Witch In Charge - Celia Kyle Page 0,65

the setting sun so brightly she had to squint. The figure knelt at her feet, head down. When he raised it, the golden light lit his handsome face. As his name rang in her head like a bell, every single creature bowed low and cried out in unison.

“All glory to the King!”

Kelly stumbled backward, the shockwave from the deafening chant knocking her off-balance.

Yeah, that's what did it. The noise.

Ronun simply stared up at her, expectantly, hopefully. Breathing became difficult, as did holding back the tears that were pricking the backs of her eyes. He'd returned! She just wasn't sure if she wanted to kill him or kiss him.

She opened her mouth to ask him just what the hell he was doing there, but before she could form the words he answered by slowly lifting the lid of a small velvet box.

Twenty-Four

For probably the first time in her life, Kelly was totally and completely speechless. She was in such a state of shock, she could barely draw a breath, let alone speak. It didn't help that the kaleidoscope of mystical creatures constantly shuffled and glimmered like patterns of colored mirrors, distracting her from what she should have been focusing on.

Ronun.

Returning her attention back to the man kneeling before her and holding out the most stunning ring she'd ever seen in real life, all her loss and betrayal welled up inside her and joined the fury she had just acquired. His hopeful expression and little velvet box wouldn’t get him out of this.

“What the actual fuck?” she snapped. “What kind of guy are you to just disappear into the night like that? I was out cold! Did you even check on me before you ran back to your kingdom? What kind of asshole are you?”

“Kelly.” Ronun’s voice was soft and the look in his eyes pleading. “I knew you were okay with Owyn. I had no choice.”

“Yes, you did!” Her voice rose to a roar. “Everyone always has a choice, no matter what they think or how difficult their circumstances are. How could you just vanish on me without a word after…”

She couldn't finish, not in front of such a huge crowd, but they both knew what she'd been about to say.

After everything we shared. After I opened my heart and body to you. How could you?

Her lips trembled and her eyes dampened but she refused to break. Not now that she had Kalliope’s ugly words in her mind. She knew the truth about him now. The full, unvarnished truth.

“Kelly.” Ronun turned his eyes down, shaking his head. “I’m so sorry for worrying you. I really am. This last week has flown by so fast I really didn’t have time to get in touch.”

“Oh, don't give me that shit, Ronun! You're telling me you didn't have a spare three seconds to text me? Even my house can fucking text me!”

Kelly jammed her fists on her hips and glared, opening her mouth for another blast. Before she could yell at him any more, a tall fellow of regal bearing stepped out of the ranks. Like Ronun, he had carved, chiseled features and wore deep purple robes. He carried himself as if he had a heavy weight on his shoulders but was prepared to bear it with grace.

“My lady,“ he began, bowing his head in greeting. “I am Darious of the clan Detree. My line has served as stewards of the royal house of Fluevog for generations untold. When it became impossible for the royal family to rule, we stepped up to the task and have guarded His Majesty's throne since.”

“Are you going to get to a point eventually?” Kelly muttered. “If you haven't noticed, I was in the middle of something.”

He tilted his head. “You are speaking to the King with great disrespect. I must ask you to stop.”

Oh no, he didn't!

Kelly threw a scathing look his way. “Dude, you don’t have a clue what’s going on here or what he’s done to disrespect me. So back off, fella.”

Darious twitched under her wrathful glare but held fast.

“Lady Kelly, you don’t seem to understand. For the past week, our King has been working nonstop with our councils and courts to relinquish the kingdom that is his by birthright.”

“What?” Kelly's mind was spinning so fast she had a hard time following.

“His Majesty has held audiences with all of the families with ruling rights to develop a transition plan for his imminent forsaking of his title and all rights and responsibilities therein.”

She'd totally lost the thread.