Page 33 of Enchanted Crown
“We understand, Your Highness,” Esta said with a nod, her eyes moving to mine for the briefest of moments. “Prince Keiran is invaluable to us. Our future is bright because of his ability, his tenacity to heal us. Not only has he brought us an opportunity to heal, he has also brought us technology within the treaty. I have no intention of breaking that treaty. And anyone who does so is committing an act of treason against not only Wylan, but Dra Skor as well.”
This was not the love of my life and my brother speaking back and forth right now. It was a king and a queen displaying their power over the advisors. We were all just innocent bystanders here.
And dammit if I didn’t love Krew for this. In one move, he had given the advisors a look at how it could all go backward. How much they not only needed to keep me, but also keep me happy. A reminder that though Dra Skor might be healing, Wylan currently was still stronger. Dra Skor’s healing was dependenton me. And perhaps what spoke loudest had come from Esta, that whoeverwas orchestrating the unrest in Dra Skor wasn’t just an enemy of Dra Skor, but Wylan’s as well.
“Safe travels home, Your Highness,” Esta said with a nod. It was all a formality. She and Malachi, now fully healed, would be flying us to the ship to return Krew home.
“I look forward to returning to see a Dra Skor fully healed,” Krew nodded back.
“That one man should have such a power,” Morana whispered from her seat, clearly impressed.
Krew didn’t hesitate as he gestured with his head to me. “Not one man, buttwo.”
With that, The King of Wylan spun on his heel and left Dra Skor.
CHAPTER 13
“Iwill ready Wylan for your trip,” Krew told me as he gave me a firm hug. “We will welcome you both with open arms.”
“Thank you.” I hugged him hard.
Owen was of course returning with him. I offered for Emric to return as well, but he had taken charge with the training of our team. And told me he would only be taking one more trip on a boat: when he returned home.
Seeing Krew go was difficult, and I wasn’t sure it would ever get any easier. For now, I had pieces of home with me in Dra Skor. John. Emric. Dex. Archer. Miles.
But what if the day came when they all left and only I remained?
I understood I was giving up a life in Wylan to be here with Esta. But I also had Malachi and Amory. Kian. I could forge friendships here. It wasn’t as if I was destined to either be with Esta or locked up in a tower waiting for the next time I was beckoned like my parent’s marriage had been.
Dra Skor loathedcages as much as I did.
Owen lifted me into a hug. “See you soon, Your Royal Bratness.”
“Do try to stay out of trouble,” I told him.
“Always,” Owen agreed. “And do try to stay away from burnout every three days. I know you want to heal them, but Queen Esta put the lottery in place for a reason.”
“Here for only short trips and both of you trust the dragon queen already?” I joked.
Krew gave his head a shake. “She is far more than a dragon queen to you and we both know it.” He shot me a grin. “Even if only one of us is brave enough to consider it right now.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at my brother. “Get on that ship already, would you?”
“Keep me posted on things in Dra Skor,” he said, going serious. “I have no doubt you can handle this. Just hate that you have to deal with it at all.”
Esta came over, having given us a few minutes, though I knew she likely heard every word anyway, as she was still in her dragon form.
She laid in the sand next to me, in no hurry to leave. We watched the sun set as the ship sailed for Wylan. Esta must have sensed my melancholy mood and sent Malachi and Dex to grab some food while she remained with me.
Finally, as the tips of the sails dipped below the horizon, she said to me,Next time, we get to visit them.
I leaned up against her sun-warmed scales and leaned back to better look at the clouds coloring the sunset. “I cannot wait, and at the same time, I don’t wish to leave Dra Skor vulnerable in our wake either.”
But our bonding will make it that much stronger. Make us stronger,she reminded me. Then after a few moments,You and your brother are quite the pair. At times I was not certain if I wanted to strangle him and Owen or hug them.
I laughed. “I can relate.”
Reminded me of Jagen though, the way he looks after you. Even if you are older.
