“How’d it go?” he asked, one leg draped lazily over a knee.
I was thinking Renna would respond, but she didn’t say anything, so I finally said, “Better than I expected.”
“You should talk to her,” Renna told Krew.
He let out a sigh. “I will try tonight. Though father told us both this morning that I was to stay away from Molly now,” his eyes met mine, “and Keir from you.” He paused. “But if I have one of you with me, I might still be able to talk to her.”
“How’d that go?” I asked.
He shrugged. “About as well as you’d expect.”
I sat down and grabbed my sandwich, needing something to do. I could hear that Silvia was back tinkering in the bathroom, so I supposed it was time to get back to pre-ball pampering.
“So,” Krew said to me, “tonight you’re going to have to ignore Keir. Pretend like he isn’t even there. Pretend like you don’t care when he dances with Aiyana or Gwen. You’re going to have to focus on me and me only.”
“Can’t wait,” I offered dully.
Renna laughed from around her own sandwich.
