Page 10 of Quest for her Knights
“Yeah?” she asks, finally turning to look up at me.
“The queen and kings are kind people. Just continue being honest, and everything will be okay.”
“Thanks, Blaze,” she says with a smile before we finally reach the royals, who are now standing and looking at Elora in confusion.
The queen furrows her brow and asks, “What is this? Why is she not in the dungeon? And why does she look so… strange?”
Chapter four
Elora
Did she have to use thes-word? Couldn’t she have called meunique, orquirky, or even justdifferent? I hate being calledstrange. People always used it to insinuate that I wasn’t as good as them. Beingstrangecost me job opportunities, boyfriends, and even female friends.
Besides, I wasn’tthatstrange, I was just a little bubbly sometimes. I don’t really think that warrants the label.
“Your Majesties, let me introduce you to Elora, who has come here from the same realm as Princess Freya,” Blaze announces before stepping back and leaving me alone to face the queen and kings. I look at him with panicked eyes, but his small smile helps calm me. I remember what he told me about being honest, so I take a breath and stand up tall.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty,” I say to the queen, gripping my book in my left hand and reaching out with my right to offer it in greeting. When she looks at my hand like it’s going to bite her, I realize queens probably don’t shake hands. I snatch it back so fast I accidentally whack myself in the chest.
“Ow, my boob!” I cry, clamping my hand over it on instinct. I hear a snort of laughter and am surprised to see one of the two men I haven’t been introduced to yet trying not to laugh. He has pale blue eyes and sandy blond hair that looks slightly tousled, giving him a boyish charm. Blondie was hot. Just like Blaze, but in a totally different way.
Blaze looks to be in his early to mid-thirties. He has wavy auburn hair that falls just past his ears and warm hazel eyes. A few freckles dance across his nose, giving him an approachable look. He’s got to be over six feet tall, and from what I can tell under that uniform, he seems pretty fit.
Thankfully, Freya decides to save me from further embarrassment and steps up beside me, addressing her in-laws. “It’s true. Besides her appearance, I asked her something only someone from my world would know, and she was able to answer it easily.”
“What about our daughter? Where is she?” one of the kings asks.
“She went through to my world, but don’t worry, my friend is taking care of her.”
“You do realize she is potentially dangerous?” another king asks.
“I’m starting to realize that,” I tell them. “But that world is pretty dangerous, too. She’ll be wise to listen to my friend if she doesn't want to end up injured or in jail.”
“Well,” the queen says, glancing at her husbands and sons before looking back at Freya and me, “Welcome to Dyconia, Elora.”
“Thank you.” I smile at her as the tension leaves my body.
“Yes,” Freya says, giving my hand a squeeze. “And welcome to the family!”
Family?
I had no siblings and rarely saw my parents anymore. Now I suddenly have five brothers, a sister-in-law, four fathers, and a mother! And so far, they seemed pretty nice. Maybe coming here was going to turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.
The kings and queen take turns individually welcoming me, and I’m a bit surprised at how easily they seem to be accepting this. But I imagine having a killer for a daughter was a much harder situation to deal with.
Freya gives me a hug, and it’s only now that I notice what she’s wearing.
“Is that a wedding dress?” I ask in shock.
Freya laughs as she responds, “Yeah, you have great timing, I just married your new brothers.”
“Just? As in, today?” I ask, staring wide-eyed at her.
“Yep, just a few hours ago.”
“Freya, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to interrupt your celebration! I’ll just go back to the dungeon, and you guys can come get me tomorrow or whenever is more convenient,” I babble, feeling awful for interrupting their wedding and drawing attention away from her.
Way to make a first impression.
