Noah shook his head. “The king wishes to speak with you.”
The bottom dropped out of my stomach. “Um. He d-does? Like right now?”
“Yes. He’s awaiting you in his study. I’ve come to escort you.”
“Oh. Okay.” The sudden jolt of nerves made me feel sick. Asking me to make dessert for the feast was one thing, but why had the king invited me to his study? “I’m not exactly dressed for royalty. This isn’t even my good shirt.”
Rose, having overheard, grabbed my arm and ushered me toward a door to the right. “There’s a water basin in here. Use it to clean up and make yourself presentable.”
“But—”
“No arguments.” She put her hands on her hands. “Take off the apron, wash that flour off your cheek, and get moving.”
“Yes, ma’am.” As nervous as I was to meet with the king and potentially blow my cover, she was a lot scarier to me right then. Once washed off and free of flour and specks of batter, I looked at Miles. “Will you be all right getting home?”
“A carriage will take him,” Rose said.
“Kuya will guard Miles and take him to the carriage.” He puffed out his chest.
“Many thanks, my friend,” Miles told him before patting my shoulder. “I’ll see you on the morrow, mister Evan. Bright and early.”
“Yeah,” I squeaked, then cleared my throat. “See you then.”
The two of them left, arm in arm. Some might’ve found it funny that, given their massive size difference, Kuya would protect Miles from anything. However, I’d seen Kuya in action. He could be a vicious little thing when he wanted to be.
Sir Noah led me from the room, and two more guards appeared behind us, their bulky frames leaving little room forme to slip past and make my escape. Not that I would’ve tried to do that or anything.
“Escape? With your clumsy little legs?”I could just imagine Maddox saying. Rowan too. Mocking my smallness was one thing they had in common.
Itwouldbe my luck to trip and fall on my face in front of the king though. Paranoid, I checked the laces on my boots just to make sure they were tied. Then I checked them again.
Voices came from the room at the end of the corridor, and my pulse quickened. Voices. Plural. Were the princes with him? The psychopath Cedric? Worse than tripping over my own two feet? Puking on them. I took more deep breaths to steady those nauseating twists and tugs in my belly.
We stopped in front of a doorway.
“Wait here,” Noah said before stepping into the room and announcing my arrival.
“Send him in,” came a slightly husky voice.
“As you wish, Your Majesty.” He returned and motioned to the door. “After you.”
Taking a deep breath, I stepped across the threshold.
The study was spacious and well-furnished, with bookshelves, various armchairs, a loveseat, and a desk with books stacked on top. A large window was centered on the back wall with the curtains pulled shut.
“A pleasure to see you again, Evan,” King Eidolon said, drawing my attention to him. He sat in front of the fireplace, goblet in hand. A golden crown adorned his cropped blond hair, and highlights of gray touched his short beard. Scars were visible on his neck, stretching above his collar. “I appreciate you accepting my request. I hope it was no trouble.”
“No trouble at all, Your Majesty.” I bowed my head.
The king smiled, but a deeper emotion snaked through his eyes. Something painful. Like a tiny piece of him had brokenapart with one look at me. When I’d first met him, he’d had a similar reaction; face paling and mouth gaping. He had then reached for my face with a shaking hand.
Why? Because I resembled my father? The younger brother he’d loved and lost. Did he suspect the truth? Out of everyone in this world, he’d be the one to put those pieces together first.
Stop being paranoid.
“Please.” King Eidolon motioned to an armchair. “Have a seat.”
As I walked toward it, another person came into view. Prince Sawyer sat on the small couch.
