Page 77 of Enchanted Kingdom
I let out a long breath. “I’m scared for you right now.”
His head cocked. “Youare scared forme? I thought it was the other way around, sweetheart.”
I took a breath that shook my body. “I saw something yesterday that has me worried about you. Something that terrifies me too much foryoursafety to tell you.”
He put his hand on my shoulder. “I will be fine, Jorah. I’m right here.”
I looked up at the ceiling. “Are you practicing with Prince Krewan tonight?”
He nodded. “Of course.”
I looked at my hands. “I’m not sure you should trust him as much as you do.”
“What? Why?”
I reached out and touched his cheek. “Please know that I have no idea what is going on in this castle, and it’s becoming very overwhelming knowing that things are happening but also not understanding enough to know what. So I say this only as a woman who cares about you more than she should.”
He leaned into my touch.
“What if Prince Krewan is also playing you? So you won’t suspect it when he makes his move for the crown?”
He thought for a moment, his blue eyes looking into mine. “He isn’t.”
Stubborn, stubborn man. Why didn’t he see it? “Are you absolutely sure?”
He now placed his hand over mine on his cheek. “I am, yes. I cannot tell you why at this exact moment, but I hope I can soon. You’ve already somewhat suspected it. Let’s just say that if he was going to make a move on me, I would know.”
“What does that even mean?” I asked. “You have spies of your own or something?”
He let out a breath. “Do you know how hard it is to not just tell you every single thing right now? To not spend the next three hours telling you all that has happened?”
I shrugged. “I wouldn’t be opposed to it.”
He sighed. “I know. I wouldn’t be either, but I am also trying to keep you safe. And the less you know, the safer you will be.”
I tipped my head back and groaned.
He brought my chin down to look at him. “I know it’s torturing you. I see it, Jorah. Soon. Very soon I will fill you in. And I don’t know what has you worried about Krew, but please don’t. He does come across as cold, but he has... well, he has even more reasons than I do to hate our father. Believe me, that part is not an act.”
So there we both sat at a frustrated impasse. I was frustrated he couldn’t tell me. And he was also frustrated he couldn’t tell me. But despite both our frustrations, I was still left in the dark.
By the time he kissed me goodnight and headed to meet Prince Krewan, I felt defeated. Keir didn’t believe me, but then again, he also hadn’t seen what I had.
It was possible it was true Prince Krewan did hate their father but was also still trying to make a move against Keir. And that was what scared me most.
CHAPTER24
Afew days later, three women from each Assemblage were gone. There was a noticeable absence in the amount of skirts in the room. While Keir still showed up in my room every evening, watching him flirt and get to know the other women was getting unbearable.
The good news was that Silvia was prepping me for the upcoming ball, so I wouldn’t have to be tortured every evening in the foreseeable future. There was at least an end in sight.
“What do you mean ‘more extravagant’?” I asked her.
She shrugged. “I mean these ballgowns will be on the next level.”
My eyebrows reached for my hair. “There is a next level? To what I have been wearing?”
“Yes. More layers. More designs within the dresses themselves.” She winked at me. “More sparkle.”
