Page 93 of Royal Rising

I rub her arm, feeling her soft skin still warm from being in the nest of blankets. “I’m going to be king.”

“I know,” Edie says, squeezing tighter.

I stare out the window. “Someday. I’ve always known it would be someday, but that day doesn’t seem too far off now after last night. I told myself I’d give it to Odin, I’d make him do it, but deep down, I know I wouldn’t have done that. Unless he asked for it. Even then, I’m not sure I could have.”

“I know.”

“It’s real now.I’m going to be king.I’ve been running away from that my entire life.”

“I know.”

I give a choked laugh. “How do you know all this?”

“Because I know you.” I can hear the smile in her voice. “And because it’s obvious this has hit you hard.”

“Really hard,” I admit.

“It’ll be okay. Your dad got through the night. He’s strong, he’ll be okay.”

“But the next time? Because there is going to bea next time.”

“You’ll be ready,” Edie promises. “Because you’ve stopped running.”

I mull over her words as I stare out into the sea. It’s always felt like I’m on the edge of the world here. The castle sits on top of a cliff; tundra and ice-capped islands lie to the north, and the most barren part of Laandia is to the west. South is Canada. To the east is the cold Atlantic Ocean.

Across the Atlantic is Great Britain and Europe. We’re closer to Scotland than to the west coast of Canada.

I think about Prince William for a moment, wondering what went through his mind when his father finally became king. Knowing that his own future is set—the question is just when.

He’s not much for sharing though.

I guess I’m not either.

Edie stirs beside me. “It’s going to be a nice day.” She points to the horizon where there’s a band of pinkish purple appearing.

“It’s the same colour of Fenella’s eyes,” I say without thinking.

“What?” Edie looks up at me with a horrified expression. But I can tell there’s a smile in her eyes, so I don’t think I’ve said something terribly wrong.

“Sorry.” I spread my hands in a gesture of apology. “It just popped into my head. It wasn’t thinking about her or anything.”

“Must have been thinking a little bit for it to pop in so quickly. She was in the bar last night.”

“Uh-oh.”

“No, it was fine. We talked a bit. I think I like her.”

“Uh-oh,” I say again.

“No, she’s… not as intimidating as I would have thought.”

“No one should intimidate you.”

“Especially since I stopped a bar fight between Jubblie Mark and some guys from Sandro Harbour.” There’s enough pride in her tone to tell me that however she stopped it, she did more than just raising her voice.

“Do I want to know how you stopped it?”

“You can ask Chase,” she says primly. “But the most amazing part was that at least half the bar was standing behind me. I had so much support. It also meant that it would have turned into a real brawl if I hadn’t gotten them to go.”

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