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“Ren,” Nylah said, standing. “Can I talk to you for a second?”
The King nodded, and they stepped out of earshot. I watched them as they talked. They didn’t look like a king and his subject. They looked like friends. Siblings. She was playful with him, teasing him by the looks of things, and he humored her. They had a close relationship, that much was clear.
The door to the palace opened yet again, and Lucia stepped out. Didn’t she let him do anything alone? When the King appeared somewhere, it was a matter of minutes before Lucia followed.
I watched as the King stiffened, his demeanor changing. Nylah changed, too. She took a step back from the King, and their laughter and easy relationship disappeared. Lucia glanced at me over the King’s shoulder before she looked away. I wasn’t even worth her time.
Finally, the King and future queen left, and Nylah turned back to me.
“You’re different around the King,” I pointed out.
“Different from what?”
I thought about it. “You’re less tense. You smile more. And…you call him Ren.”
Nylah nodded. “Ren and I grew up together. He’s not just my king, he’s like a brother to me, and my dearest friend. We’ve been through a lot together.”
I ached at the thought of having such a close relationship with someone. I wished I’d had someone like that. My life had been lonely. I had trusted no one, turned to no one. Everything I’d been through, I’d been through alone.
I thought about Lucia coming in.
“Not when the future queen is around,” I added. “Then you’re both very stiff. Even the King, when they’re engaged to be married.”
Nylah nodded. “Lucia and Ren still have a lot to learn about each other. They’re not comfortable around each other yet. Ruling together doesn’t require a loving relationship. It requires teamwork.”
I frowned. “They’re not in a loving relationship?”
“Not yet,” Nylah said. “The marriage isn’t for love. The point is to create a strong bond, so they can rule together, moving in the same realm. They need to do what’s good for the kingdom. It takes time to get used to each other.”
“That doesn’t seem right,” I said.
She laughed. “No, but royal families don’t have the luxury of marrying for love. It’s about staying in the First Realm, and that takes careful planning. The royal family can’t afford to move away from Terra, to be unable to rule with the power that she bestows upon them when they’re where they belong.”
It all seemed backward to me. “Isn’t love supposed to be stronger than that?” I asked. “Love conquers all, right?”
Her laughter still danced in her eyes. “It would be nice to think so,” she said. “But love is never enough, Ellie. If the King marries for love, but the bond isn’t right, and it yanks him from Terra, he’ll lose his power and his ability to reign the way he does. He can’t afford to love before all else. If he finds love, that’s a bonus.”
“That’s sad,” I said.
Nylah nodded. “It is. But being in line to the throne has never been something anyone got excited about. It’s hard work. It requires sacrifice. We all have to give something up if we want to make a difference.”
I thought about that. Had I ever given up something important? Probably not. I’d had nothing to begin with.
“So, he could marry someone but never find love? Isn’t that a requirement to make it work?” I asked. I had had little of an example of what love was supposed to be like—for that, I would have had to have a family. I’d read books, though. I was familiar with the concept.
“I know it’s hard to understand,” Nylah said. “Just be glad that the burden doesn’t fall on you to make choices for the greater good, rather than for yourself.”
I nodded.
“We should get back to training. How are you feeling? Ready to try again?”
I was in control now. I was in a better headspace. I nodded and stood.
Nylah and I walked to the center of the arena, and she started her magic again. This time, I knew what I was doing.
10
“How are you settling in?” Nylah asked when I joined her in the cathedral after my training sessions with Dex.
