Page 142 of Enchanted Kingdom
Later that night, I woke to Keir’s knock at my door. I pretended to be asleep. I had been asleep until he knocked, so it wasn’t that farfetched after all.
He let himself in and sat at the edge of my bed facing the wall. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, as if he didn’t want to wake me. “I’m so damn sorry.” Even at a whisper, I could hear his voice catch. “Father was extra contentious tonight. Borderline gloating because he knows I’ve been off these past few days. I know I should, but I just can’t send you away. I can’t send you home. Because I’m selfish enough that even if there is a fraction of a chance you can forgive me someday, I want it.”
I willed my breathing to sound even. Willed my hand next to my face on my pillow to not clench into a fist or move a finger.
“You were wrong. You’ve always mattered. Since that very first night. I can’t let you go. I don’t want to. I just want us.”
He leaned over me then. I was just sure my faux sleeping was going to be caught, but then he kissed me on the temple. “Be mad all you want but please don’t leave me. I’m in love with you, Jorah.”
One of his tears slipped off his face and onto my hand and then he was gone.
CHAPTER39
Owen and I waited on the path to the forest.
“Wait,” I snapped as a dark-headed figure in a coat began coming into view. “Keir isn’t coming with us, is he?”
“You’ve got the wrong brother,” Owen stated. “No, Keir is not coming with us.”
That confused me even more. I wrapped my own coat around me tighter, feeling the fall chill today. “Krew is?”
Owen gave me a nod. “Yes. He’s going to the orphanage and decided we might as well ride along with him. Then while he handles some business in Nerede, we will catch the supply cart home as usual.”
“Oh.”
Krew gave Owen a nod as he finished making his way toward us.
I took a deep breath. So Keir wasn’t coming, but dealing with Sir Royal Moodiness was going to be fun.
“Jorah,” Krew greeted me with a nod.
I bowed and with sarcasm said, “Your Grace.”
Krew snorted.
I was quiet almost the entire walk through the forest to the carriage until a thought struck me. “Did you only allow my trip to Nerede this week because you are tired of mysulking?”
Krew spun toward me, gray eyes hitting mine. “Does it matter the reason I allowed it?”
I thought for a moment. “No. Not really.”
He shook his head and turned back to keep walking. I thought that was the end of the discussion but then he added, “Sulk all you want. If my dearest brother is going to act like an idiot, then you have every right to.” He paused and never once turned to look at me. “And yes, I allowed this trip because I thought you might like to see your mother. To help get you through your... funk.”
“But I need to stay away from the orphanage, right?”
Now he did spin toward me.
I placed my hands in the air innocently. “I’m not meaning to sound greedy or ungrateful. Just trying to get the rules here. I’ll take what I can get.”
Krew heaved a sigh. “Please stay away for now. I know it’s hard. Believe me, I know.”
I gave him a nod. “Okay. Thank you.”
Krew cocked his head toward me. “For what it’s worth, he misses you too.”
He meant Warrick. Warrick missed me?
Krew huffed a laugh as if sensing my confusion. “And for that matter, so does my idiot brother. He’s been a mess the entire damn week.”
