The king looked at Keir, as if not surprised to see him with the rest of us. “Well parliament has gotten decidedly tedious as of late. She does have disloyal inside information and the added effect of being able to heal the forest. She’s helped Kavan Keep in that regard more than most of them have in years. So I am appeasing them. For now.” He paused. “But let me be clear, she serves as proxy for a vote with parliament. Not as queen.”
I was confused. He had a new mistress, yet I was the one to be serving as the queen’s proxy? “Why not have Nara be the proxy then?”
The king smiled at me. “She is not the strongest Enchanted woman in Wylan. Nor is she a Valanova.”
It was always about the power with him, wasn’t it? I glared at him. “I was neither a few months ago.”
“Yes, well, you aren’t accepting bribes from my sons to steal things from me either.” The king took a step toward me, so I didn’t have time to panic over his words. “And about this newest development of your powers, Jorah. Care to enlighten me on how you managed to wed and become bonded to my son, breaking the rules of the Assemblages, without my knowledge?”
Krew’s voice was ice cold. “The rules of the Assemblages were to find my wife. I did that. No rules were broken other than your constant interfering.” He paused. “And I demanded it after you set fire to Nerede. She was not safe without magic. And we were not safe traveling throughout the kingdom if her touch meant I couldn’t utilize my magic.”
“And can you now?” the king asked. “Touch her and use your magic at the same time?”
Krew’s answer was to move back only a step to wrap a hand around my waist while sending a breeze directly at the king.
He tilted his head. “And the recent healings in the forest?”
“Can be done with my blood, even Enchanted, or my magic,” I admitted.
He gave me a nod. “Impressive.” He looked from one of us to the other. “You have achieved something very few do. This bonding is a powerful thing. Though I do not appreciate the power play this morning, I do see this can be something that unites Wylan.” He paused. “Either Jorah will be a powerful princess or a powerful queen.”
“You mean herpower playto stop yours?” Keir snapped. “And there is nowill be, she already is a princess, you jackass.”
The king groaned. “I understand why you might be frustrated with me over this morning, Keiran, so I will let the name calling go for now. But don’t tell me you still pine for her after months of dating your other women. You are smarter than that.” His attention switched back to me before Keir could say a word otherwise. “You have contained it well. And are far more powerful than a mere drop of magic should have given you.”
I didn’t dare even fidget in the silence. I would go to my grave without telling him what Krew had done. That he’d given me far, far more than just a drop. At only a minor cost to his own magic.
The king looked me over slowly. Head to toe. And it was entirely creepy. “It was your will, wasn’t it? That stubborn, stubborn Iron Will. Strong enough to deflect magic, equally strong wielding it.” He paused, crossing his arms as if deep in thought. “I daresay it has to do with your emotions as well, since your tears also have a healing entity.”
He reached a hand out as if wanting to touch my chin or look closer into my eyes. But faster than felt possible, Krew was there, sliding between us and grabbing the king’s wrist. “Youwill nottouch my wife.”
The ferocity in which Krew’s voice tore through those words ran a shiver down my spine and had my magic beginning to lighten my veins.
“Fine,” the king responded, sounding neither mad nor surprised at Krew’s outburst.
And that was when I knew something was horribly wrong. The king should be mad. The king should be irate. I knew from personal experience it was in his nature to punish first and ask questions later. But for whatever messed up reason, he was playing nice.
And I also knew from past experience that was when to worry.
“Oh, and Jorah of Nerede?” the king said with a smile that was likely meant to be kind but just looked twisted instead. “I can appreciate your attempt to protect my sons today, and I do understand that you did not know what the threat was, only that there was one. And I also understand you are new to the power of your magic, but if youeverdare use your magic on me again, there will be repercussions. A good princess will remember her place in this castle.”
I was still so very furious about the entire morning, I snapped, “Likewise a good king would not put iron gauntlets on his own sons.”
The king gave me a nod. “Understood. It was likely a bit too far. I am man enough to admit that.”
Keir snorted his disgust.
The king gave me another twisted smile. “But the pink nightgown was nice.”
I felt Krew’s immediate rage. Just when I was sure he was going to deck him, Owen was somehow there, shoving him back.
“Well. I’m past due for a lunch date. See you all in the morning, bright and early.”
“No gauntlets?” I asked.
The king looked me in the eyes. “No gauntlets. So long as you keep healing my forest.” He walked for the door but spun back. “Oh, and the royal jeweler will be by later to fit your crown. Your public wedding will be as soon as the staff can organize it. There is no need to continue this sham of an Assemblage any further when parliament already knows the truth.” He shook his head. “Believe me, they are not capable of keeping a secret, so Krewan, your Assemblage is officially over.” He switched his attention to Keir, “And yours needs to be at the final two by the wedding.”
CHAPTER28
