Page 3 of Enchanted Crown
I gave him a nod. “Of course.”
I’m going to take you the shortcut way, with lockdown making traipsing across the castle far more difficult than usual.
“Thank you, Whit. Thank you for coming right away.”
My queen may not admit it so easily, but she needs you.
Owen and I moved to leave, but I stopped before John on the way out. “Whoever did this. An enemy of hers is an enemy of mine.”
John’s voice struck a determined chord. “No enemy of yours has ever stood a chance. This will be no different. It is only a matter of time.” He gestured with his head toward the door. “I should warn you she is a bit worse for wear, a bit rattled and angry, but she is still every bit the dragon queen. Go.”
CHAPTER 2
Ialways suspected Halikaara had hidden hallways, but until I was in one, I hadn’t given much thought to the location of them.
The answer was simple: underneath.
Whit could have blindfolded us or made it so that we could not see while in these secret passageways, yet he had decided not to. It spoke volumes.
While Owen, Dex, and Whit exchanged small talk, I readied myself to see Esta. To remain calm. I was more than ready to commit to a lifetime next to her, but she was not. She needed time. So I needed to be there for her, while also giving her space to heal.
I wasn’t sure how to do both of those things and not ache to be near her.
We turned to a stairwell which looked chipped and old, some of the stairs significantly worn in areas, and began heading up.
Afraid this is the worst part,Whit told us as his wolf paws silently lead the way.I’d offer to fly you up, but there are three of you and you’re all heavy.
“Going to take that as a compliment,” Owen muttered.
“You would,” Dex snorted.
Out the top of the passageway, which looked like it could kill a person by just falling down the steep stairwell, I found that we were still a few hallways away from Esta’s rooms. Of course, they wouldn’t have a secret hallway heading directly to her rooms.
Not that it truly mattered. She could fly if she ever needed to flee.
A few minutes later, Whit must have spoken to the guards standing outside her rooms, as they quickly moved to open the massive doors for us.
“Really would like to pull out my dagger right about now,” Owen whispered. “You know, just in case.”
“Your magic is amply capable of handling things,” I reminded over my shoulder.
“Yeah, but sometimes brute force is more fun.”
I didn’t even have time to answer or laugh because there she was. My dragon queen.
She was sitting on the couch, her mother beside her, a blanket around her while she drank something steaming. None of that was alarming, but the bruise which covered her eye made my magic flare to life with a vengeance. She was hurting. I saw it on her face, as well as in her eyes as they found home in my own.
She was moving, but so was I. I caught her easily, careful not to hold her too tightly because judging by her face alone she had to be sore.
“You’re back,” she gasped.
I inhaled deeply. The hint of amber I smelled in her hair was enough to settle a bit of my worry. She was here. She was alive. She smelled like her, like the spring breeze after a hard winter.
“You’re back early,” she added.
I did my best to keep my voice steady. “Kian arrived with news, and we left right away.”
Her forehead creased as she moved to look back up at me. “I didn’t send him.”
