Page 165 of Enchanted Kingdom
“You look lovely,” she said as she finished and we both looked at my reflection in the mirror.
“So lovely the king will leave me alone?” I asked her through the mirror.
There was a knock on the door and Owen entered.
“Hey,” I smiled.
He was wincing, which wasn’t good. I only hoped that meant the dinner was cancelled and I was off the hook for the evening. “Keir got informed that Aiyana is also coming this evening,” Owen explained. “He will be here shortly, but he wanted you to know right away.”
I groaned. “Of course she is!”
Silvia looked at me and I at her as if we were both thinking the same thing.
“What?” Owen asked. “What’s going on?”
I shook my head and smiled at him. “That seems to be the question. The king is up to something, I just do not know what.”
Owen pretended to bang his head against the wall. “Great.”
Aiyana and I were the only two women of Keir’s invited to this dinner? The whole thing reeked of trouble.
* * *
“Molly!”I grinned as I hugged her.
I didn’t know which of Krew’s women were invited for the night, but I was relieved to find Molly as one of them.
“Jorah! How are you?”
I glanced toward where the king was speaking with his sons. “Nervous?”
Molly’s eyes went wide as she whispered, “Definitely!”
We weren’t in the large ballroom for once; we were in a smaller dining room with a long table. Considering the royal family consisted of only Keir, Krew, and the king, I wasn’t sure why a table that could easily fit twenty was used. Or was this table only here because of the added Assemblage company for the evening?
A large, ornate rug sat centered on the floor with a swirling, leafy pattern on it. It reached under the table plus a few extra feet on every side. It was far from practical, and I wondered why a rug was needed for underneath a table one would eat at. Above the lit fireplace, spaced between two large windows, was a painted portrait of the royal family, the queen included.
Glancing at it, I realized it was from many years ago. Though the king still looked cruel, Keir and Krew looked much more carefree. And the queen? She was beautiful with her dark hair and dark eyes, but she barely smiled. As if smiling even a little pained her. I wanted to get closer to the painting and also the windows to see what the view was like.
“Windows,” I whispered and gestured toward them. “Come on.”
Molly snorted and let me pull her toward them. “What is it with you and windows, woman?”
I gave her a mischievous smile. “One must always have an escape route.”
Molly shook her head, eyes wide like I was crazy.
At the window, I found I was not disappointed. We were a long way up and the forest sprawled out before me. While from my room I could only see the edge of the forest, from this view, I could see a lot more of it. I searched for any gray fur, but with only a sliver of moon to help, it was just too dark to see much of anything. I knew he was out there, though. Rafe was there somewhere.
Molly made a choking noise.
I spun to see Aiyana come in, wearing a deep purple color. As if sensing our attention, she sent me a glare before resetting her face and smiling as she sashayed toward Keir.
Molly whispered, “The two of us also have large bosoms and I am here to announce that you can, in fact, walk without so much bounce.”
I wanted to laugh so bad my face hurt, but I willed myself not to, lest I’d have the attention of the king. I was trying my best to play nice and not be chastised tonight. “Molly!” I scolded. “Stop. You cannot say such things. Not tonight. I will not be able to keep a straight face.”
She shook her head. “You are right. I’m sorry. That was rude anyway.”
