Page 90 of Enchanted Crown
A sense of pride threatened to burst through me, my own. That I healed her so she could rise like this once more. I’d merely been the catalyst, but I still felt proud. I’d done a lot of wrong things in the past five years, but this was not one of them.
My eyes slowly took in her gown, the inch of skin between the skirt and top, and that high slit that I had half a mind to?—
Keir,she snapped down the bond.
I shot her a grin.I have an idea.
An inappropriate one from what I sense. So can it wait until after the ball?
Only if it has to.
“This does not get any less weird,” Emric said quietly to John. “Watching soul bound couples communicate telepathically.”
“Mystifying,” John agreed. “Beyond basic human comprehension.”
Emric studied the two of us so intently, my eyes snapped to his. “I suspect in both cases, the twins use it more for flirting than anything else.”
Esta’s lips twitched. “I can confirm you wouldn’t be wrong on Keir’s behalf.”
He snapped his fingers. “I knew it.”
She added, “Most of the time I am reminding him to keep his mind out of the gutter.”
On that note, back to this dress,I sent her.
She groaned and playfully grabbed me by the arm. “Enough. Would you be my escort in tonight, please?”
I stilled. This was different. I knew we were now soul bound and that had changed things. But Esta had no escort for any of the events we had been to thus far. “Why?”
Her eyes were on mine as she said, “Because they need to get used to it. Also you, Dex, Nyx, and Zaire are the guests of honor. Seems right I should walk in with one of you.”
But sure as hell not Zaire. I reached for her hand and brought it up to place a kiss on it, making sure to promise her with my eyes all sorts of other things for the night to come. “I’d love to. You know I’d follow you anywhere.”
“In this case, you will not follow, rather be beside me. All of Dra Skor will either see it or hear about it later. Paired with the whispers of what we are, if we will bond, it will be quite the scandal.”
I felt nothing but determination down our bond but still had to voice, “And areyouready for all of that?”
“At this point I’ll burn to the ground anything or anyone who tries to keep us apart.”
Emric snorted a laugh as he threw his jacket on, but I knew she was only half joking.
“Will we get to dance?” I knew both of us remembered the first time we had danced together. What it had led to.
“Of course.”
“Then lead the way, Dragon Queen.”
Almost to the ballroom,I thought to ask her, “How long has it been since you have had an escort? Walked in with anyone?”
“Not since Zaire,” she admitted.
John, Emric, and Dex were walking a good distance behind us. Maybe it was their presence, but down the bond, she added,I promised myself I would never need an escort again.
You don’t. Need me, that is.
No, but I want you right here beside me. Tonight. Tomorrow. Ten years from now.
Unfortunately, we had hit the hallway of the ballroom so I couldn’t do a damn thing about those words. For now.
