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Tears in his eyes, he took her hand in his frail, thin one “At first it was because I thought it was the best way to keep you safe until you were ready to come back hoan to reject the transplants I needed after the assassination attempt One by one, they started to shut down What kind of father would make his child watch him die twice?”

The i all over the castle steps flashed in her aht discussions about Elskovian history in the library or the songs they used toon the way to royal appearances She’d been so focused on the bad that she’d blocked out the good Well, now she had a second chance with hi to lose it

Glancing down at their intertwined hands, she sed past the eht “Will you stay in Elskov?”

Sadness and regret dimmed the blue of his eyes “You know that can’t happen In a few hours, you’ll be queen Those loyal to the Fjende would have eaten up the sweet seventeen-year-old girl you were, but they’ve got a er enemy in the woman you’ve become You are Elskov’s best choice” He squeezed her hand “That doesn’t mean I don’t want to be part of your life If you’ll allow it, I’d like to be as o back and do it differently, I would I was so focused on hter It is ive me?”

“I shouldn’t” Her voice shook

“I understand” He started to get up

She refused to let go of his hand “But I do”

He wrapped his ar to each other as she let the tears she’d been holding back fall freely—they both did He wasn’t perfect, but he was her father, and he’d done what he’d thought was the best thing for her and for Elskov She couldn’t hold on to the anger that had twisted her up, not when she wasthe same choice when it came to Dom

He pulled back and wiped the tears fro froer, I could ruin everything for you”

“I understand” She stood, her legs a little wobbly but not enough to stop her fro her father to the door

He paused, his hand on the knob “You’reand dedicated to Elskov, but she understood the importance of balance when it came to royal duty and love I hope you’ll follow her example as a ruler rather than mine”

“You mean Dom” Her heart fluttered at the taste of his name on her

lips

Her father nodded “He didn’t have the choice to tell you about me No one knohat that’s like more than you Don’t let the crown and your duty blind you like it did me He loves you”

“How do you know?”