Page 13 of Royal Rising

There’s no theme—it’s British gastropub mixed with sports bar with a family living room flair—but it’s mine.

It’s the first thing that I’ve had that is solely mine, something that will succeed or fail because of me. I took a big leap opening the place, and there were a lot of sleepless nights.

There were more conversations with Edie with her trying to convince me that I could do it. And I did it.

I do a great job running The King’s Hat with Edie helping.

For now, it fills the hazy gray space until my future is set. If I am going to take over as king or not.

Until then, I have my bar.

I take a bag of garbage out to the alley around nine just for a breather. The rain is still a steady drizzle but thunder rumbles overhead with the odd flash of lightning over the Atlantic. The temperature has already dropped and I should send Dillon out to pick up Edie. I know she didn’t take a coat. The storm is coming, and it’s coming fast and I’d hate to see her stuck in it, especially in that dress.

But as I step out into the alley between the buildings, I see shadows.

Two people are in the alley, and one is wearing that dress.

I freeze, half in the kitchen and half in the cool, rain-soaked air, black plastic bag clutched in my hand.

Edie and Mathias are in the alley.

The King’s Hat is next door to an Indian takeout place that makes great butter chicken but I suspect won’t last the year. There’s been four businesses there in the last five years, none able to get out of the red.

I know this because I bought the building next door.

Edie lives over the Indian place in one of the two apartments. I live over the pub, so I’m well aware of Edie’s comings and goings.

I’ve never seen her coming in like this.

The door to her apartment is at the back of the alley, close enough for the light in the laneway to illuminate the couple. I get there just in time to see Mathias lean down and kiss her.

One hand at her waist, the other holding an umbrella, so at least there’s that. He’ll keep her dry as well as keep his hands to himself.

Edie kind of leans in and up, folding her hands against his jacket.

My finger stabs through the black plastic.

I know Edie dates; she’s a good-looking woman and she meets men… wherever. And she’ll go out with these men for a few dates now and again. For a few weeks. I’m sure she kisses them. There’s been a couple she’s been serious about, like thinking-of-the-future serious.

She got engaged once. It didn’t work out.

I’ve never asked her why. Our friendship isn’t like that. I can tell her just about anything except details of the women I date. She’s the same way.

It’s better that way.

But Mathias?

I get what she sees in him—what any woman would see in him. He’s a prince, and he looks like a clone of Odin, so he’s a good-looking one. Plus, he’s polite and smiles instead of growls like me.

But Mathias?

They’re still kissing. If I go back inside, they’ll hear me. If I drop the bag into the bins, they’ll definitely hear me. I sink into the shadows by the wall and wait because there’s nothing else to do if I don’t want them to know I’ve seen them.

It would be nice to interrupt though. Get Mathias’s hands off her.

He probably smells like garlic if they went to Nonna’s.

Is the cat out here watching?

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