I turned to look back over my shoulder. My eyes locked on Owen’s green ones where he was still stuck in the ballroom as one of the king’s guards shut the side door behind us.
When had this night gone so wrong? All I’d needed to do was avoid the king and appear jilted by Krew to get out of there early.
Instead, I was stuck with the king. The king and the magic hiding within my veins.
CHAPTER13
As I continued walking on the king’s arm, I kept shoving my magic down, glancing at my hands and wrists to be sure that all traces of silver were gone. It’d just take one little flare, one flare and then the king would know.
And of all the ways he could find out, being alone with the king when it happened seemed like the worst possible scenario. But I needed to keep my cool for both my magic and for the bond with Krew. So I kept taking deep breaths and trying to stay calm.
It didn’t take long. As we turned the corner, it all slid into place. I stopped in my tracks, my hand in the king’s arm falling to my side.
Krew and Renna.
I could barely see Renna from around Krew’s frame. But I could see her hands on his tailcoat, the pink of her painted nails against the black of his coat. Krew’s forearm rested against the wall over her head while he leaned over her.
It wasn’t real. It wasn’t real. It wasn’t real.
I took a deep breath and fought with every breath in me to keep my magic down.
Krew and Renna’s plan had backfired. Not because the king didn’t believe them, but because I was being forced to see it. Forced to see it and not use magic. I knew it wasn’t real. I knew they were likely bickering about something in that sibling way that they often did. But it didn’t erase the reality I was seeing with my own two eyes of how very real itdidlook.
I wanted to scream. To cry. To use my magic and send a breeze throughout the entire castle with my frustrations.
But there I stood, shoving it all down. Unable to do a thing other than breathe.
“What the hell?” Krew snapped as his eyes flew to mine and he slowly turned around.
I couldn’t look him in the eyes. I just couldn’t. I slammed my eyes shut and swallowed hard. I also couldn’t dare cry. My tears would glow with my magic. So to the king, I managed to get out, “I believe this was a lesson I have already learned. Two-fold, Your Grace. A third time feels entirely unnecessary.”
The king placed a hand on my shoulder. I opened my eyes and willed the well of tears there to somehow stay in my eyes. If even one of my tears fell this would all be for naught.
“This is not a lesson, dear, but rather a show of good faith. I know you appreciate transparency and honesty. This is me letting you know what has been going on behind your back.”
The king thought he was doing me a favor?
From around the king, I could see Krew’s magic flaring. He was furious. And the king’s hand was still on my shoulder so that was not helping matters.
I heard Owen before I saw him. “I am getting really sick and tired of these games.” He grabbed one of the king’s guards, shoving him against the wall and holding him there. By the throat. “Lock me out of a room from the consort I am here to protect again, and it may very well be the last thing you do.”
The king rolled his eyes. “Calm down, Raikes. I meant no harm to the girl.”
I tried to focus on Owen. Not on Krew. Not on Renna. I couldn’t even look their direction for fear of losing control of my magic. Feeling a tear about to spill over and knowing it would release the whole dam of them, I turned to the king and did something that I never in a million lifetimes thought I would do to this man. I begged. “May I take my leave now, Your Grace?”
He gave me a nod and patted my shoulder once more. “Yes, of course, Jorah. Goodnight.”
“Jorah.” It was Krew’s voice, and I could hear the real concern. He was not acting.
But at this point, neither was I.
So I fled. I walked as quickly as possible to the first corner, ignoring the king and Krew’s harsh words to one another behind me, and then as soon as I was out of view, I was sprinting for the stairs.
Hearing footsteps behind me, I never slowed. I needed air not shared by the king. I needed to erase from my memory how real Krew and Renna had appeared. I needed... to use this power burning in my veins. To release my magic and have it ease the burden of this pain.
Up the first set of stairs, the footsteps caught me.
“It’s me.”
