Page 157 of Enchanted Kingdom
“Ha!”
I hadn’t realized how much I needed the feel of my knuckles in bread until I was kneading the dough sometime later. I was careful to make it exactly how I would at the bakery. And for a few hours, all my problems seemed to dissipate. I was back at home in Nerede, baking with Mother. No prince problems. No Assemblages. No gowns. Just me and the bread I was creating.
I still didn’t know what to do about Keir, but I did remember who I was, and that helped.
* * *
The days bled into a week.I managed to survive another big ball, the one at which I was officially in the top ten of Keir’s Assemblage. The harems were at ten each. Keir was still on his best behavior, and I was still keeping him at an arm’s length. We were at a standstill.
For how long we could stay that way, I wasn’t sure.
Every morning I got up to feed the wolves and then helped in the kitchen. Tilly had only been gone two days, so they didn’t really need me with her back, but for some reason, I craved the people. Maurice and his way-too loud voice. Tilly and her sharpness. George, the young busboy who dropped things regularly much to Maurice’s dismay.
The more the Assemblage life seemed to disorient me, the more I cherished those moments in the kitchen. They kept me steady.
We headed upstairs after one such day in the kitchens. The staff hadn’t needed my help that day, so I made them cookies instead, just because I could.
George had kissed my actual shoes in thanks.
“No wonder you like working dayshifts,” Easton said to Owen from where they walked behind me.
“I’m not even going to deny it,” Owen offered.
“I was supposed to be back to nightshifts soon, but I think I’ll stay on dayshift just for the rare occasions she feeds us,” Easton said back.
I laughed and turned toward Easton. “Are you going to tell my extra guards about my baking abilities, or are you going to keep secrets like Owen here?”
He coughed nervously. “Definitely keep secrets.”
I shook my head at both of them as I opened the door to Keir’s wing.
Easton stayed outside the door while Owen came in with me and proceeded to throw himself on the nearest couch.
I giggled. “Too many cookies for you.”
“You mean we missed out?” I heard from the table by the window.
I turned and smiled at both the crown princes. “You did, Your Graces.”
“What kind were they?” Keir asked.
Owen moaned. “Cinnamon oat.” He patted his belly. “So good.”
I rolled my eyes at him.
“Would you like to go for a walk?” Keir asked.
“No,” Owen responded. “Please no. I cannot move. I’m too full.”
Keir shook his head. “Fine. You can stay, we can take Easton.” He paused. “If Jorah would like to, that is.”
My eyes went from one brother to the other. “I wasn’t interrupting some sort of brotherly meeting of the secret variety, was I?”
Krew’s lips twitched slightly as his eyes met mine. “Yes, but no.”
I turned my attention back to Keir. “Sure.”
He sat back in his chair. “Really?”
