Page 30 of Royal Rising

“Well, I had a pretty good career happening. The band was doing fantastic and—” He paused to lift his gaze to the ceiling witha shake of his head. “The women,” he breathed with a sheepish grin. “We would get mobbed at every stop and the girls—”

“I don’t need to know that,” I cut in.

“This was before I met your mother and became the one-woman man I am today,” he’s quick to add. “You and your brothers might think you’ve got game but back then I—”

This time I hold up my hands like it’s my only way to stop a bus heading straight for me. “Please. Way too much information.”

“Really? You don’t want to hear about how your old man once met—”

“Dad.Mom.”

“Was the love of my life,” he finishes. “Before that… well, I won’t say any more. But just know that at one time, I was living my best life and the thought of giving it all up to come back to pokey little Laandia wasn’t on my list of things to do.” He heaves a sigh, and I get it—I know exactly what he felt back then because it’s how I feel every single day. “But my father came to visit,” Dad continues. “We went out for a beer and he told me something. He said a great man doesn’t seek to lead. He’s called to it. And he answers.”

I frown. “You were called to lead?”

“Not for a year or so. I won’t get into the details about what was going on, but it was before my father got sick, and my brother was ready to step up and into the mess. Dante was ready and willing and…reallywanted to be king. He thought I had hesitated too long, I was too distracted, and he would do a better job at it. He said he was obligated to step up.”

“Dante was going to be king?”

“He thought he was,” Dad says heavily. “In my opinion, he felt a sense of entitlement to the position. He was the second son, but your grandfather wasn’t as liberal as I am. He was insistent that I declare myself. To give up the band and come home. Dante did a lot of whispering in his ear, in everyone’s ear. I had a full life, a few successes—”

I don’t bother to hide my snort.

“—Dante thought he had a right to take over. I don’t know if it was because of that… I know his attitude had something to do with it because the two of us were even more competitive than you lot. Finally, I came to realize that I… I needed to do it. I was born to be king, and I’d do a damn fine job at it. That was me getting the call and me answering. Someday, you’ll figure it out too. And if that day comes, and unlike me, your answer is no, you’ll still be the only thing I ever wanted you to be.”

My frown deepens because his words sound too familiar. “Did you just quote Dune?”

“What?” Dad asks, his face a mask of innocence.

“Dune, the movie. And the book. You just quoted L. Frank Herbert. Or at least the movie.”

“It’s a good quote,” he says sheepishly. “And I changed a few words, so it’s not like I lifted the whole thing.”

I have to laugh. “Oscar Isaac said it better.”

“I beg to differ. Oscar does a lot of things well, but I think I’ve got him beat when it comes to heart-to-hearts with my kids.”

“I guess so,” I concur.

“But Kalle—you’ll know. There will be a time in your life when you’ll know if you’re going to step up and be the leader the country will eventually need—not for a long time, cuz I’m notgoing anywhere any time soon. And you’ll know if it’s time to step down and let someone else take over.”

“And what if I do?” I ask. “Step down and let someone else. Let Bo. Or Gunnar?”

Dad shrugs. He shrugs like it’s not the very thing that kept me awake at night for the last week. The last year. My entire life. “They’ll deal. Either one of them is very capable of leading. Even your sister, as unbelievable as one would think, after seeing her latest picture on the cover ofUS Magazine.”

“Oh, god, what did she do?”

“I think it’s more about what she was wearing. But whatever you decide, Kalle, you’ll always be the only thing I’ve ever needed you to be.” He gives me a toothy grin. “My son.”

I groan. “Oscar said it better.”

Dad laughs like that was the funniest thing he’s ever heard, slapping his thigh and roaring. “But seriously, my boy, thereissomething you might want to pull forth from the back of your mind.”

I give another groan. “That doesn’t sound good.”

“It could be,” he says mildly. “If you do decide this king stuff is going to be up your alley, you’re going to want to find a queen before that happens. It’ll be a lot easier for you.”

“What does that mean?”

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