It was beautiful.
A second song played as the two women took to the bars, swinging and catching one another. They were wearing a sheer material that left little to the imagination, but I was still impressed with how they could use their bodies to form such poses that looked so easy, when I knew from the little training I had with Owen, they truly were not. I knew it pulled and strained at their well-toned legs and arms, and yet they smiled through it. As if they were unbothered at all.
Molly leaned in toward me. “I still have bosom questions.”
I snorted a laugh. “When don’t you, Molls?”
As the two women ended their piece, they landed side by side, joining hands and giving a bow. They were also twins, I realized. Or else their makeup made it very much look like they were.
They sauntered forward, and then much to everyone’s surprise, each woman perched on the arm of a prince’s chair.
As if a practiced routine, they draped their arms over the back of the chairs, looking quite cozy with their princes.
I shoved my magic down, forcing it to vanish. There was no possible way Krew could have known this was going to happen. No possible way.
Krew leaned in to whisper something to the woman on the arm of his chair and I fought like hell to keep my magic shoved deep down beneath the surface of my skin. I grabbed for the bond, and judging by his emotions I felt, he was also angry this was happening. So I knew that this was not something he approved of.
Why did this have to keep happening to me? Was this just the future I had being married to one of the crown princes? It seemed highly unlikely that women would stop falling over themselves to get to the princes any time soon. Not that I could really blame them because both princes were quite handsome. But like it or loathe it, this was just something I was going to have to get used to. Without unleashing my magic upon the realm. I was going to have to trust Krew and deal with it.
I slammed my eyes shut and took a deep breath as Renna grabbed onto my wrist in support. I felt a hand on my other wrist and realized Molly must have mimicked what Renna had done on the other side. “Just tell me when it’s over,” I whispered as I focused on the direction of my shoes while taking deep breaths and making sure my magic wasn’t crawling along my skin. The king was watching from his perch. I couldn’t lose it now. Not when I was this close to figuring out how strong Krew and I’s magic combined could be. Another two deep breaths, and I felt okay, magic still contained.
“Well, I believe it is pretty much over,” Renna said at the softest of a whisper.
I willed my eyes to look at her, not at Krew.
“They sent them away.”
My eyebrows slammed together as I turned my eyes back to where the princes sat, to see both the woman acrobats walking back toward the side of the makeshift stage where they had originally come out of.
“How about that?” Molly whispered.
“I am sure we all know who arranged it anyway,” Renna added. “The only thing truly shocking is that the king wasn’t down there with them, a woman on either arm of his chair.”
I am so going to ravish you later,I told Krew.
His head snapped sideways in my direction, and I could see the grin on half his face.There is only one woman I wish to be on my lap. Today or any other day.
By the time the acrobats wrapped things up, I was back to just enjoying the show. They were so very talented. Despite one of them trying to make a move on my husband, I still clapped and had genuinely enjoyed the show.
Molly, Renna, Gwen, and I headed for snacks while everyone moved back to the walkways of the gardens.
I felt a hand on the small of my back and knew exactly who was there. “May I borrow you for a moment, love?”
I gave him a bow and a nod and excused myself from the other women.
Krew took my hand and led me around the corner and along some bushes. We were on grass and not cement, but still on a trail of sorts.
“I had no idea,” he whispered. “None. I am so sorry.”
“I felt your anger,” I offered. “I was wise enough to check through the bond to feel your anger, so I knew.”
“My father just wanted to—” he cut off and turned his head to the side. “He must have seen us walk off and is coming this way.”
I sighed and rolled my eyes. “Great. Night keeps on getting better.”
Krew took a step forward, so much so that I also had to take a step back. And another, and another, until some sort of tree was at my back. It was quite scratchy, but with how my body and Krew’s aligned, I wasn’t about to complain.
“This trick again?” I whispered as I heard the footsteps coming our way.
