Chapter 26

Callum

My phone makes that particular noise, and I’m hopeless to answer. I am Pavlov’s dog when receiving a text notification from Flora.

Flora: Thank you

I look across the room full of mourners dressed in all black. The royal family has been receiving dignitaries and friends for hours. Flora was looking pale, and so I handed her a protein bar and made her sit down, ignoring the looks from the queen and from Uther.

Still, I keep my distance as she texts me from the family’s private side room at the wake.

Me: No trouble at all.

Flora: I’ve treated you terribly.

Me: What are you talking about? You’re perfect.

Flora: We both know what I’m talking about.

Me: I’ve been selfish with your time. I’ve been greedy with my demands. You focus on your family right now.

Flora: I’ve been getting to know Jakob. I think you’d like him. And on that note, I have news.

Me: We can talk later. Save your energy.

Flora: Jakob isn’t going to be king. He’s declining. And I’m taking the crown.

Me: But you’re not married.

Flora: Funny you should say that. We looked into it and Daddy never bothered to make his decree into a law on paper.

Me: Which means…

Flora: It means I can ascend to the throne without getting married. If I want to.

Me: Then you should.

Flora: Unless you want to get married first. I’m ready, Callum.

This should be an in-person conversation. Without thinking about who might see me, I enter the family’s private room and shut the door. I cross to her and get down on my knee in front of her.

Flora’s lip trembles.

I study my girl, who I’ve loved since we were children. I’ve always known she was queen material.

And so I say the only words worthy of her.

“Take your throne first. Do the thing you were born to do.”

“Are you sure? I thought you were coming in here to propose.”

“At your father’s funeral? Do you want him to roll over in the casket so hard that he falls out in front of the gods and everyone?”

She laughs and cries, and I hold her through it. My queen is ascending.