Page 168 of Enchanted Heir
“Yep,” I agreed.
Krew rolled his eyes. “Isla knows where I stand and is just around for an extended castle stay, that’s all. She knows she’s a placeholder. And Cora stopped her advances long, long ago. So I don’t know how either of them care by this point.”
Renna rolled her eyes. “Go shower, you fool.”
He rose, listening for once. As he passed by me, he reached across me to put a hand on my hip and stop me, leaning over to kiss me on the lips before continuing.
“How is he today really?” I whispered as soon as I heard the shower water turn on.
“He’s not better, but not worse,” she admitted.
I let out a sigh as I sat down next to Renna. “How are you?”
She shrugged. “I’m fine. Ready to get out of this castle, but I fear we may be a few months out from that.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Sorry.”
We’d discussed arranging a super-secret meeting for me to meet Jo, but I had refused, not wanting to risk anything more for Renna than what she already was posing as a spy for Krew. I couldn’t wait to meet her once all this was over though and see the other half of one of my best friends. “Tell Jo hello for me?”
“Of course.”
I shot her a guilt-ridden smile. “I’m heading down while he’s still in the shower. Forcing him to come down with you.”
She laughed. “You are brave.”
* * *
Krew camein with Renna as I had requested but found me shortly after, coming up beside me and just glaring at me.
“Hi, My Prince.”
He squinted. “Don’t ‘My Prince’ me. And that was dirty leaving me upstairs with Renna. Even for you.”
I took a sip of my water from Rinaldi. “Even for me?”
“Yes. You have your ways. And you know I can’t tell you no.”
“Owen would tell you that’s just the power of the breasts,” I offered.
Krew snorted a laugh, leaning in to whisper in my ear. “It’s a lot more than just the breasts.”
And then he was gone, leaving my skin tingling where his breath had hit my skin.
Hatcher was not at this ball for once, but I greeted two other parliament members I recognized. For the most part, the Savaryn people still stayed away from the consorts. I didn’t know if that was the king’s doing, or their own thinking after what happened with Michael Noyer. Either way, I was thankful for it. I was still whispered about and stared at but having to stomach those same people trying to fakely befriend me would have been too much.
As soon as the dancing was done, I headed over to find Molly. Renna and I had a common goal and we were friends, but it was wrapped in our respective relationships with Krew. Molly, on the other hand, was just a friend. I loved her wit and her humor, and I hoped she didn’t go home for a long time yet. Sadly, Renna and I barely had time to talk anymore if it wasn’t about Krew or disloyal things. So though sometimes I felt guilty for it, I did look forward to my discussions with Molly more than my discussions with Renna.
Finally reaching her, I grabbed her hand. “Molly! Your dress!” It was a blueish-purple color, I couldn’t quite decide which. And the material looked so soft, I just wanted to reach out and run my hand along it.
“It’s one of my favorites,” she smiled. She looked around us at the window to make sure we were alone before leaning in. “Can we play some cards this week? I am getting bored. I’m on rereads of all my books.”
I laughed. “Of course. And I’ll see if I can find a new book for you somewhere. I’ll ask around.”
Baking and cards were definitely on the list for the next week. We had played cards last week, but it wasn’t as fun with Nara gone. Gwen and Molly, both in Keir’s final four, were beginning to have more tension the farther the Assemblages went. Granted with both of them presumably interested in Keir, I could understand why.
“How are you really doing?” I whispered. “Do we need to go find the chocolate?”
Molly let out a sigh. “Possibly. I know how Keir feels about Gwen, I just also am finally starting to see that we complement each other well.” She paused. “Wait. Is that weird to say to you?”
