Page 110 of Royal Rising

And I can’t tell her any of that because what thirty-two-year-old man hasn’t brought a girlfriend to meet his family?

Red flag right there.

There are enough flags of every colour warning Edie away from me.

I manage to keep it together as I pull up to the castle. Dillon and Chase are still driving Edie’s car and park it right behind me.

“Maj,” Dillon calls to me. “You good?”

The man never misses a mark. “Yeah. We’ll head back after we eat.”

“Sounds good. We’re off to bug Mrs. Theissen.”

“Dillon?” Edie calls after him. “I need to ask you something.”

“Anything, m’lady,” he drawls.

“WhyMaj?” she asks. “I’ve always wanted to ask, because the official way of addressing Kalle is Your Highness and—”

“I know all that,” Dillon interrupts. “But he’ll be Your Majesty someday, so he best get used to it.”

Edie nods and Dillon tips an imaginary cap to her.

I take Edie’s hand and we walk into the castle, Dillon and Chase veering off to make trouble with the staff. The wedding decorations have been taken down but there are still flowers on every surface, the heady smell of lilacs and lilies drifting about. And then we’re in the dining room, the last to arrive.

Dad is already there, seated at the head of the table, looking tired but with a smile on his face. He seems… thinner. He’s not wearing pajamas but old jeans and one of his concert T-shirts. I told Edie she didn’t have to worry.

Now, if only I could take my own advice.

Edie is welcomed by everyone, even more than I am. Camille, Stella, and even Lyra give her a hug.

“Thanks for letting me… thanks for the invitation,” she stumbles as she greets Dad.

“Anytime,” he says and asks about her father.

I have no idea what they say, as I pour two glasses of wine.

“It’s good to see Edie,” Odin tells me as he drifts over, holding his glass out for a refill.

“Yeah. I know this is for family, but it’s time everyone realizes she’s family.”

Odin slaps me on the back. “We realized that a long time ago. We’ve been waiting for you to get it.”

I get it now.

41

Edie

Imanage to calmmy breathing while I talk to the king, but it’s hard to feel comfortable here, with everyone.

Kalle’s right—I do know them all, but this is the inner sanctum. It might take a while to get used to it. Because who would have thought a family dinner with the royal family of Laandia would be burgers and French fries? Or that two-hundred-dollar bottles of wine would be drank like it came from a box. Or that Gunnar would keep teasing his brothers, with Lyra joining in, until Bo laughs so hard he spits out a mouthful of the very nice wine, spewing it over Odin’s shirt.

It’s like a normal family, but in a castle.

That settles me down a bit, but I’m still tense, especially when Kalle stands up as soon as the dinner plates are cleared.

I look up at him with wide eyes, but he only smiles. “I’m going to take a minute here,” he says to the table.

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