Page 71 of Enchanted Queen

Emric continued to belt out his song as he started stomping his foot to the beat also, but I was fortunate to hear none of it. I sighed as I took a bite of bacon. I was still worn out from the day before, our adventures to the lakes.

Finally done singing, there was a blast of red as Emric broke his way out of my sound barrier. “Unnecessary to ruin my song like that.”

“Unnecessary for you to wake me in that fashion,” I retorted.

Emric grinned and plopped down beside me. “I obviously wanted you awake.”

“Oh? Thought I’d join in?” I said from around another bite.

“No.” Emric shook his head. “Amory told me this morning when she dropped off your feast here that they would be in a meeting all morning about the lakes.” He paused. “She didn’t say so, but John and I thought you might want to get ready, should they beckon you. Looking in pristine prince condition, of course.”

“When am I not?”

Emric glanced up at my hair. “Now. Exactly now. You should see your hair.”

The door creaked opened, Archer and John the cause.

John gave me a smile. “Oh good, you’re awake.”

“Most unfortunately,” I offered.

John gestured to the lavatory. “Do take a quick bath. We want to know everything about yesterday. You were quite out of it when the queen delivered you.”

“Have I ever mentioned,” Archer said as he placed two buckets of water on the floor, “how glad I am that we can heat these ourselves?”

He had a point. As amazing as Dra Skor’s Enchantment was, the tactical and physical advantage it gave them, Wylan had electricity and showers. We were advanced elsewhere. Not that it made one country better than the other, just that there were differences. I couldn’t imagine a time magic was not running beneath my veins. I was partial to Wylan’s Enchantment, no matter how much I was in awe of and respected Dra Skor’s.

I quickly got to work, warming the water and helping to pour it in. I let the steaming water sting my skin as I didn’t bother to test it and sat in the tub. I rested my head along the edge and let out a long sigh. Would they beckon us today? Would we sway the advisors and gain the trust of some more of the Dra Skor people? Or would they make the connection that if our magic could fix their lake, our magic likely also was responsible for the change in it to begin with?

“Not a better taste her whiskey, embrace your dark side of frisky,” Emric started up again.

I got out of the water and grabbed my towel, wrapping it around my waist, as I hollered, “Is this song about a ship or a lover?”

Emric threw open his arms as I came back in the room and belted out louder, “Yo ho, yo ho, find your adventure on the open seaaas.”

“I will put you in a sound barrier again,” I threatened.

“Please do,” John murmured where he helped himself to a biscuit.

“Oh, stop being grumps, the both of you,” Emric scolded while gesturing with both hands to the balcony. “It is an absolutely gorgeous day. You managed to change not one, buttwolakes yesterday. Things are looking up.”

He was perky. Entirely too perky. “And where wereyoulast night?”

His mouth opened. And shut. “With myself. Well, with Miles and Dex actually and they aren’t really my type. Am I not allowed to be in a good mood other than from the womanly company sort of reverie?”

I gave him a look. “You were rather fervently singing about a woman.”

“A ship!”He crossed his arms. “It’s a sea shanty I made one of the servers teach me, Your Princeness. And when they all sing it, it’s quite lively and fun. Maybeyouare the one who has your mind in inappropriate places.”

I groaned. “Just please stay out of trouble.”

“The only woman who has even shown interest here was that Morana woman, and I wasn’t about to be her second pick since I knew she already hit on you.” Emric gave me a mockery of a bow. “I have been on my best behavior; I can assure you.”

I smirked. “And Amory?”

Emric shook his head. “She’s attractive as hell all right, but haven’t you noticed the tension between her and Malachi? I’m not getting myself in the middle of that, no sir. Malachi is huge.”

He had been great thus far for our trip, and our trip only kept getting extended. “I apologize. I wouldn’t be able to do this without you, Em.”