Page 75 of The Princess of Portals

“I don’t know. Suddenly, I have this big pit in my stomach. I have this feeling I just can’t shake. Like something bad is about to happen, and I won’t be able to stop it.”

“Nothing bad will happen to you as long as we’re here,” Kato assured me. “But just in case, we should ask Killjoy to look you over again.”

“He already checked me out. He said I’m fine.”

“And I’m sure you are. It’s just a precaution. After breakfast, we’ll head over to the Castle.”

“Kato, I’m fine.”

“Better safe than sorry. That’s always my motto.”

Kato snorted. “Since when?”

“Since now.” Conner grabbed a spatula, retrieving the eggs from the sizzling pan. He slid one onto each of three plates. “I’ll come along too.”

Kato frowned at him. “To the Castle?”

“Sure. Why not?”

“Two words: the General.”

Conner brushed off Kato’s concerns, his smile easy and relaxed. “The General won’t be a problem. I made his Fenris problem go away. He owes me.”

Kato’s dark brows inched upwards. “You made his Fenris problem go away?”

Conner shrugged. “I played a pivotal role. The General can chill out.”

“We both know the General isn’t wired that way.”

“You worry too much, Kato.”

“And you don’t worry enough.”

“Relax. Everything will be fine.”

Conner carried his plate and mine over to the dining table. He let Kato carry his own plate. I grabbed an extra blueberry muffin, then joined them at the table.

Kato was watching Conner, his expression muted. “Why do you want to visit the Castle?”

“Eat your breakfast, Kato,” Conner said lightly. “You wouldn’t want to offend Savannah. She put so much work into making it.”

So we ate. And as soon as we were done eating, Kato picked up right where he’d left off.

“Why do you want to visit the Castle, Conner?”

“You really do have a one-track mind, don’t you?” Conner chuckled.

“Just answer the question.”

“I was once a Knight too, Kato. I have a lot of friends at the Castle. There are tons of people I’d like to see again, including the Apprentices Savannah saved. I did start a Rebellion over them, you know. And now that they’re back and all that is done, I…well, I guess I was hoping things would just go back to the way they were.”

The two friends’ gazes met, and I could see that Kato wanted that too. “Things can’t ever go back to the way they were, Conner. That’s just how life is: we can’t go back; we can only move forward.”

Conner didn’t seem to hear him. “I’d like to catch up with Killjoy too. Honestly, I’m a tad disappointed he didn’t join my Rebellion.” A roguish smile tugged on the corner of his mouth.

“If you want to go back to the Castle, Conner, we need to get things sorted with the General. His soldiers are probably stationed all around the Castle, just waiting for you to show up so that they can arrest you.”

Delight drained from Conner’s face. Cold, hard reality had finally set in. “The General really is a spoilsport. So I guess I’m just supposed to sit back and twiddle my thumbs while you two have all the fun?”