Page 46 of Enchanted Crown
“You said you’d tear the realm seam from seam for me, but I’dlike to offer an alternative. Let’s build a better one. Together. And let’s not stop until all the ghastly monsters are gone.”
I could barely form the words to ask, “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that I love you, Keir. I have fought hard against this, yet here we are. So just take it all. My kingdom. My heart. Take it and stay. Permanently. Because I cannot bear the thought of life without you. I know you haven’t asked, but I want to marry you. Let’s get married.”
The floor was going to swallow me whole at any moment now. Was this not in fact a dream?
“I know it won’t be easy. We have a long road ahead of us in convincing Dra Skor two Enchanted powers are better than one, but there is no one I would rather build this with than you.” She took a heaving breath. “I’ve loved you for a while, but when I asked you for time and you handed me over a treaty buying me exactly that, peace for our two countries, it proved to me that my heart was safe. Dra Skor is safe with you.”
“But why are youangrythen, Es?”
“I am angrybecauseI love you! Because you made me love you. Because I didn’t want it, fought against it, and it happened anyway. Or maybe I am mad because I fought it for too long. I do not know. I only know I want it all with you. You asked me to pick a side and my side is right next to you, Keir.Youare my home. Yes, I want to bond with you, but I am angry that I led you to believe it was just that. When it is really so much more. I was just too afraid to voice it.”
“Can you come here now?” My voice sounded somewhat strangled. I was trying to be patient and let Esta come to me, but she was making it so damn hard.
“Are you sure you want all of this? My kingdom is in shambles, Keir.”
“I’ll take all of it so long as I get you.”
And then she moved, launching herself toward me, finallyletting me close enough to touch her. I easily caught her, holding her tightly to me. “I love you too, you know.”
“I’m sorry it took me so long to admit it. I am sorry I was a coward, but I love you.”
This holiday had been tainted by all we’d lost these last few months in Dra Skor, but we ended it on a hope. A promise. As I ran my hands over every curve of her, I knew in my very soul that Esta and I would choose one another fiercely. No matter the size of the monster, nothing would stand in our way.
She was the dragon queen. And as for me? I was simply her armor.
CHAPTER 17
Seeing Wylan shrouded in morning fog in the distance was breathtaking. It was home. Or rather a place where I knew what to expect anyway. From the moment we took my father off the throne, the wrenches thrown amok became fewer and fewer.
Wylan was strong. Healthy.
And dammit if I didn’t want the same for Dra Skor. So what did that mean? Was Wylan really my home at all anymore? A memory flashed into my mind. Of Krew telling me that it was possible to have more than one home. Maybe that was what I felt. To be in a constant state of wandering, torn between two places that held an equal chunk of my soul.
Malachi stood on the deck speaking to the three other Dra Skor guards we brought with us, readying them for docking. Esta stood next to me on the railing, taking it all in. Her hair was slightly blowing behind her, and she had never seemed more lovely to me.
“So they won’t rush us right as we pull ashore?” she asked me over her shoulder.
I snorted a laugh. “I mean, they might. Not for violence, likely just for hugs.” My nephew came to mind. “Maybe a few violent hugs, but no, no more pyres.”
She reached out and grabbed my hand, interweaving our fingers together. I could clearly see her nerves clawing at her much like the wind was tousling her hair.
“They will love you,” I whispered gently so the crew would not overhear as I brought her hand up and placed a kiss on it.
“I am their enemy.”
I made sure to look her directly in the eyes as I said, “You are no more their enemy than I was yours.”
She nodded. “Have I mentioned how terribly proud I am to know you, Keir?”
“You do know me better than most,” I jested.
She smirked. “I mean it. I love your heart. Your fervor for doing the right thing. Your intelligent mind. You are... impressive in character and have been from the very start.”
I wrapped my other arm around her to bring her close enough to whisper, “Impressiveonlyin character, sweetheart?”
We were both laughing when John pointed, and I saw Krew and Warrick standing on the docks. As if his shoes were on fire, Warrick was jumping up and down while waving.
