Page 147 of Enchanted Heir
Every inch of Keir was crawling with magic, including his eyes. He used his magic to pull the whip toward him.
“I don’t recall inviting you to be here, Keiran,” the king offered coolly.
“Krew isalive,” Keir said, his voice laced in loathing. “He is alive, and he took down several disloyal. If you are pissed and want to blame someone for what happened today, blame yourself.”
The king strode toward Keir. “Excuseme?”
Keir squinted and rested his boot on the whip. “You know as well as I do the reason Krew sent them away.”
The king stalled, coming to a halt entirely.
Keir clenched his jaw before spitting out, “If you wouldn’t have had his last lover murdered, perhaps Krew wouldn’t be in such a rush to protect Jorah.”
The king rocked back on his heels like he’d actually been hit.
“You’ve crossed a line, Father. I’m taking Jorah and Officer Raikes out of here. If there is someone to blame here, someone’s flesh to take it upon, take it upon your own. They are even less to blame than you are.”
For the briefest of moments, the king looked... well, I wasn’t entirely sure because I had never seen that look on his face before, but I thought it was guilt. He felt guilty.
As he should.
Owen grabbed my arm and tugged me toward Keir, our way out of this hell. Every movement made my shoulder hurt. I didn’t know how Owen was walking normally. His threshold for pain must have been extremely high.
“Oh, and father,” Keir added as we hurried for him. “Should you decide to find Raikes or Jorah later to finish a punishment neither deserve, I will remind you that it is in Krew and I’s power to both abdicate and leave your beloved legacy empty.”
“You wouldn’t,” the king hissed.
Keir squinted, his magic burning brighter. “Keep messing with the Assemblages, which you are strictly forbidden to do, I might add, and you’ll see just how serious I am.”
We left with as much haste as Owen and I could muster.
At the door, the king said so quietly I almost missed it, “It’s about time you found your balls, Keiran.”
We made our way down the hallways and staircases in silence, none of us knowing quite what to do with what had gone down back there. I thought the king was going to kill Keir for standing up to him. Instead, he’d backhandedly complimented him?
It wasn’t until we were almost in view of Krew’s wing Keir broke the silence. “You guys okay?”
Owen’s eyes went to mine. “You okay?”
My chin quivered. “No but yes. Thanks to you.” I sent Keir a grateful smile. “And also you.”
Keir gave me a smile dipped in pity. “I ran as soon as I heard. I’m afraid I didn’t quite make it in time.”
“How much did you get hit?” Owen asked me.
“Just on the shoulder. You took the rest,” I told him honestly, deciding there was no need to lie about it. Even if I lied, he’d find out anyway. That was just Owen.
“Have Silvia help you wash it, then healing ointment right away,” Owen said.
“What about you?” I asked him.
“I’ll do the same.”
I squinted at him. “I’m not letting Silvia help me until she does yours first.”
“Fine.”
“Fine.”
