Page 94 of Enchanted Heir
I dropped to my knees to properly hug him back. “I miss you too, Warrick. More than you know.”
“Guess what?” he asked.
“What?” I didn’t stop hugging him. I wasn’t sure if I could ever let him go.
“There is a whole table here of only desserts!” He bounced on his feet excitedly.
I grinned. “I know. I already had some. You should go with the others, they are lining up right now. I would hate for you to miss out on any of the good options on my account.”
“See you after?” he asked, already smiling and running away.
I just laughed.
A few of my classmates approached, so I greeted them and smiled. It was odd that the people who didn’t care much for me before suddenly did. I didn’t quite know what to do with it, but I tried to be kind nonetheless.
“Jorah,” a deep voice said. I spun to find Theodore Jones looking nice in his best jeans and tailcoat. He must have been to see Flora recently.
“How are you, Theodore?” I asked.
Then he surprised me by reaching in to hug me. He was nice and I would’ve considered him a friend before now, but never usually this nice.
“Are you truly okay at the castle?” he whispered in my ear.
Pulling back, I squeezed his wrist, applying gentle pressure with my finger twice. “I am now, Theodore. Promise. I’m safe with Prince Krewan.”
“But you weren’t always?” he whispered back before pulling away.
I sighed. “Well not exactly.” I wanted to scream that it was the king, not either of the prince’s fault, but I was too afraid one of the king’s men could be lurking.
He admitted, “There are a lot of us that would fear for your safety a lot less if you return.”
“That is kind of you to say,” I smiled back. “But I can assure you, I am now both safe andhappyin the castle.”
Theodore’s eyes went to Owen and then back to me, as if he were deciding whether or not to believe me.
Then Krew was there, which I felt before I saw. A hand going to the small of my back that only he would be brave enough to do.
“Jorah, love, are you ready to dance?”
I stole him a glance. “Of course.”
He reached in and kissed my temple. “Well, let’s.” He looked at Theodore. “It’s a bit different dancing than I’m used to, I’m afraid.” He reached a hand out to Theodore. “I’m not sure we’ve met. But then again, I’ve met so many people tonight, I’m not quite sure anymore.”
Theodore laughed and they shook hands briefly. I wondered if there was any wrist tapping going on, and then Krew’s hand was immediately back on my hip.
I smiled at him once more. “Excuse us, Theodore, dancing calls.”
We stood off to the side of the fire where the dancing had already begun. Closest to the fire sat a few people with drums, one an actual drum, another a barrel, another with a shaker of sorts. There was another person with a guitar. Someone with an old trumpet, and I knew from past experience the trumpet was not at all tuned well. And then there was the old man, Mr. Terq, who could play the violin exquisitely. They had their backs to the fire and were close enough to it to be able to read their sheet music before them as the sunlight rapidly ran out. And the dance floor? It was matted down grass, not marbled flooring. But to me, it was equally as beautiful.
“This dancing is...”
“Not as graceful?” I offered to Krew with a laugh. The way the Nerede people danced looked a lot like skipping in tandem. It was awkward and you were likely to be stepped on or hit by someone’s knee at least once in the night. “More hazardous?”
He chuckled. “I was going to say more upbeat. Look how much fun they’re all having.”
I squinted at him and pulled him by the hand toward them. “Like I said, the people of Nerede know how to party.”
He gave his head a shake. “Here goes nothing.”
