I sighed. “So there is the threat of drama tonight. And not just from myself.”
Renna winced. “About that. Are you ready to hear our very simple way to get you out of there tonight?”
I put down my tea. “Yes. Let’s have it, you schemers.” I know I had somewhat asked for this, but I wondered if the best way to go about this was to have me simply leave early feigning a headache or something. It didn’t need an elaborate plan.
Renna swiped a hand at the air. “It is all really quite simple. We will appear to be having an intimate moment in the hallway. We will make sure to be seen by one of the king’s spies. And then the spy will relay that information to the king. Should take no longer than a few minutes. And then Krew will come back in and you can appear to be jilted by his lack of affections, and he will dismiss you.”
I squinted. “How intimate will this moment be?”
Renna was shaking her head. “Not intimate at all. He won’t even touch me, Jorah. Though we’ve always conspired to make me one of his frontrunners, he has never crossed any lines with me. We are not about to start now that both of us are happily married. He will likely have a hand above the wall at my head. So it appears we could be kissing, though we will not be.”
I could remember myself being in that position with him on more than one occasion, so I understood exactly what she was referencing. The plan itself wasn’t awful, I just wasn’t sure I was ready for all that tonight. But then again, it sounded like the plan was already in motion, I was simply being informed about it.
“You will not even have to see it,” Renna reminded me as if sensing my hesitation, “you just have to have one tiny conversation afterward with Krew where it does not look like he is about to whisk you to his bed. Can you give me that? One conversation where the two of you don’t look madly in love?”
I rolled my eyes. “Please. We’ve had to pose often the last few months. I am used to putting on a show, Renna. That part I’m not worried about. I’m worried about my magic staying out of view with this plan.”
She cocked her head. “You mean back when you were merely pretending to be in love?”
I nodded.
She grinned. “I’m not sure that was a show for anyone, Jorah.”
A short laugh escaped my lips. “Okay. Point made. But I am still halfway flummoxed with that plan to get the ring, so it shouldn’t be all that hard to pretend to be angry with him.”
Renna took a drink of her water. “Just not fully flummoxed or your magic might flare.”
“So half flummoxed it is.”
We looked at each other for a moment and then both burst out laughing.
Owen soon kicked out Renna to take me for a quick walk. We went to our training room, and he had me use magic to move various objects in different directions, making sure I had used enough magic to keep it contained later.
By the time I made it back to Krew’s wing for a bath, I was slightly sweaty. And feeling ready to get this ball over with. I didn’t even have to stay the whole night.
And we’d get to toy with the king.
I could do this. Right?
* * *
Silvia helpedme into my blood red gown. The upper half was tight and corseted, the lower half a draping velvet. Feeling nerves, I kept rubbing my palms along the smooth velvet at my thighs.
“You look lovely,” Silvia offered as she ran her fingers through the curls down my back.
I smiled at her through our reflections in the mirror. “Thank you.”
Her eyes darted to the door and back to me, like they had often while she applied finishing touches. I wasn’t sure if it was my nerves rubbing off or what, but Silvia seemed bothered by something.
I sent a sound barrier around the door to the lavatory just before catching her wrist and squeezing lightly. “What’s wrong, Silvia?”
She hadn’t seen my magic before, and her eyebrows reached to her graying hair as she gave her head a shake. “Nothing.”
But the crow’s feet at her eyes weren’t showing when she smiled, so I knew better. “If you know something about tonight, please tell me.”
She again shook her head. “No, it’s not that.”
I spun around to look at her, wondering if I should believe her or not.
