Page 82 of Enchanted Heir
“Goodnight,” I smiled nicely. “Goodnight, Nicola.”
She gave me a tight smile as if just relieved to be leaving while she and Keir walked away.
Krew took my hand and pulled me toward the exit.
Once in the hallway, I took a deep breath.
“Sorry, love,” Krew said tersely. “Father said something earlier today and I realized I needed to make it appear that I trusted him, even if for a moment. I intentionally left you for last despite my every instinct not to.”
That made sense, but I was also pretty sure I had just seen him get jealous back there. Whether he was appearing to be jealous or truly jealous was the question.
“What?” he asked, sensing my eyes on him.
“Are you going to ask what Keir said to me?”
His magic stayed calm with my hand in his, but I caught his free hand clenching into a fist. “It is none of my business.”
I rolled my eyes. We weren’t even going to make it back to his wing, but I had to set the record straight right this minute. I grabbed him by the arm and led him off to the side, next to the wall after the intersection of hallways. Owen and Krew’s guard, Romero, were both behind us twenty or more feet, giving us space but still there.
“He said if we needed any help to let him know. And we were laughing because Molly was a little tipsy and saying something inappropriate. It was innocent, Krew. I know you barely slept last night, and I understand I am largely to blame for that, but please do not read more into that than was truly there.” I paused, sliding my hands to my hips. “And while we are at it, can you please stop scaring me by flying places with your magic. You are going to give me a heart attack. Stop jumping off balconies, Krew.”
“I doubt his feelings for you are truly gone,” Krew argued as he took a step toward me, closing the gap between us and completely ignoring the balcony comments.
I shook my head. “I cannot speak for his feelings. I can only speak for mine.”
“And?” he asked, leaning in.
I cocked my head, which happened to make us even closer, but I never took my eyes off his. “And I do not wish to be in his Assemblage, Krew. I do not have feelings for your brother anymore. But I also do not have a reason to be rude and hateful to him at every opportunity.”
We stood there a moment, both just staring each other down.
“So you weren’t jealous?” I asked with a squint.
He ever so slightly gave his head a shake and moved his hands as if he wanted to shake me. “Where you are concerned? I’ve been jealous on numerous occasions. The feeling isn’t entirely new, Jorah.”
For how long?I opened my mouth to ask, but then we heard voices in the hallway.
Krew moved faster than humanly possible and pushed me against the wall, putting an arm above my head and leaning in until his forehead almost rested against mine. I wasn’t sure if he was trying to make it look like we were kissing, or trying to shield me, but I knew if he was moving to protect me like this, then his father or someone equally as evil was in the hallway with us.
“Do not touch me!” the king boomed before a slapping noise rang loudly in the empty halls.
“We are only trying to help you get to your rooms, Your Grace.”
Krew’s eyes were on mine. His magic flashed once in them before calming down.
I reached up and put a hand on his cheek, just to be sure his magic stayed that way.
“Oh look!” the king chirped. “And there’s one of my sons and his most beloved consort.” He staggered forward a few steps, thankfully continuing on his way, not toward us. But then he added, to no one in particular it seemed, “She weakens him. Just like his other whore.”
Krew’s entire body went tense. I was worried he would fly at the king and try to kill him, so I put my other hand on his tailcoat lapel and held onto him. I wasn’t even sure the king could see my face, or the fact that we weren’t kissing, but I didn’t dare move a muscle.
“But,” the king paused to belch, “at least this whore is useful for something. So, there is that.”
Though I was touching Krew, I could feel his magic buzzing and churning, begging for a chance to shut his father up.
“You’ll learn,” the king said as his clompy footsteps faded away from us. “Just like I did with your mother. The attachment to one woman weakens us. It’s better to have a few to bounce between.”
Krew’s face had violence written all over it, from the set of his jaw, the clench of his teeth, and the fire raging in his eyes.
