Page 93 of Enchanted Kingdom
I took a deep breath trying to calm my nerves. “Thanks, Owen.”
As the doors opened and I came into view, the entire room turned to look at me. My heart was trying to pound itself up my body and out my throat. I took a deep breath and looked for Keir.
He had a drink in hand that he had just lifted to his lips when he saw me arrive and slowly sat it back down. The smirk on his face could not be faked, but he had better wipe it off quickly before someone like Aiyana noticed.
As I descended the staircase, every step down felt like minutes of time passing with everyone looking at me and whispering. Halfway down the stairs, the room moved back into conversation, my interruption logged and filed away for later gossip.
I forced myself to watch the stairs beneath me if for no other reason than it’d be embarrassing to fall when I was making such a grand entrance.
At the bottom of the stairs, I let go of my skirt, held my head high, and took off for my empty seat next to Renna.
Renna had a glint to her eye that already had me smiling.
“Hi!” Gwen smiled.
“Happy to see you are feeling better,” Nara offered.
I smiled at them both. “Glad to be back.”
Renna leaned in and whispered to me, “Well done.”
I took a drink and clinked it to hers. “You know I don’t like missing my desserts.”
Molly, having overheard, started giggling.
Dessert was brought out less than five minutes after I found my seat. I was pleased to see that the dessert was chocolatey, only solidifying my resolve that I had made the correct choice in coming down this evening.
When I put my fork into the cake, I let out a gasp. A chocolate syrup seeped out of the cake and onto my fork. “No way,” I whispered. If that chocolate syrup was warm, I was going to die on the spot.
I took a bite and had to close my eyes. It was the best thing I had ever tasted.
Molly snorted from the other side of Renna.
“What, Molly?” I asked. She seemed to be in a good mood tonight.
She giggled again and held up a hand over her mouth like she was chewing, but really she was talking to us discreetly. “If Aiyana needs help with how to come across as sensual, she should just watch you with desserts.”
Renna made a choking noise, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I would like to have at least eight more pieces of this,” Gwen sighed. “I don’t even care Jorah is over there flirting with the cake. I’m too busy pillaging my own to notice.”
“So, we have a seductress and a pirate,” Molly deadpanned. “I’m obviously here for comic relief.” She turned to Renna. “What are you?”
Renna looked at her over the top of her champagne glass. “The circus master, obviously.”
I snickered.
The dessert was fantastic, the company amazing, and I almost forgot for a few minutes that I was going to have to face the king and more than likely say something to him tonight. Without spitting in his face or slapping him.
The five of us, Nara included, headed over to my window spot to chat as soon as the meal was over. Apparently while I had been busy getting knocked out, the rest of them had found out that Prince Krewan had let both Taleah and Lydia go after their loud argument the other day. His harem was now down two more women than Keir’s was. So when I went missing, the others had assumed (and more than likely celebrated) the worst.
“Here he comes,” Renna whispered to me as she laughed at something Molly was saying.
Sure enough, the king was heading our way. Positioned at the back of the room, we all had time to see him coming. My friends could’ve run or excused themselves, but to give them credit, every single one stayed with me by the window.
“Ladies,” the king greeted as we bowed. “Jorah dear, may I have a quick word?”
No.I bowed. “Of course, Your Grace.”
