Page 101 of Royal Rising

“More than friends,” Spencer says. “That’s great. But Kalle, don’t try. Make it happen.”

Make it happen. The words echo as I follow him out of the elevator. I’m going to make it happen.

When we get to Dad’s room, I can’t believe how much tension rolls off me. Shoulders slump, breath out in a whoosh. I have to stop myself from rushing to the bed.

I knew he was going to be okay, but after seeing him go down like that at dinner, it’s been hard to really believe it.

Still, he looks pale and a little smaller in the brand-new pyjamas. Mrs. Theissen had to order him three new pairs because Dad had been sleeping in old T-shirts and boxers for so long, he didn’t have any proper pyjamas suitable for hospital rooms.

“Hey.” Gripping his shoulder, I lean down and rest my forehead against the top of his head. As I pull away, Dad reaches up to grab the back of my head, and I stay put for a long moment, breathing in Dad smell. He smells a little too much like a hospital for my liking, but still—Dad.

He’s going to be okay.

“You good?” Dad asks. “Looked pretty fine at that press conference.” Pride shines in his eyes and despite the relief that leaves me a bit shaky, I puff up a little.

“I should be asking you that.” Dillon pushes a chair closer to the bed before heading to stand outside the door with Chase.

Spencer presses Dad’s hand and tells him he’ll give the update when I’m done, then disappears as well.

“What good is an appendix anyway?” Dad grouses good-naturedly. “What’s the point of humans having them if they don’t do anything and there’s a chance they will blow up?”

“That’s something you can talk to your doctor about.” I settle in the chair beside the bed. For the first time since he dropped to his knees in the dining room, I breathe a little easier.

He’s not going to die.

Well, he will someday since even the great king of Laandia won’t be able to charm his way into immortality.

“The doctors indulge me, but they don’t have the time to answer all my questions,” Dad grumbles.

“Or the energy?” I suggest and he chuckles.

“I know I’m high maintenance, but it’s not a fun place to be. But one of the nurses is pretty amazing. And amazingly pretty.” His eyes twinkle and I sit up straight.

“Seriously? Do you—?” But I’m interrupted as Bo walks in, looking more rested than I do. “Dad’s interested in one of the nurses,” I tell him.

Bo seems to contemplate that with his usual stoicism and nods slowly.

“I said she was pretty,” Dad protests. “That’s it.”

“You twinkled,” I point out. “I haven’t seen you twinkle in…”

“In a long time,” he finishes a little sadly. “But that’s not what I called you both in to talk about.”

“Both of us?”

“Before I call in the rest of the calvary. Gunny and Lyra,” he adds at my expression of confusion. “I want to check some things with you first.”

“About the line of succession,” Bo says. Bo, who is now the second in line to the throne. I’ve never missed Odin more.

“Shoot,” I tell Dad, not wanting to give words to the apprehension that’s begun right in my gut.

“Do you want to be king?”

He asks without warning, without preamble. He always cuts to the chase with me, because that’s how I do things too.

For once, I’d like the preamble.

He raises a hand still attached to tubes and machines and there’s that pang of fear and realization that my father is not invincible. “We’ll set aside the probability that you succeeding me means I’m dead, because we don’t need emotion clouding things. I should have called Duncan and Spencer in for this,” he muses.

---