Page 25 of The Rejected King
He shrugged. “I just...I don’t know. I don’t like having the decision already made. What if there’s someone else better for me?”
King Davin’s vulnerability did funny things to Emree’s stomach.
It’s probably indigestion.
His mother’s voice softened. “Well, you’ll have fifty-nine other women to choose from. But if there’s someone better than Patrice Kenson, I’ll be surprised.”
King Davin looked down. He must have caught Emree’s outline from the corner of his eyes because he fixed his stare on her. She pulled her lips into a tight smile. Would he be angry? Or worse, would he give her away to Queen Arillia? Emree couldn’t bear the humiliation. Her foolish actions might even prevent the queen mother from offering her a permanent job. How had this happened? She had sworn to herself that she wouldn’t make any more mistakes.
King Davin bit back a smile, turning to his mother. “You might be surprised. You never know what woman might be hiding in the shadows.”
Emree pursed her lips, the king’s meaning not lost on her.
“I just want you to be happy, Davin, ” the queen mother said. “I know how stressed you are about your approval ratings.” The king scratched the back of his neck, nervously glancing Emree’s direction. “If you had a wife, someone like Patrice, she could help shoulder the burden so that you’re not facing this challenge alone.”
The other day, the king had joked about his public image, giving Emree the feeling he didn’t care, but it was all a facade. Hedidcare; it added a whole new level to the pressure on her shoulders. She could not fail.
King Davin let out a shaky laugh. “Can we talk about this later?” He pointed to a stack of papers. “There’s something on my desk I need to take care of right now.”
More like something under your desk.
“Okay. I’ve said what I wanted to say. I’ll leave you in peace.” Queen Arillia’s voice moved toward the door. “I’ll see you tonight at dinner.”
King Davin leaned against his desk, folding his arms and crossing his feet out in front of him. “Miss Dutson, are you commandeering my office?”
Emree crawled out from under the desk. She stood, straightening her fitted charcoal dress, and held out the artifact. “This dropped.”
He nodded. “And you went after it?”
She sighed. “Unfortunately, yes.”
He nodded to the orb in her palm. “Do you know what it is?”
“No.”
“It was an electronic personal assistant named Alexa. She could answer any question or buy things for people.”
“She sounds brilliant.”
“Yes. Maybe Alexa would be interested in marrying me.” He gave Emree his trademark smile, the one that he used whenever he said something clever. The smile wasn’t big or overdone. One side of his mouth raised up higher than the other, and his lips parted enough to see the white of his teeth. “Do you think my mother would like her better than Patrice Kenson?”
Emree let out a laugh, grateful the king was hitting the subject straight on. “According to your mother, she’d be surprised if there wasanyonebetter than Patrice Kenson.”
“I wouldn’t.” The king grabbed the Amazon ball from her hand, his fingers grazing over hers. His touch sent a jolt of warmth through her chest, causing her breath to catch. She pulled back, wringing her hands as she walked back to her chair.
King Davin nodded at his copy ofAnd Then There Were Nonesitting on the seat. “How do you like the book?”
She smiled, unable to hide her enthusiasm. “I love it.”
“Have you figured out who the murderer is yet?”
She bounced her head back and forth. “I have some ideas.”
“Well, you’re wrong.”
Emree stuck her bottom lip out. “How do you know?”
“Because I know the story, and I know you’re wrong.”
