Page 48 of Enchanted Heir
Smiling, I turned back toward the people to find Renna. Seeing her across the room, I sighed. I was going to have to weave through lots of people to get there, but if there was anyone I’d leave the safety of my favorite window for, it was her.
As I began my trek, I found the little old lady who had said I was protecting Krew earlier and smiled at her. She continued talking with her friend but gave me a little wave with her fingers.
Finally crossing the room, I was almost there, Renna and her family in my sights, but then I was being spun away, looking into some cold green eyes I’d prefer to never see again.
“Mr. Noyer.”
I tried to move my arm free, but he gripped my arm harder and leaned in to whisper, “Do not think that by concocting yourself a way to switch Assemblages, you are any closer to a crown than my daughter.”
I felt my heart pounding in my chest and tried to turn to look for Owen, but I knew that slammed into the throng of people, he might not be able to see us. I smiled nicely as I tried to again yank my arm from out of his reach, “More threats, then?”
He again increased his grip and leaned in, clenching his jaw. “No Nerede wench will ever wear th—”
He never got to finish his sentence.
Faster than humanly possible, he was knocked to the ground, navy magic wrapping around every limb. He tried to use his own magic in retaliation, to get free, but it was no use. I couldn’t even see the color of magic, it was possibly a bright yellow, but it didn’t matter. Krew’s magic immediately suffocated it. It was like Krew’s magic was cement, and Michael Noyer was getting buried alive in it.
I followed the line of magic to find Krew making his way, his magic flaring in his eyes and pouring out of one hand.
He was rendering Aiyana’s father immobile with only one hand?Impressive.
“Please,” Michael rasped, terror in his eyes as he realized he was completely at Krew’s mercy.
Krew didn’t let off his magic as he slowly continued walking toward us. The whole room was watching the scene, everyone’s eyes on Krew as people moved out of the way of his approach.
I wasn’t entirely sure Krew wasn’t going to kill the man. He looked furious.
I wanted to reach for his arm and calm his magic a little, so he didn’t regret this later, but I also didn’t want the rest of the room to see I had that effect on it.
“Please,” Michael repeated again, another strand of navy magic slithering around his throat. He was now covered in navy, the only thing showing was his face.
Krew was now in reach of Mr. Noyer on the ground, but not me. And just when I thought he was going to murder the man, he dropped his hand and his magic only to place his boot on the man’s chest.
“I was only speaking with her, Your Grace,” Michael pleaded.
Krew’s eyes, still glowing with magic, flicked to mine before going back to Michael. “No. You were not. I saw her try to get away from your griptwice.” Krew’s voice went cold and lethal. “My guess is you said something to scare her, and though I don’t have proof of that, I do have proof that you were touching her.” Krew leaned down closer and spit out, “Youassumedin a crowded room you’d be able to scare and touch her. Youassumedyou’d be able to get away with it. And how presumptuous of you toassumeyet again that the Valanova crown does not protect its own. A grave error toassumeyour king would allow such a blatant disrespect to his orders. You were to never touch a single consort. They are notyours, Michael. And those misplaced assumptions have chosen for you whatever fate comes next.”
The king had also apparently been making his way over, because he arrived on the scene, black magic wrapped up in his veins. The sword he always wore at his waist stayed in its sheath, however. “Get him out of here,” he barked while glaring at Michael. “Now.”
“Father!” Aiyana reached for Michael, tears streaming down her face. The only reason I noticed was because the entire room had gone quiet, even the music, and Aiyana was the only one either brave enough or foolish enough to speak up at that juncture.
Keir grabbed her by the waist and pulled her back. Probably to keep her safe before she also got the attention of the king’s wrath.
“Let this serve as a reminder,” the king’s voice sliced through the air. “No one, no matter how dear or chummy you think you are to my crown,no onegets to touch a consort. They are property of the crown.” He settled his gaze on Michael. “They were not and are not yours to play with. And you just ruined a party I was beginning to really enjoy.”
I wanted to vomit, but that would require breathing, and I wasn’t currently breathing enough for that. Apparently only the king was allowed to play with our heads. Not Michael.
With a simple gesture from the king to his guards, Michael Noyer was drug out of the ballroom by two guards without fighting, the king and his black magic on their tails.
No one moved. Or knew what to say.
“Are you all right, love?” Krew asked me softly.
I looked at the floor where Michael had just been and back into his blue-gray eyes. I had just seen him almost murder a person with his magic. The same way that my father could have been murdered. I should be terrified. I should want to run again. But instead, standing next to Krew, I just felt...safe.
“Love?” he asked again.
I closed my eyes briefly and gave him a nod. “I’m okay, thanks to you.”
