Page 25 of Enchanted Heir
I placed my hands on my hips and turned toward Silvia as she came back in the room. “Let me ask him first, maybe? But do I have to be an animal? Or can I go as something else?”
“You are not going as a baker,” Owen chided. “I know that’s a part of who you are, but let’s not remind the king of that. Or he will keep you here forever as one.”
I fought a shiver with that thought. “Not what I was thinking.”
“Not a white flower either,” Owen demanded.
I looked at him and shook my head. “No, but what about a tree?”
Silvia looked at me as if I had lost my mind. “A tree? You wish to go as a tree?”
“A pretty one?” I clarified.
Owen snorted like he was unsurprised and laid back down, one arm behind his enormous head.
I approached Silvia and took her hand, giving it a pat. “Let me talk to Krew. I don’t wish to be a wolf and upset him. And I don’t wish to be something like a lion or cheetah either. But I know you, Silvia. You could make the dress brown and green. You could make me into a beautiful tree, and you know it.”
“Are you trying to use flattery to get your way?” she asked with a squint.
I didn’t hesitate. “Yes, is it working?”
She patted our hands with her free one before letting go of mine. “A little, yes.”
From behind her, Owen sat up just to roll his eyes at me. “So, we are going as a tree then?”
Silvia winked at me. “We’ll see.”
* * *
Later that evening,I still hadn’t seen or heard Krew. So I decided to read on the balcony until there was not enough light to do so. While Keir’s balcony had been relatively smaller, I was certain Krew’s entire bed could fit out here if I figured out a way to maneuver it out the door.
I was just getting into a good part of the story, feverishly flipping pages despite the impending darkness, when I saw a gray blur through the forest.
I immediately put down the book and moved to the balcony to watch. I never saw Rafe other than the blur, but I still whispered into the night, “Hi, Rafe.”
I stood there and watched the sunset, the purple hues fading to a dull lavender as the night took the light over. The forest stood watch over it all, stuck in winter despite the changing seasons around it. Now that it was fall, it didn’t seem out of place. But come springtime? When it should be blossoming and chirping with life? I didn’t want to imagine it. It pained me to even think of it.
We had to figure out a way to fix the forest before then.
“You’re going to catch a chill.”
I hadn’t realized Krew was here, so I startled at his voice. I didn’t move to head inside either. “Hello to you too, Your Grace.”
His snort was the only sign he heard me, and through the open door I soon heard the shower start up. So he must’ve been getting ready for the evening meal.
Maybe I’d just live out here on the veranda. I’d be out of his way and content to take in views of the forest all day long.
I took some deep breaths of the chilled forest air. It was cold enough that when the slight breeze hit, my joints seemed to tighten, as if wanting to keep the cold from creeping in between my very bones. But the gorgeous sunset was not yet done, so neither was I. Plus, I wanted to keep looking for Rafe.
I wondered if we used some of the clean water source from the wolves’ den, if that could help the water in the Dead Lake. But just taking it seemed rude. And I wasn’t sure Rafe understood enough for me to ask.
Asking a wolf for permission? I was going mad.
“Are you coming in or not?” Krew snapped from behind me.
I spun to find him attaching a cuff link. He was freshly showered and looking handsome. “In a little bit.”
He rolled his eyes and approached me only to throw a blanket at me. “That’s what I assumed.”
