Page 24 of Enchanted Kingdom
“Ms. Jorah Demir,” Prince Keiran said from where he lazily leaned against a doorframe.
“Your Grace,” I greeted while bowing slightly.
“Shall we walk?”
I nodded. “Yes, please.”
He put an arm out for me to take, and I noted his vest under his tailcoat was emerald and black tonight, to match the rest of us.
We turned a corner to see bushes of flowers and I already felt lighter than I had all day. Fresh air fixed problems, I was convinced of it.
The prince had two guards, but they seemed to disappear as we made our way along a walkway that weaved along the garden area. Mine, however, seemed to shadow us.
After the second time I looked over my shoulder, Prince Keiran must have noticed.
“Wallace,” he barked. “Make yourself scarce. You are making the lady feel uncomfortable.”
He bowed his head slightly. “Apologies, my prince. I was only doing my duty.”
Prince Keiran’s eyes flicked to mine before narrowing on my guard. “Your duty is to escort her and protect her. How will I ever get to know her with you breathing down both our necks?”
“Yes, Your Grace,” the guard named Wallace said before departing.
I sighed, already feeling better. I should probably trust Wallace more than one of the most powerful Enchanted in the kingdom, but for some reason my guard left me feeling uneasy. Probably because he never even told me his name and acted like every time I needed to be delivered somewhere was a major inconvenience to him.
“Sorry about him,” the prince said once he had left.
I flashed him a quick smile. “Thank you for that.”
Prince Keiran stopped at a bench and gestured for me to sit beside him. “This gown may not be sparkling, but it does make your eyes look decidedly green.”
That had me feeling... I didn’t know. Did Prince Keiran compliment all the other women like this? I looked around at the large willow tree not far off and its branches that swooped down around it as if hugging the very ground. A box of flowers encircled the base of the huge trunk. It was exquisite.
“Can you do me a favor, Jorah?”
I looked back at the prince. “I’m not sure. That would depend on the favor.”
His lips twitched. “Fair. I promise you it is within the realm of easy.”
I squinted, not convinced.
“Would you please just call me Keir when we are together?” My mouth must have fallen open because he was smiling. “But why do you look so shocked?”
“Well, first off,” I began. “I am very sure if anyone were to hear me call you that, I would definitely be in some sort of trouble. Secondly, that implies we are familiar. And third, that also implies you would like for there to be more occasions where it is just the two of us.”
Prince Keiran laughed. He outright laughed, his blue eyes lighting up as he lounged against the bench. Somehow, even then he still managed to look tall. “Well first off, as long as it is only the two of us around, I assure you there will be no trouble from me. Secondly, I would like for us to be familiar. And third, I would also like for there to be more occasions, yes.”
I took a deep breath. “Really?”
“Yes.”
According to everything he just said, I wouldn’t be going home tonight. Possibly not for little while. “But why?”
He turned toward me to look me in the eyes. “Jorah Demir, you are intriguing to me. I’d like to get to know you. And in doing so, all I am doing is asking you to call me a name a friend would.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When he looked at me like that, he wasn’t playing fair, and I was certain he knew it. “But you know I have no magic. You know a woman from Nerede will never wear that crown.”
I opened my eyes to find him shaking his head. “I know nothing of the sort.”
