Page 119 of Prince of the Northwest Forest
“For giving you the ability to talk to animals. I thought that if someone was Kalle’s true love—and could restore his ability with a kiss—they deserved to have the ability themselves.”
I blink. “Um. Thank you, then.”
“Like I said, you’re welcome.” She grins and swishes out of the room, Mats watching her every move.
Yeah, they’re going to be fine together.
Chapter Thirty-Three
KALLE
“That’s some progress, at least,” Mother says once the Fire Realm royals have left the room, but then she sees Mats’s and my determined expressions. Her posture goes rigid, and she sucks her cheeks in. My father’s eyes dart around for a moment but eventually come to rest on us.
“We need to talk about this situation some more,” Mats says.
“I agree,” I say.
“For starters,” Mats says, “there are to be no more discussions about making any of us—me or Kalle or Einar—marry without our permission.”
“Thanks, little brother,” I say, “but I can stick up for myself.” I turn to my parents. “Mats has it right. You have always asked us to do our duty, and I have no objections to that. I love our realm and will do everything I can for it. But demanding that your children literally wed themselves to neighboring realms, or neighboring realms’ heirs, without our buy-in isn’t going to be good for anyone.”
There’s a brief silence. My mother shares a look with my father, then stands and spreads her hands. “We have raised you, Kalle and Mats—and Einar—with a tremendous sense of duty, and while I believe that was the right thing to do, I’ve come torealize there are limitations, even for royalty. We have required you to sacrifice too much of yourself for too long.”
I stare at her. What is she saying? I glance at Mats, who has already read her mind and is tentatively smiling.
“Your father and I have watched you, Kalle, since you’ve been together with Justice, and you’re happier than we’ve ever seen you. At least, not since … well, since you were with him before.”
“Mother, I’m glad to hear you’ve recognized that you made mistakes. But you and Father paid the fae tosteal Justice from me. Though to hear them tell it, youdidn’tpay, or didn’t pay enough. In any case, that’s …” I take a breath. “I don’t want to say it’s unforgivable, because you’re my parents, but …”
“We never wanted you to be unhappy.” She pinches the bridge of her nose. “I don’t like admitting when I’m wrong, but I’ve been wrong, and I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry, too,” Father says. “You do not need to single-handedly save our realm by marriage. There are other ways to achieve peace. We can work cooperatively, with a good heart. Like Mats and Eleanor said in our meeting earlier.”
“If only it could be that simple,” I mutter.
“It isn’t simple,” Mother says. “It isn’t simple or easy. But it’s clear, Kalle, that your feelings for Justice are stronger than any force raised against you. You will have your duty to our realm whether or not you are together with him, but if you are with him, then you will also have support. The two of you will work together to achieve the things that will need to be done to save our great realm. And … you will be happy. Which, as your mother, is something important that I’m sorry I lost sight of.”
I swallow around a large lump in my throat. “Thank you. I care deeply about him.” I squeeze his hand, and he squeezes back.
“That’s clear to anyone who looks at you,” my father says.
“Do we have your word that you will not interfere with our relationship ever again?”
“You do,” my father says.
Mother nods. “I promise.”
I glance at Justice. “Is that good enough for you?”
“Of course.” He addresses my parents. “Your Majesties, I think you did the wrong thing for the right reasons: You wanted to save your subjects, and you saw no other way to do it. But taking Kalle away from me—taking us away from each other—was horrible.”
“We know,” she says. “We have regretted it ever since we bargained with the fae.”
“We’re sorry you were ever hurt,” Father says seriously. “Both of you. Physically, psychologically …” He shakes his head. “And we are sorry we took away your memories of your father. We can’t rewind time and make a different choice. But we are sorry.”
“How are you going to appease the fae?” I ask.
Mother and Father look at each other. “We will send them the fire gold from the fire queens,” Father says.
