Page 9 of Quest for her Knights
“Oh, wow! You’re so pretty, who are you?” Elora asks, staring at Princess Freya.
“I’m Freya, your sister-in-law.”
“Freya! Oh, right, she gave me a message to give to you. What was it now…” she mumbles to herself, tapping her lips in thought. “Oh, right! She said she was sorry for drugging you and sending you here without you knowing… something like that. Does that make any sense to you?”
We all watch as Princess Freya seems to freeze with shock.
“Baby?” Pyke says, putting a comforting arm around her shoulders. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, it’s just crazy to hear it said like that.”
“If it’s any consolation, she would have only done that because she had no other choice. She would’ve literally been racked with pain until she was able to get you through the portal.”
“Portal? Wow.” Princess Freya stares at her, clearly trying to process this new information.
“So, what do we do with her?” Arrow asks, his curious eyes on Elora.
“I think she’s telling the truth,” Cash says, watching her carefully.
“I’m not so sure,” Pyke says, eyeing her like she might suddenly lash out through the bars at his new wife.
“I can ask her something that only someone from my world would know. That would prove it, right?” Princess Freya asks, looking at Pyke. He gives her a nod, and she turns back to Elora.
“Sorry about this. We just need to prove you’re not the woman who was in this cell earlier today.”
“No problem. Ask me anything,” Elora responds with a smile.
For a woman locked in a dark, cold cell with barely any clothes on, while eight intimidating men and a princess scrutinize her, she was rather calm.
“What are the golden arches?” Princess Freya asks.
Elora responds instantly. “That’s easy. It’s the M on the McDonald’s sign.”
I don’t know what any of that means, but when a huge smile crosses both women’s faces, I assume she passed the test.
“Okay, let her out. This isn’t the Elora that tried to kill me.”
“She tried to kill you? No wonder you locked her up,” Elora says as I step forward with the key.
She takes a step back as the lock clangs, and I swing the iron door open. Stepping aside, I gesture for her to come out into the hall. She takes a single step forward before she stops.
“Wait, I almost forgot my book!” She turns and grabs a book I hadn’t noticed on the cot, then steps out into the hall, clutching it to her chest.
I half expect her to take off down the hall, but instead, she stands to the side, watching me like she’s waiting for me to walk beside her.
Curious as to what she’ll do next, I step up beside her, and she surprises me again by looping her arm through mine, making me freeze for a moment. When I look down at her, she offers me a warm smile and says, “Lead the way, Blaze.”
I swallow against my suddenly dry throat and start walking toward the dungeon stairs, everyone else following closely behind us. We ascend the steps, and I lead the group to the parlor, knowing they won’t want this done in front of all the wedding guests.
I can sense her eyes on me, and when I glance at her, her cheeks turn pink and she quickly looks ahead. When she does it again, I ask, “Why do you keep looking at me?”
“You’re like the hottest guy I’ve ever seen. It’s hard not to stare.”
Her words silence me. I’m unsure how to even respond to a statement like that.
When we finally reach the parlor and step inside, the kings and queen are already there, waiting for us. I sense Elora growing a little nervous, her fingers tightening on my arm, and her gaze glued to the queen and the four kings we're approaching.
“Elora?” I whisper as we move toward them.
