Page 158 of Enchanted Heir
CHAPTER39
The next week passed as if dipped in molasses. Krew was in meetings with the king and Keir often. They suspected the king was up to no good planning revenge on Nerede for the attack on Krew. Krew and I were obviously commanded not to return to Nerede until further notice.
Meanwhile I threw myself into training with Owen. When I wasn’t training, I worked on the journals for more information or a clue as to what object the king could have used. And I also had to avoid touching Krew as much as possible, which was difficult. I hadn’t consciously considered how often we touched until I had to stop doing it entirely.
I let out a long sigh. It had been a week and we still hadn’t found out anything more. There were numerous objects the king could be using or wearing that could contain the siphoned magic. We had no answers.
Fortunately, the Assemblages were slowing down too, so we had a few months of time to spare. We were finally at the final four consorts for each Assemblage.
So here we were. It was the night of the Winter Solstice ball. A time to reflect on the year, hardships and victories both, and ready yourself for the rapidly approaching new year. At the ball we would each light a candle and hope for something for the upcoming year.
I had many hopes for the new year but the predominant one was for Krew to outlive his father.
And any time I reflected on these last few months, I felt like a completely different person. I arrived hostile and angry at any and all Enchanted. I was now in love with the wrong prince. And I had been in Krew’s Assemblage for longer now than Keir’s. From the start of the switch, I had been with Krew more often than I ever had with Keir.
So here I stood, ready for a fresh year. Racing fate and trying to come up with a way to save Krew from having to die in killing his father.
Fate was a prick.
It was a thought I first had when I got the letter for the Assemblages. I hadn’t wanted to go. But now that statement was truer. I came here like I was supposed to. I fell in love with a prince like I was supposed to. I was finally willingly following this path set out before me, and yet a happy ending had still never been in the cards for me.
I no longer resented the hell out of that letter, I just resented the hell out of fate.
The theme for the ball was wintery, so all of the attending parties were supposed to wear blues and whites. Krew was in a navy suit. Renna and I both wore white, though hers was more silver than white.
My dress had what looked like branches of lace running up my arms and across the bodice, framing my bosom while keeping my shoulders bare. Silvia and my inspiration had been the forest after a snow. And it would feel awkward standing in a white gown next to Krew were it not for the entire room also packed with women in white.
Renna and I had come in on Krew’s arms. I had two names of the king’s loyal I was to be learning tonight, but I was struggling not to watch the king, observing what objects were in his possession while in a room chocked full of the Enchanted.
“Jorah.”
I spun from taking a water from Rinaldi to see Sasha Girard standing there with a woman I presumed to be his wife.
“Hi,” I smiled to her. “I’m Jorah Demir.”
“Juliette Girard,” she smiled warmly.
“Are we playing cards tonight?” he asked with a mischievous smile.
I shook my head. “I surely hope not.”
Sasha leaned in and whispered, “Because of what happened the last time or because of the wound on your shoulder?”
I let out a sigh and gave him an honest answer. “Both. Definitely both.” Then I remembered how his sister was supposedly tricked into marrying Nico. “How is your sister?”
I caught a few strands of olive-colored magic racing along the veins in the top of his hand. “She’s home safe now, thank you for asking.” He took a swig of his drink, an amber liquid of sorts, likely some sort of whiskey. “Take care of yourself, Jorah Demir.” He leaned in even further to whisper, “Wylan just might need you.”
“To play more cards?” I asked lightly.
Sasha shook his head. “No. You are the counter to his power. You can make it disappear with a touch. You may be the only thing in this realm posing a check to his power.”
My mouth dropped open. I was thecounterto the king’s power. Was he drunk? I wasn’t Enchanted. I didn’t have any power at all.
“If you need anything at all, please let Juliette or I know,” he said gently.
“Thank you,” I smiled.
I wanted to run and find Krew or Renna and tell them right away, but I also didn’t want to be acting suspicious tonight. So I had to take that information and marinate on it instead.
