AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She’s going to come around, but I’m giving her time. It’s not like I have a chance at the throne as the third to find my mate,” I reasoned. “Rhuron has had two weeks, and Simeth, a full week so far. They’re probably already pregnant.”
“Children may be born early. If Simeth beats Rhuron and you’ve done nothing to try and counter this, our line will lose the throne.” My father’s voice was deadly, but I kept my eye contact.
I didn’t want the throne.
I couldn’t tell him that because he’d probably kill me, but the throne was the furthest thing from my mind. I’d much rather have Olive happy and in my arms. Maybe eventually she’d realize who I was and learn to trust me.
My father raised himself taller. “If you aren’t one of the first two with an heir, I’ll demote you from your position,” he said bluntly. My mouth dropped open and Rhuron’s did the same. He didn’t put any of this expectation on my brother. It was just assumed that Rhuron would have a child on time because Rhuronalwaysdid everything right.
Even when he was wrong, he was right.
How the hell was I supposed to compete with that?
“I’m not going to hurt her to please you,” I growled. My father’s face went dark with anger, and had I not been so mad, I would have been terrified.
“If you don’t want to help your kingdom, it’s treason,” he threatened. “There are dozens of cells like the one your cousin is in. Jeopardize the bloodline and I’ll let you sit in there for a couple of years.”
I knew it wasn’t an empty threat.
He was deadly serious about keeping the kingdom under the rule of an Everglast.
As he stormed out, Rhuron looked at me with a mix of surprise and pity, and somehow, that was worse. I was pissed and already sick of this whole goddamned place.
Olive came to mind, and I considered the fact that she could probably make this castle livable. With her at my side, I’d at least have the drive to keep going instead of half wishing my father would lock me away.
I swallowed down these thoughts with guilt, knowing I was fortunate to be one of the few princes.
I needed to try harder to get us back on track. She needed to be ready to mate and have heirs. If not, I’d be failing both of us. She deserved every good thing in life, from riches to a place on the throne. I agreed then and there that I’d do anything to make that happen for her.
I’d only known her for a day, and she was already so much to me.
