Page 149 of My Five Daddies

“Careful, old man,” I say, standing. He cocks his head at me. “That letter is real, and that support is real. It’s growing every day, and I promise the floodgates will open when I release this information aboutJulian.”

“You think I’ll choose you then?” My father stands and slams his hands down on the desk. “I will not be pushed into this. You are a spoiled little brat and are far too weak to lead Polovia. You can’t do what needs to bedone.”

Finally, in that moment, I see my father for what he really is. He’s a vindictive and angry man with a petty spirit inside of him. He’s weak and he’s desperate to hold onto the reigns of power for as long as he can. Julian would allow him to rule well into his deep old age, but he knows the people will want me elevated if I were the choice. He’s afraid of me, and he always has been. I’m proof of hisend.

“Good luck, your highness,” I say to him. I turn and leave the room, Hazel close behindme.

Once we’re out in the hall, Hazel snags my hand. “Nolan, holdon.”

“It’s okay,” I say, turning to face her. For the first time in my life, I actually feel free. “I’mokay.”

She cocks her head at the expression on my face. “That was hard inthere.”

“It was,” I say. “But now I know where we canstand.”

“What are we going to do? If he doesn’t support you, how can youwin?”

“There are other ways,” I say, smiling. I reach forward and cup her face. “You stood up forme.”

“He’s adick.”

I laugh and kiss her softly. “Yeah, he really is.” I drop my hand and turn away from her. “Come on. We have work todo.”

We head back to the room, and I’m finally free. I’m free of it all, of my father and the expectations he’s been placing on me for a long time. I’m free of the need to make him happy. I don’t need him anymore. I don’t needanyone.

I’m what this country needs. Maybe they don’t see it yet, but they will. We’re past the planning stages now. It’s time for us to move and to make this country wholeagain.

28

Hazel

My heart is hammeringas I follow Nolan through the castle. After our meeting with his father, we spent the rest of the afternoon discussing what we shoulddo.

I was in favor of waiting, but Nolan wouldn’t be persuaded. I wanted to take our time and make sure that this all happened the right way, but Nolan couldn’twait.

And so we’re marching down the hallway, his phone clutched between his hands, a stony look on hisface.

“Are you sure about this?” I ask him, trying one last time to change hismind.

He grins at me but I know he’s unsure. “It’ll be fine,” he says to me. “Just trustme.”

I sigh and nod. There’s not much else I cando.

We’re going to confront Julian. I wanted to wait a little bit longer, but Nolan says that this is the time. He thinks that we have momentum on our side, and if we can just show Julian the position that he’s in, he just mightcrumble.

From a side hallway, several figures appear, walking quickly toward us. I pull on Nolan’s hand and nod toward thepeople.

He stops in his tracks. I watch as the queen, flanked by several guards and stewards, heads right toward us. She isn’t smiling, but she doesn’t look angry, either. Honestly, she just lookstired.

“Mother,” Nolan says as shearrives.

“Son.Daughter.”

Nolan kisses her cheek first and I embrace her after. She sighs and motions for her entourage to back off a little bit. They step away, giving us relativeprivacy.

Queen Magritte sighs and looks at her son. “You shouldn’t have approached your father likethat.”

“I’m finished with him,” Nolansays.

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