Page 87 of The Heir
I thought about it. “She thinks we want different things.” I looked around and spread my hands. “She sees this house as a golden cage and prefers something small and cozy. I told her I could build us a nice cottage in the park.”
“Sure, why not?” My mom nodded. “What else?”
“I don’t know. Half of it made no sense. Linea and I didn’t have a great start because I was an ass to her.”
My mother arched a brow and looked to Khan. “Like father like son.”
He smiled and shrugged. “Worked out in the end for me, didn’t it?”
“Anyway, Linea thinks I won’t have time for her. She says that as the ruler I’ll be working nonstop.”
“Tell her that Khan and I spend plenty of time together. Sometimes too much time.”
“Hey!” Khan gave my mom an offended glance. “You always say you love spending time with me.”
“I do. Most of the time.” Turning to me, my mother asked, “So, what is your plan? How will you convince someone as wonderful as Linea to marry you?”
It warmed my heart that my mother approved of Linea. Not that I had doubted she would. But hearing her call Linea wonderful still made me love my mother even more.
“I don’t have a plan. Except that I’m going to convince her to marry me.”
“That shouldn’t be too difficult,” my dad said with his usual confidence.
My mother didn’t sound as convinced as my father when she cupped my cheek. “Don’t try and impress her. Be yourself and be honest. And most of all, be prepared to answer the obvious question.”
“What question?”
“Why do you want to marry her?”
I gently moved my mother’s hand away from my face. “I just do.”
Her blue eyes narrowed. “Thor. You have to do better than that.”
“It’s not something I can express in words. It’s something I feel in here.” I pressed my palm to my chest.
“Then tell her that, but she might need a little more clarification.”
My father patted my shoulder. “You can take my Silver Dream drone if you want to. It might impress her to see you arrive in a fine classic like that.”
My mother sighed. “Khan, did you hear nothing of what we just discussed? An expensive drone won’t impress someone like Linea. Not even if it’s a rare collector’s piece from 2405.”
“2401,” my dad corrected her. “I was trying to help.”
“Thank you, Dad. I’ll take it and I’ll be careful. I promise.” I knew how much my father loved the old drone that had been built the year he was born. He reserved it for special occasions.
My mother wasn’t as sentimental. “For two intelligent men you two aren’t thinking straight. What if that old thing crashes and you never get to see Linea? There are plenty of fast drones outside. Take Mason’s, one of Magni’s, or the one we use for official events.”
“The Silver Dream won’t crash, but your mom has a point that the other drones will be faster. Take whichever you’d like. I’ll tell Finn that you’re coming to see Linea.”
“No, Dad, don’t. She might avoid me if she knows I’m coming, and I need to talk to her.”
Frown lines appeared on my mother’s forehead. “Why would she avoid you?”
My dad answered for me. “I told you that she rejected his proposal.”
“Yes, but none of the reasons Thor gave us indicated that she didn’t like him.” My mother gave me another piercing glance. “Did Linea tell you not to follow her?”
“No.” My answer came without hesitation. “She didn’t tell me anything, which is why I’m going to see her and get some answers.”
