Page 145 of Enchanted Kingdom
“What I’d like is for my heart to not get trampled over,” I offered, defeated.
“Well, it is a little late for that,” my mother smirked. “But let’s see if some tea will help it?”
I laughed, snot flying everywhere. Of course. She thought hot tea healed everything. “Sure.”
* * *
I wasquiet on the ride home, even falling asleep for half of it. I had been sleeping a lot lately, but never feeling rested. My talk with my mother had made me feel better. Not because I knew what to do; I was still as confused as ever and had entirely no idea what to do. It just felt good being able to talk it over with the person who loved me most.
I woke up just as the carriage was stopping to drop us off.
“Hi,” Owen said gently. “Welcome back.”
Realizing my head had fallen over on his shoulder, I leaned away from him. “Sorry if I drooled on your shoulder.”
He smirked. “Like I care.”
“Thank you for sitting there and letting me vent to my mother today,” I offered. “You seem to always see me at my worst.”
He took a deep breath. “Do you at least feel a little better?”
I cocked my head. “Yes. Though I still have no idea what to do.”
He smiled and stood bent over for the carriage door. “That’s fine. Take your time. I’ve just missed the fire in your eyes these last few days.”
As we began walking the path in the forest, I couldn’t help but wonder: was I crazy? Most women wouldn’t want to lose a chance at a crown and a prince and true love, the fairy tale ending. Was I giving up on Keir too easily? Or was I choosing myself instead and being terribly selfish?
In being determined to not settle, to find someone worthy of everything I had to give, was I going to end up all alone in the end?
“Shit.”
I knew Owen swore and swore frequently, but usually not around me.
“What?” I whispered. Sometime in the last few minutes while I’d been in my head, he’d gone tense on me, the veins in his neck showing, and even his green magic within them.
“We’re being followed.”
“What?”
“Stay close, please,” he demanded. “And do every single thing I tell you to.”
“Okay.”
“Please, Jorah. Every single thing.”
My eyes went to his green ones and that was when I knew how serious it was. I had never seen Owen look scared. Even around the king.
Sure enough, soon I heard it too. But the creepy part was that I was hearing something coming toward us and also something behind us. I only foolishly hoped the noises behind us were from Prince Krewan. He hadn’t left Nerede at the time we did, but maybe his carriage had caught up?
We picked up speed. We weren’t far from the castle now. All we needed to do was get within that hedge I could almost see in the distance, and then we’d be safe.
“There you are.”
From behind a tree stepped two people I had never seen before. Judging by the way their magic was lighting up their veins, I knew they were Enchanted and primed for a fight. One was tall and thin with red hair, the other was a large man. One was built for speed, one for power.
“Gotcha.”
I spun to find another one behind us. This one looked neither built for power nor speed, just cruelty based on the vicious smile resting on his face, which would have been lovely otherwise.
