AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It wasn’t just a difficult situation, Papa.”
“I know what it was!” Impossibly, everything about him hardened even more. “You think you were the only one who suffered that day, Naya?”
Her fury unfurled, colliding with his. “I was the one who caused it!”
They glared at each other, their eyes locked in raw determination. Their quick breaths were the only sound filling the room for a long moment.
“You have three other children,” Naya said, finally. “I’m not the only one who could run this empire.”
Papa’s response was blunt. “You are. You know the history about the birth of this empire more than anyone. Your existence represents that journey. You are my firstborn. It’s in your blood, your abilities, your talents.”
“My talents?” Naya scoffed, her frustration twisting her anger into a hot, uncontrollable heat. “My talents don’t make me suitable if they destroy things.”
Papa was silent for a moment, inhaling deeply as he took a few steps into the room. “You need to forgive yourself. Nothing is predictable in this life. Things like that happen.”
“I haven’t seen it happen to you and Mama. Ever.”
Papa’s voice calmed. “It has.”
Naya made a face. “After you both started running the empire?”
Papa was emperor before he found his mate, and Naya had heard and read the stories of how citizens had been fearful and rebellious back then. After her parents bonded and both ruled together, the empire thrived.
“What is that supposed to mean?” he barked. “Are you talking about this true mate thing again?”
Before Naya could respond, Mama rushed into the room, her usual bright, warm eyes clouded in concern. “Naya, what happened? Why did you leave the meeting like that?”
Papa’s voice was terse. “She no longer wishes the run the empire.”
“No, it’s not that.” Naya sat down on the chair behind her, sighing as the tension in her chest ebbed. “I want to rule properly, without getting things wrong or making decisions that hurt people.”
“No one ruling such vast and diverse lands will get everything right for everyone all the time, Naya,” Papa said. “That isn’t the way it works. You make the best decision you can with the information you have available.”
“I did, Papa.” She glared at him. “And it caused one of the biggest disasters in the history of this land.”
Papa exhaled heavily. Pulling another chair from next to her desk, he sat down in front of her. Shades of silver spread from his hairline and dusted his beard, but he’d hardly changed from the man who handed her her first sword twenty years ago.
Ma walked to Naya, who remained sitting in her chair, and enveloped her in a hug. It was the kind only she could give, warm and comforting, like she was trying to squeeze a bit of herself into Naya. The anger that had reared up earlier wilted under its pressure.
She stroked Naya’s hair and kissed her forehead. “I know that was traumatic for you, Naya,” she said. “But we’ve tried everything we can think of to help you cope with the nightmares and memories and depression. You isolate yourself in that forest and avoid us all… you don’t even talk to Kaari anymore.”
“I’m still talking to the healer,” Naya mumbled into her chest, refusing to allow her guilt to build over not talking to her longtime friend.
Mama stepped back, holding Naya at arm’s length. “Is it helpful?”
Naya didn’t know how to answer. It had helped at first, when the grief was raw and the anxiety overwhelmed her, but now the progress was slow.
Mama released Naya and moved to stand next to Papa. His arm automatically wound around her, drawing her close. She leaned into him, her expression soft. “Does making that mistake mean you’re never going to try again? Are you just going to avoid making decisions about the empire?”
Naya caught her lip between her teeth and dragged it back and forth for a moment. “If that’s what my decisions cause, then maybe I’m not fit to rule. We cannot all be blind to that.”
Papa growled his displeasure, but Mama placed a hand on his chest. “Then who is?”
Naya opened her mouth, fully intending to say Drocan, her brother closest in age, but hesitated. None of her siblings had ever expressed an interest in running the empire, at least not to her. Everyone had been told it was Naya’s role. She didn’t want to put Drocan in a position he didn’t want, even though he was completely capable.
“You are the only one who has such a deep connection to magic, Naya,” her mother said, when she failed to answer.
“And it’s not just that,” Papa said. “You represent a lot to the empire. Every country celebrated for months when it was announced your mother was pregnant, and they celebrated again when you were born. They still celebrate every year on your birthday.”
