Page 149 of Enchanted Throne


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It was hard to ignore that. Worse yet, it was hard to admit she had a point.

“She is just upset, dear,” my mother offered as the carriage slowed outside our cottage.

I looked out the window of the carriage, checking to see that her guards from the castle were staying with her. One would be her shadow during the day, another standing guard at night.

“She can be upset at me,” Krew snapped, “but I can’t stomach her turning it on Jorah.”

I sighed. “Well, more death is on the agenda, so she does have a point.” My eyes went to Krew’s. “But hopefully just one.” I looked back to my mother. “I know she is just grieving. Finding herself disappointed and grieving not only the man she had just married, but also her dreams of the life they’d live together.”

Krew grabbed my hand and squeezed. “That will not be you, Jorah.”

I tried to smile back at him. I knew he couldn’t make me any promises. “I hope not.”

My mother’s eyes were watery. “Please be careful. I know you both feel like you have to take a leading role in the demise of our king, but I wish you didn’t have to. I also believe there are forces at work here that none of us understand. I have to believe that those forces will ensure you both see the other side of this. Plus, as we all know, I selfishly want grandchildren.”

I had no idea what to say to that.

My mother’s lips twitched. “Next trip may I reserve some time to inquire about the grandchild I may possibly already have?”

My jaw fell open. She’d figured out Warrick was Krew’s child. I guess I had figured it out too, and she’d seen us at the orphanage on multiple occasions, so of course she’d eventually connect those dots.

Krew put up a sound barrier immediately. “My father killed his mother,” he explained. “He is here for his own protection.”

She reached a hand across to squeeze our joined hands. “I figured it was something like that. And he may have another grandmother out there somewhere, but knowing your mother is also gone, I promise to love him as my own anyway.”

I felt down the bond Krew’s shock at her words. He hadn’t at all expected that. He took a shaky breath. “Thank you, Eleanor. I—” he shook his head. “Thank you.”

She patted our hands. “Now. I don’t foresee I’ll be sleeping at all until the moment I see the both of you next, alive and well. Hopefully fetching more than just me for life at the castle.”

I managed the most ugly and un-princess-like sniff.

That last hug and goodbye nearly killed me. I had no idea what the coming days or weeks would bring, but I hoped it was the last goodbye wrapped up in dangerous implications.

Then again, I had thought the king’s reign had been running out for a while now. More than once, I had thought things would come to a head. First the morning I charged into the throne room and again at our wedding banquet.

Some days it just felt like his reign would never run out.

CHAPTER41

Another parliament session was the last thing I wanted to be doing right now. The Six had a late night meeting the night before to bicker and argue some more about when to make a move on the king. And how. I’d eventually given up and just gone to bed while they continued to theorize.

“Ready, love?” Krew asked as he adjusted his cuff.

I sighed and grabbed for my wrap Silvia had laid out for me if I got too cold. I was not going to forget it this time. The throne room was always cold, in more ways than one.

“No, but yes.”

As I reached him, he just stood there smirking.

“What?”

“You’re forgetting something,” he said gently.

I looked myself over. I had the wrap. I was dressed in a light pink gown somehow fancier than a day dress but not as fancy as a ballgown, the adequate amount of pomp to be the queen’s proxy for this parliament session. “What?”

“Your crown.” He didn’t delay to head to my nightstand where my crown sat in a silver case with royal blue velvet lining.

It wasn’t heavy, and often times I forgot it was even on my head, but I also wasn’t used to wearing it. I knew I was royalty now, but I wasn’t sure I would ever be able to wear a crown as naturally or stoically as Krew did.