AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m still heir to the throne! Tiberias said as much.”
She snorts. “Naive thing, aren’t you?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re only heir until he comes up with a legitimate one.”
I bite my tongue. She sure isn’t the first person I want to tell the news about my birth to. “Well, for the time being I am the heir. I’m sure Tiberias would be happy to tell you himself—although he won’t give you the same benefits my dad did!”
Middlebrooks smirks. “We’ll see about that.”
My mouth falls open in shock. Not that I believe her. Tiberias would never do that to my mom.
“Oh, relax.” She waves her hand at me. “There are rumors about him seeing someone, anyway.”
I give her a double-take. People already know?
“Surprised?” A slow smile spreads across her face. “That’s what I was just talking about. Your days as heir are numbered, no matter how much uncle dearest adores you now. You’d better get used to it.”
I get up from the chair. “If you won’t change my schedule, I’ll speak with my uncle.”
“You do that. In the meantime, don’t forget to sign up for practice sparring sessions. The academy needs you to win against Zayn Landon.”
“Is that what this is about? That’s why you won’t let me switch?”
“You are our best chance at finally winning the championship again. It’s been far too long.”
“Expect to hear from the king.” I storm out of the office before she can say another word. Part of me wishes I had just told her I actually am the king’s daughter, but I’m not ready to say those words out loud.
My mom and Uncle Tiberias have been in love longer than I’ve been alive. It still doesn’t seem possible. Hopefully talking about it with Halen will help. If anyone can help make sense of this, it would be her. She’ll be shocked, but she’ll also know what to make of it, as someone who’s lived in Valora her entire life.
I make my way to the dorm, lost in thought. If Tiberias won’t help me switch classes, then I’m stuck in the class with Earwyn and her dogfish. Stuck facing off with the reigning sparring champion. Granted, he won’t be stronger than my dad was, but I also won’t be allowed to use the Ayers power which was how I overcame my dad. I do have Queen Sirena’s trident, though.
As I go up the stairs, I bump into someone. “Sorry.”
She spins around. Earwyn. Her eyes narrow and her face reddens. “Watch out, first-year.”
“I said I was sorry.”
“And I don’t care.” She shoves me against the wall.
“Can we just call a truce or something? I really don’t want to argue.”
Earwyn bursts out laughing. “A truce? Are you serious?”
“Why not? Neither of us needs the stress in our lives. Am I correct?”
She grabs my collar. “We passed the point of no return long ago.”
I gag and shove her fist away. My top button pops off. “What if I can get out of the weapons class? Would that help?”
“Nope. I have plans for you.”
My stomach flip-flops but I keep my expression stoic. “You really want to have an enemy when you could have a truce?”
Earwyn shoves me again. “After what you’ve done? You’d better believe it.”
I move away from her. “What about the king’s edict to treat me as you’d treat him? Would you shove and threaten him?”
