Page 97 of Enchanted Heir
I gave him a nod but found his steel blue eyes kept my tears away. “Yes. And keep it appropriate, Your Grace. There are children watching.”
He kissed me on the cheek and whispered, “Don’t tempt me,” before taking off.
We danced the basic waltz that was popular at the castle, gliding over the grass just as gracefully as we ever did on the mountain. Krew kept his eyes locked on mine the entire time, to the point that halfway through, I got the chills.
“Taking this roll seriously, are we?” I asked as he spun me around.
“They are all watching. I’m nervous,” he admitted.
I burst out laughing, which made me miss a step. “You? Nervous?” I giggled again and added, “They are always watching.”
“Yes,” he agreed, thinking a moment. “But I want their approval here. I care what they think. For once.”
I caught my breath. “They will see you, Krew. They will know you are not the dark prince your father wishes you to be.”
He gave his head a shake and said quietly, “No. That is where you are wrong. I am exactly the dark prince my father wishes me to be. But instead of taking it out on them, I only wish to take it out on him.”
I wanted to hug him, but we couldn’t currently while we danced, so I settled for leaning my head into the crook of his neck. I hadn’t done it for the watchful eyes, but only because I wanted to.
We stayed like that for a few beats, but then as the song geared up for the ending, we were off again, eating up the ground as Krew set the pace.
As the song ended, he further showed off by dipping me down toward the ground, and then slowly pulling me back up.
“Showoff,” I muttered while the crowd clapped loudly for us.
He grinned. “Really thriving in my smugness, love.”
Smiling, I gave a little bow to the crowd without even really realizing it. I suppose it could be assumed I was bowing to Krew, but in that moment, I hadn’t been. I’d been bowing to them.
Funny that in all my time in the castle, I resented all the bowing the entire time I was there. But here? When I didn’t even have to? I had subconsciously bowed before my own people.
The music picked back up again for another upbeat tune.
We danced that dance too, and then took a break to greet more people. It was starting to get much cooler out, and without the constant movement from dancing, I was feeling chilled.
As we moved toward the drink table, Krew tensed up.
“What is it?” I asked, grabbing his arm to calm his magic that was sure to be buzzing any moment.
I followed his eyes to find Will, wine flask in hand, standing there chatting with two other people.
Seeing us both looking his direction, he handed the flask off and came toward us.
“Great,” Owen muttered from over my right shoulder.
“Jorah,” Will greeted, reaching out to shake my hand.
“I do believe you’ve already met,” Krew said calmly and also laced in threat.
Will didn’t move his hand, and it got awkward, so finally I moved to shake it back.
I couldn’t help the gasp that came from my lips when he tapped my wrist twice.
I brought my hand back as if burned. “You’re going to get yourself killed,” I said quietly through gritted teeth.
His eyes went to Krew’s and back to me, surprised I’d call him out like that in front of Krew and Owen.
I took a step closer and whispered, “You know nothing,nothing, Will.”
