Page 155 of Enchanted Kingdom
Owen let out a sigh. “Let’s.”
Fortunately by the time we entered the room, it was dancing time.
When it was finally my turn, I stepped up to Keir smiling like nothing was wrong. “Your Grace.”
He looked at me cautiously but smiled back as he put a hand at my waist and took my other in his. “Hi. What part are we playing now?”
I cocked my head and looked at him with fake sheer adoration. “The part in which your father just commanded me to stop playing the part of the jealous lover and make amends with you.”
His steps faltered and his eyes automatically went to find his father, but I reached up my hand from where it rested on his shoulder to place it on his cheek to keep him from looking that way. “Don’t. He’ll know I blabbed.”
Keir let out a long sigh. “You don’t have to play nice just because he demands it. If you want to be mad, be mad. At least you care enough to be mad.”
“I do.” I shrugged. “Or I did.”
He spun me around gracefully before bringing me back in. “So yell at me. Get it all out. Whatever you need. Just don’t give up on me. Watching you slowly shutting down and giving up on us is killing me, Jorah.”
I smiled at him like my heart wasn’t already broken. “And your betrayal on the night your father sent me that dress killed me, Your Grace.”
He spun me again. “I understand that now.”
“Do you?” I tried not to squint or sound angry, but it was so hard trying to keep a calm and happy face when we were truly arguing right in the middle of the dancefloor.
“Yes,” Keir said, moving in even closer. “Just please do not give up.”
The music was slowing, but he made no move to let me go.
“Don’t give up,” he repeated into my ear. “Please.”
I didn’twantto give up, but I knew I should. To protect myself.
* * *
Keir apparently was goingto dismiss me last. My feet hurt. All but four of us from his harem had been dismissed. It was like he was wanting me to see him with everyone else to see how well he was behaving. Which was a nice gesture, but possibly too little, too late. The good news was that I hadn’t seen him kissing anyone tonight. I’m not sure he had even left the room. So I had that going for me.
“Sulking again?”
I spun to find Krew eyeing me.
I smirked as I bowed. “Yes. I just want to get out of these damned shoes and go to sleep.”
“I concur,” he said as he tipped his whiskey glass toward me in a toast.
I scanned the room to find no emerald dresses left and only a handful of gold ones. He had already dismissed all of his harem. There was more alcohol being consumed at this party than the rest, and I could vaguely see from where I stood a couple lost in each other near the grand staircase. It was bordering on indecent much like the rest of the room was in conversation and loudness at this point in the evening.
“Are you sure you don’t want to dismiss me?” I asked Krew sweetly.
He took a small sip of his drink. “Do you wish me to?”
I nodded aggressively. “Yes.”
He held out an elbow with a mischievous glint to his eyes. “Then you need only ask, love.”
I took it and began heading for the door, smiling victoriously. Once outside the ballroom doors, Krew kept walking and I noticed he was taking us in the direction of the elevator, not the stairs.
“Will Keir be mad at you?” I asked quietly. “I didn’t mean to cause a rift.”
Krew snorted. “He will be fine.”
