CHAPTER27
“Ididn’t realize you had such a flair for the dramatic,” Owen said as we rode the elevator back upstairs. “Slamming the doors shut as we went was nice.”
I looked him in the eyes. “What can I say, I was angry.” I inhaled deeply. “I still am. I am absolutely livid we could not have just killed him back there.”
Both princes were quiet and pale beside us.
“What can we do?” I asked more gently.
Krew gave his head a shake. “I think he laced our breakfasts with iron. So we were weak to begin with, then used a dozen guards to force the gauntlets on us.”
I felt my magic burn brighter. I was still so obscenely pissed off right now. The king had put gauntlets onhis own sons.It was a good thing I had just used a lot of magic in the throne room.
Krew moved his arm nearest me to place it around my back. “Calm down, love. You got us out of there.” He paused. “I wish you wouldn’t have put yourself in danger like that, but if he’d done the same to you, I would’ve blown the castle apart to get to you. So I get it.” Just to me, he added,Also that was remarkable. I love you.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, I barked at Owen to have some food brought up for the princes. They needed something not laced with iron in their systems. Possibly a nap. That was what Krew needed most after he’d been shot with the arrow laced with iron, to sleep. I wasn’t sure I shouldn’t also send for our favorite annoying healer as well. And then there was what to do with Keir, who didn’t have as much of a safety net as Krew did with Owen and me there.
“Keir?”
“Yes?”
“Can you stay in Krew’s wing until whatever this is wears off? I don’t trust your father for even a moment.”
Keir gave me a nod. “Of course. I figured I’d be with you guys until at least the end of the day. Father is sure to find us after he tries to save face with parliament.”
Owen rang for a server about the food. As soon as the door shut to Krew’s wing, I put up a sound barrier and started the fire. We were in our room, Keir in the chair I always read at, Krew on the couch. Owen took post near the balcony door while I paced.
The king was going to find us after the parliament session? To line us up for lashings? Would Keir and Krew have recouped their magic by then? What if this day wasn’t entirely over yet?
Keir let out a laugh.
The rest of us turned to him. There couldn’t possibly be anything from this morning that could be found even remotely funny.
“I’m sorry,” Keir offered as he brought his hand up to his forehead. “I just cannot get the image out of my head of Jorah storming in the throne room in a night gown and giving Father a taste of his own medicine.”
“Barefoot even,” Krew added.
I looked down at my attire and gave him a little shrug. “Time was of the essence.”
That only made Keir laugh harder.
Krew was also laughing as he added, “The first person to have the guts to stand up to Father in a decade, and she does so in a pink nightgown.”
“The great seductress, at it again,” Owen deadpanned.
I felt my lips smirking even as I stated, “This isnotfunny, Your Graces.”
“It’s a little funny, Your Highness,” Keir argued.
I swallowed hard. Owen had called me that on numerous occasions, but Keir never had.
“And thank you,” he added. “For getting us out of there. The weight of those gauntlets...” he took a deep breath. “I never want to feel it again. Just thank you.”
I gave him a smile. “You’re welcome.”
“How did you even know?” Krew asked. “I felt down the bond that you were sleeping when it all started to go to hell.”
My eyes were on his as I said, “I felt your panic in a dream. Either it or my magic woke me.”
