Page 42 of Enchanted Crown
Archer rolled his eyes but did it. “Remind me which of you two are a prince again?”
“I’m royal where it counts,” Emric jested.
“A royal ass then?” John asked without hesitation.
“Royally handsome,” he corrected as his jacket went on.
I snorted a laugh. Were it not for these two men, I would have been lost and confused in Dra Skor. “Thank you.” I paused. “Thank you both for still being here.”
“Of course,” John said.
Emric strode for the door, holding it open for us. “Now. Let’s get down there. We have one dragon queen to sweep off her feet, and the great mind seducer will... well, I’d rather not know whathedoes at these things.”
The entire ballroom was transformed.There were trees and lights. The orchestra was playing the most hauntingly beautiful holiday music. It reminded me of home. I almost wanted to light a candle with my wish for the new year. Maybe I would when we returned to Wylan.
I knew what I would wish for. Esta to be safe. That was all. It seemed so simple. I shouldn’t have to wish for her beautiful lungs to remain breathing. Yet it was all I really wanted. And maybe for her to find happiness. I’d seen her smile far too little recently.
I looked to the throne in the corner of the room to find her human throne there in place of the dragon one which had been created after my father poisoned her country. And there she was.
She was stunning.
She had a gown on that had to be close to the color of my magic. I had to say I was partial to blue. And she was smiling, but it wasn’t reaching her eyes.
I wished I could take her pain and make it my own instead.
Emric and I headed for Malachi.
“Looking dapper,” he told us.
“Right back at you,” I laughed, giving him a hug.
We chatted, numerous people introducing themselves to me that I had never met before. People I was fairly certain had avoided me like a plague previously.
Since my father was responsible for their plague, I couldn’t say I entirely blamed them.
I had just turned back to Malachi when his eyes went wide. “Sorry about this. The old battle-axe terrifies me.”
And he was just gone. Poof. Disappeared.
A cane lightly smacked my calf just before I turned to find Nana Mallick in a sparkling green gown. “Prince Keiran.”
I still didn’t know what to call her. She’d been a queen. One hell of a queen by the sounds of it. Yet calling her Nana felt so familiar. And we were in a very public setting. I dipped my head slightly. “Your Highness.”
“Happiest of holidays,” she said with a tight smile.
“You too. I thought the balls weren’t your thing anymore?”
“As long as trouble is brewing in the Mallick bloodline, I will make them my thing once more.”
“Understood.” I took a sip of my water and channeled all my princely charm. “Would you save a dance for me later then? Maybe it would help you endure?”
The old woman let out a laugh. Then a louder one. “Oh, you are trouble for certain, Prince Keiran. But can I tell you something?”
“Always,” I responded.
“You make her happy,” Nana Mallick whispered. “And a healthy and happy queen is what’s best for Dra Skor.”
“Can I tell you something?” I asked.
