“She knows,” Owen snapped. “And she already did use some.”
Feeling someone in front of me, I opened my eyes to see Owen there again crouching to be eye level with me. “Can you please just put out and restart the fire for me? You don’t have to use a lot. Just the usual.”
I flicked a finger and did as he asked. Only because he looked so worried it was hurting me to see it. The fire was out for what felt like a half a second and then the fire was back to roaring. As hot and bright as it could possibly be within the fireplace. And it did nothing to the glow of magic on my skin. I was about to put up a thick sound barrier when the door swung open again.
Keir came storming in the room right toward Krew. “What the hell was that? You have to be kidding me!”
My eyes went to his as he took in my glowing form, still just sitting there on the bed. I only needed one minute to gather my thoughts and wits, but apparently, I wasn’t going to be allowed even a moment.
“Sorry if I am late to the party here, but I was busy dismissingyourconsorts, brother.” He paused. “Have you lost your damn mind?” Keir gestured with a hand toward me as his attention stayed on Krew. “Did you learn nothing?” He looked from Krew to Renna and back again. “How could you force her for even a moment to see something like that again?”
“We just wanted the king away from her,” Renna said as she fought off tears of her own. “We never meant for things...” she swallowed, “to get that far. Or for her to see it.”
Krew didn’t get defensive or angry. He just stated, “Father tells me all the time I should bounce between women and not become too attached to just one. I thought he would approve if I made it appear I was doing just that.”
Keir shook his head. “Unbelievable.”
Owen got up from where he’d been crouched in front of me and walked toward the three of them holding his fingers up like he was pinching the air. “I amthisclose to kicking all of your asses out.”
I was tired of hearing them bicker. Tired of the excuses. Tired of the outrage. Tired of it all. It changed nothing. I’d been forced to see it. And it hadn’t been real. But just because it hadn’t been real, didn’t mean it didn’t hurt a little.
I’m so sorry, love.
I ignored Krew. I wasn’t ready to speak yet. Out loud or otherwise. I wasn’t ready to do anything. I was somehow still cold despite the magic traveling along my skin, likely because I was just that exhausted. Or maybe it was a side effect from the burnout the night before. Either way, I wanted to sleep and not have to listen to the people around me at each other’s throats after another stupid plan. I just wanted a new day where all these jumbled up feelings made sense. Some clarity to organize and categorize them all. Because the weight of it all was just too much for me to bear right now.
My magic pulsed once as if begging me to let it help.
So for once, I let it.Okay.
As one lone tear rolled down my cheek, my magic left my palm. Before I could blink, it formed a dome around the bed. I’d made sure it was both a sound barrier and magical one. So I could drown out all the chatter.
What I hadn’t been consciously aware of asking my magic to do was to crawl along the blankets and warm them. I’d had a fleeting moment of wanting to be warm, and my magic had responded.
“Jorah!”
Owen was there but I could barely hear him.
I reached for my heels, gently taking one off and then the other, dropping them onto the floor. I gave him a tired smile as I moved to get under the covers. To Krew, I said,Please tell Owen I just need a minute. That’s all.
Owen gave me a nod of understanding as Krew did just that.
Minutes later the lights were turned off. The dull sounds of their voices finally left. I knew Krew and Owen remained, but they left my dome of magic around me without even trying to break it.
In minutes, under the glowing covers and warm protection of my magic, I fell asleep.
CHAPTER14
Iwoke to the sunlight pouring through the curtains, which were only pulled halfway. Seeing them through a silver webbing of magic, I jolted awake, remembering how I had gotten myself in this position.
My magic was still up. The dome was still standing, the blankets still warm. And it was morning. How was that possible? When I had released my magic, I had intended for the dome to be strong, but I’d kind of assumed Owen or Krew would just break through it eventually.
But here it was. Hours later. And since I’d been asleep, it wasn’t like I had been feeding a constant stream of magic into it. It’d just been one burst of magic. A powerful one, evidently.
On my side of the bed, leaning against the wall, sat my tormented prince. My husband. And I wasn’t sure he had slept at all. Particularly not if he was sitting against a wall.
I turned my palm up and used my fingers to will the dome to fall, like snuffing out a flame of a candle.
The morning brought with it sunshine and the clarity of being rested. Though I felt entirely better and calm from sleeping what had to be close to eight full hours depending on what time it was, I was still bothered and hurt by the night before.
