Page 140 of Enchanted Heir
I stole a glance at Owen before answering honestly, “Not really, but I think I will be.”
As the carriage lurched into motion, I felt exhausted. That entire conversation had drained me. And the truth of the matter was that I was never going to know what my father thought or if he approved of Krew and me. Or if he approved of my being in the castle. Or even being bonded to Krew... because he was gone. It didn’t matter how much I stressed or worried about it, I’d just never have a definite answer. To any of it. All I had was the knowledge and hope that he’d want me to be happy.
So I needed to not let a dead man’s possible disapproval affect my decision of whether or not to bond with Krew. If considering becoming bonded to him for life, it had to only be about Krew and me.
I rested my head on Krew’s shoulder in desperate need of a nap.
“At least there was no Will today,” Owen offered lightly.
Krew murmured his agreement.
I opened one eyeball to glare at Owen.
He smirked and launched into conversation with Krew about security for the Winter Solstice ball. Apparently, it was a grand ordeal with most of Savaryn usually invited.
While the two of them talked, I fell asleep on Krew’s shoulder, content to just be.
What felt like only a number of minutes later, the carriage slowed. I opened my eyes, still feeling exhausted, knowing that we couldn’t possibly be back to the castle yet. I was tired, but I hadn’t slept that long. I didn’t think I had even slept through the first wall opening.
There was a scraping noise as a little window to the carriage was opened behind Krew’s head.
“We’ve got company. On the road. Armed company,” the driver said to us.
“Disloyal,” Owen said, his magic slithering as he checked out the window. “Twenty or thirty of them by the looks of it.”
I sat up, fully awake and fully terrified. The disloyal in Nerede didn’t know that Krew was ultimately their leader and the founder of their underground network. They instead saw him as a threat to be dealt with. Just another Valanova heir.
I let go of Krew for a moment, and sure enough, his magic was burning beneath his skin too.
“I’m going to send a blast of magic out that gets them out of the way, then I’ll deal with them,” he told the driver as he moved to stand bent over in the carriage. “As soon as they’re down, get the carriage and Jorah out of here.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” the driver said.
I was shaking my head, but Krew ignored it and turned to Owen instead. “Get her out of here and back to the castle. Don’t stop in Rallis. Don’t stop in Savaryn. Trust no one. For all we know my father could have paid these men to kill her.”
“But I thought he didn’t want me dead anymore?” I asked.
“I don’t think he does, but he also doesn’t like learning new things about you either,” Krew replied honestly. “The timing is too close to what happened at the ball. I can’t risk it.”
I reached a hand out to him, realizing I was calming his magic and I shouldn’t, before pulling my hand back as if burned. “These are my people. Let me talk to them. Reason with them. They’ll believe me.”
Krew’s eyebrows shot up. “No. They’ll just think I have you under some sort of spell. And if they’re trying to get you? To get you back? My father will kill all of them. He won’t stop until the streets of Nerede run red.”
I hated he had a point. “And if they’re just trying to getyou?” I asked absolutely terrified.
He blinked slowly and smiled at me. “Then it’s a good thing I have my magic, love. I’ll be fine.”
I stole a look out the window. “There are twenty or more of them, Krew.”
“I can help,” Owen offered.
Krew shook his head. “No. There is no one else I trust to get Jorah out of here safely.” He paused. “Give me your word, Owen, that you will not stop this carriage until you are safely back in Kavan Keep.”
I looked to Owen, begging for him to say no.
Owen never even looked my way. “You have my word.”
“No!” I shook my head. “You can’t do this on your own, Krew.”
