Page 129 of Enchanted Heir
Krew gave him a nod. “As you wish, father.”
With a pat on the shoulder to Krew, the king was gone.
I spun to Krew, my mouth slightly open. “What just happened?”
Krew took a deep breath then moved to kiss me on the temple. He whispered in my ear, “I believe you just became his new favorite experiment.”
I played with his lapel, trying to make it seem like we were not discussing the king. “But he just invited me to play cards?”
“He likely wants to parade you around before dropping on them what you are capable of in the forest,” Krew explained. “While disguising it with making us look like a powerful couple to the rest of the kingdom. Something he’d know I want.”
I sighed. “This is exhausting. Unpacking all his motivations for everything.”
Krew huffed. “I know, love. Believe me, I know. Just be careful around him. He won’t kill you now, but that doesn’t mean he won’t press his boundaries.”
“Yikes.”
He moved to kiss me on the temple again. “Stop looking like you want to kill someone, Jorah.”
I patted his chest. “I do, just not you.” I added after the fact, “Currently, anyway.”
He laughed. “Well, I forgot to tell you earlier, as we’ve had a bit of a busy week and then you completely distracted me, but there is a show tonight, so the dancing will be earlier.”
I winced. “What kind of a show?”
Krew smirked. “Acrobats. Swinging dancers.”
“Oh.” I gave my head a shake. “That sounds lovely. Now are you going to go flirt with the other four women in your Assemblage?”
He took a step closer. “I’d rather stay here with you.”
“You’re going to cause a scene,” I warned.
He grinned and moved to brush a kiss to my cheek before moving away. “I was planning on it.”
* * *
I sat next to Krew,Renna on his other side, the rest of his Assemblage in our row as we watched the acrobats on stage. They were all dressed in blue and white, the theme being icy and wintery. There were cords and ropes fixed high in the air, and the artists held on by a mere bar that they threw around to each other.
It was hard to take your eyes from, honestly. There was some music playing softly as they flew about the room. At one point, two swung toward one another, tossing a third between them.
I reached over and squeezed Krew’s hand, afraid they would drop the woman every time.
For one number there was a woman in a hoop of sorts, weaving her body in and out and around it. At first it was as if she was trying to get away, but just couldn’t. Then toward the end it was as if she didn’t want to leave it, as she seductively arched her back and balanced within it.
It was beautiful. And reminded me how I felt about this castle. I’d wanted out for so long. And now? Now I wasn’t sure I wanted to leave at all anymore.
My eyes burned as I continued watching the performers show us their artwork. It was a lovely, fluid form of art. Dangerous too, but all things were, it seemed. Even just existing.
Krew leaned in to whisper in my ear, “Is it the song?”
I shook my head. And whispered back, “No. It’s just reminding me of something.”
“You’ll tell me later?”
I gave him a nod and squeezed his hand again, realizing I hadn’t let go of it.
The performers did three more songs and then finished, the rest of us applauding them for a full minute. It had been.. .gorgeous. It had taken more than an hour to get in here and watch, but it felt like only ten minutes had passed. It had been amazing. So amazing I thought of Aiyanna and how much she had loved plays and events like this.
