Page 143 of Enchanted Kingdom
“And has only himself to blame,” Owen added in coolly.
Krew looked to him. “I quite agree.”
“Wait!” I exclaimed. “Can I write him a letter? And then you could deliver it to the orphanage for me?”
Krew paused in thought. “That sounds reasonable. As long as you only write said letters on the way. Never in the castle.”
I nodded my agreement. “Sure!” But then I realized I didn’t have any parchment or anything to write with on me. “Dammit. For next time, I suppose.”
Krew gave me the barest of smiles. “I can get you some supplies before we leave.”
Sure enough, he asked someone at the loading area for some and handed them over as we all loaded the carriage.
I was grateful for it. I ended up writing three letters. One to Warrick, one to little Alani, and one to Hattie. I knew Krew would likely read them before handing them over, but I didn’t care. I had a way to stay connected to them. Also a way to pass the time.
As I finished the last letter, Warrick’s, my eyes went watery. I thought I had cried out every tear from my body these past few days. I thought there was nothing left. Apparently, I was wrong.
I looked up at Krew, hoping he didn’t catch how close I was to tears. “Did you know that little boy always,alwaysanswers my question of ‘How are you?’ the same way? He always says, ‘better now that you’re here’ every single time.”
He smiled, and I was fairly certain it was the first real and genuine smile I had ever seen from Prince Darkness. “I didn’t know that, but he has always spoken very highly of Miss Jorah from the bakery so I cannot say I am surprised.”
“Did you know I knew him that first night?” I remembered him using my name right away. And I knew that they had known all of our names before the night even began, but had Krew put two and two together and figured out the Jorah at the ball and the Jorah from the bakery were, in fact, the same person?
He nodded. “Yes. That’s why I wanted you out of the castle as quickly as possible.”
I thought on that. Maybe that was why he was so hard on me at the beginning. “Well, that little boy is kind and charming and...”
“And everything I’m not?”
“That wasn’t what I was going to say,” I said while shaking my head. “I was going to say that you just can’t help but love him.”
Krew shrugged. “It’s fine. I am aware he is everything I am not. And I’d like to keep it that way.”
Meaning he’d like to keep him from the king.
“Does my mother know I’m coming?” I asked them both as I folded Warrick’s letter.
Owen nodded. “Yes. She had short notice, but yes.” He gave me a side look I couldn’t quite decipher.
“What?”
Owen turned toward me to better look me in the eyes. “However mad you may be at Keir, please stay away from Will today.”
I frowned. “I hadn’t even thought about it.”
“You don’t wish to get even?” Owen asked.
I shook my head. “No. Knowing how this feels? Gods no. I do not wish for anyone to feel like this. Nor do I wish to use Will and his feelings like that.”
“Who is Will?” Krew asked casually.
My eyes switched to his. “My ex who we are trying to avoid on these trips.”
“Her still pining ex,” Owen clarified.
I rolled my eyes. “He will be fine. My going to the castle just threw him for a loop.”
“Most people don’t propose when thrown for a loop,” Owen commented.
