But before that happened, they’d had four children. Each one brought into the world with love, light, and paparazzi flashes in their eyes.
I wasn’t a fan of the latter and considering what I wanted to be instead of a princess, it made sense.
I was a photographer. Not a princess in my head all the time.
I wanted to find a blend of both, one where I could see through the lens and take pictures of the world and understand human nature and nature itself.
I wanted to do all of that and see the world without having a bodyguard at my side or a royal reason for being there.
Wishes didn’t make choices, and unless I stood up for myself and finally asked, it was never going to happen.
“Come with me,” Roman said, frowning.
I looked at Breck and Wilder, who just shrugged, and we followed the King of Alden out of the room, wondering what on earth he could have to say to us tonight.
“What is it? You were just meeting with the King of Sweden, right? Nothing could have happened there,” Breck said.
“I like Sweden,” Wilder said.
“As do I, hence why nothing would happen to occasion this meeting.”
“You can’t go,” Roman said.
I froze, my hands fisting in front of me. “Excuse me?” I turned away from him, looked at my other brothers, then turned back. “How does everyone know what I want to do before I even say it?”
“We have our ways. This trip of yours is going to be too dangerous. I know you want to go and take photos and do something that you’re passionate about, but you can’t. It’s too dangerous considering the times we’re in. I’m sorry. But I forbid it.”
Rage curled in my belly, and I swallowed hard, trying to understand exactly what he had just said.
“You’re forbidding it?”
“Roman,” Wilder whispered.
“Really? That’s the line you’re taking?” Breck asked in a quiet voice.
“I can forbid whatever the hell I want to. I am the King of Alden. I am your king.”
“You are my brother, you might be my king, but you are not my owner and not my father.”
He didn’t wince at the reminder of what we’d lost, but I saw his eyes narrow infinitesimally.
“No, I’m not either of those things, but I am your ruler. You have a job here. You are to act in place of my queen until it is deemed that I find a queen of my own. You have duties here that you are neglecting every time you see fit to leave this kingdom on another jaunt of yours.”
“Really? A jaunt. It’s a job. An actual job. One where I’m not cutting ribbons and smiling for people instead of doing what I want.”
“Then find something that you like to do here. Be someone. Make a contribution. But I can only keep you safe if you’re here.”
Breck and Wilder just stood with their mouths agape, but I was shaking. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t breathe.
Before I could say anything in rebuttal, heels clattered on the marble floor behind us, and I whirled to see Aunt Rebecca running in, her face pale, her hands on her dress, lifting her skirts so she wouldn’t trip.
Aunt Rebecca never ran. She was always poised and in control, her royal majesty in all but name. She would have been an amazing queen if she had not been born second to my father.
“Roman, you must listen.”
“I’m busy. I can’t meet with the council right now. I just got back into the country, and it’s London’s birthday. We’re celebrating.”
“Some celebration,” I mumbled.
“I know you’re busy, but you must listen.” A chill of foreboding slid over my body as I narrowed my eyes at her, the tone of her voice one I hadn’t heard in far too long.
“Listen to what?” I asked carefully.
“London, if you run off and chase your dreams and neglect your duties, you’ll lose your throne. And Roman, you’ll lose everything.”
Chapter 2
London
Royal lines never fade. Memories do.
“What the fuck are you talking about, Aunt Rebecca?” Roman’s voice boomed, causing it to echo off of the walls in his study. It was unusual that my brother lost his temper. He was always so self-contained. This was the first time I’d seen absolute fury on his face.
Our aunt didn’t cower though. She stood her ground and lifted her chin. The trembling in her hands was the only thing that belied her fear. “Don’t shoot the messenger, Roman. I’m sorry to interrupt, but you need to know this because I’m trying to help.”
Her words seemed to calm Roman down, and I stepped forward and grabbed her arm.
He tried again. “Sorry, Aunt Rebecca. What’s going on?”
She patted my hand. “London, sweetheart, I’m sorry to do this on your birthday, but I’ve only just been made aware of it.” Her gaze flickered around to meet each of ours. “An emergency appeal was brought to the council tonight.”
Roman’s voice was still tight. “What kind of emergency appeal?”
Aunt Rebecca licked her lips, her makeup so expertly done it almost masked the lines around her mouth. “There is an obscure law that has never been used before until now. The law states that there must be a child born to the royal line before the last child in that line reaches thirty. I’m so sorry, darlings. You know I’d never want to see this happen to any of you. I love you all so much.”
A nervous laugh bubbled out of my throat. “What? That’s ridiculous.”
“I agree,” Aunt Rebecca said. “But it’s one of those things that was likely brought about to enforce alliances with neighboring kingdoms to ensure that there was always new royal blood.” At my stricken expression, she squeezed my hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
My brother Wilder shook his head. “No, there’s no way. How in the world did this happen, and why didn’t we know?” He tilted his chin up at Roman. “You’re the king. Change the rule.”
Roman’s expression was tight, and the muscle in his jaw ticked. “You know full well I can’t just change a law. It requires the Council of Lords to vote. And they’re not due to meet for another month. Obviously, London has just turned twenty-nine. That gives us a year to figure out what to do.”
What the hell were they talking about? No way could they be entertaining any of this. A hysterical laugh bubbled up. “You guys, what the hell am I supposed to do if you can’t get the law changed? Get married, get knocked up, and have a baby just so you lot can rule? No, thank you.”
Aunt Rebecca took both my hands. “Look, it’s not going to come to that, okay? I have a plan. First, we’ll go to the Council of Lords like your brother said, okay?”
The squeeze of her hands was soothing. Calming. Ever since Mom died, Aunt Rebecca had stepped up so often to help, to keep me calm. Growing up in a family of men was difficult. But she was always there. “Look, I will make this right, okay?”
From the corner, Breck watched us all. “This is bullshit. You can’t make London have a baby. Her womb isn’t up for auction.”
Aunt Rebecca turned to him. “I know that. And you know that. But the laws are the laws, and we still need the Council of Lords to change them.”