Page 14 of Enchanted Heir
“Hi, Jorah.”
Of course.Of course she would want to make amends now that I was out of her way. “Hi, Gwen.”
“I was surprised to hear the news.” Gwen gestured toward my dress.
I smiled nicely. “Weren’t we all.”
She leaned in and whispered quietly, “Were you forced to switch? Are you all right?”
I smiled at her and this time it felt genuine. “Yes and no, Gwen. But truly, I am fine.”
She stood there with her brow furrowed for a moment as if trying to decide if I was serious or not.
“Ladies.”
Krew was there sliding between Renna and I while we all bowed, placing a hand at the small of my back. He leaned in and said, “May I borrow you for a moment?”
I nodded. “Of course.”
He looped my hand around his arm and began walking us away from all the blue dresses and black suits. “Did you survive the first few minutes?”
“Barely, but yes.”
He led us to a different window and paused, leaning up against a nearby wall.
My breath caught. The view was a lot better out of this window. How had I not looked out this window yet? That was my thing, drinking waters by the windows. But when there had been more guards for all the other women, this part of the room had been lined with them.
“Is my father here yet?” Krew asked.
My eyes flew to the indoor balcony and sure enough, the king was sitting there. I forced my eyes to come right back to Krew’s. “Perched in the Valanova royal balcony, yes.”
“Okay good.” With a hand he scooted me over just a touch, so my back was against the wall right beside the window.
He lazily leaned an arm on the wall above my head.
My eyes went to his arm on the wall above me and back to his eyes. “Nice. Establishing me as another frontrunner?”
He shrugged. “I didn’t figure we needed to wait for the dancing to really ramp up the whispers.”
I laughed. “How efficient of you.” From over his shoulder, I could see Keir looking our way and fuming.
“We are being watched,” I offered.
“I’m aware, gorgeous.”
“I mean of the brotherly variety. Not the evil father,” I clarified.
Krew smirked. “You can say his name, you know.”
I shook my head. “No, I cannot. One of these vultures has to be able to read lips, Krew.”
“I’m glad you take this so seriously.”
I squinted at him and leaned in even further to pat his chest. “You have no idea.”
He grinned. “Well done.” And then he moved back a step, reached for my hand, and we headed back into the fray of blue and black.
I had officially survived our first fake public flirting.
