Page 20 of House of Royals

I slide my finger under the wax seal and break the raven crest. I pull two sheets of paper from inside it, and an ornate, old fashioned key with a raven set in the middle of the handle falls out into my hand.

Setting the key on my chest, my eyes turn to the letter.

My dear Alivia,

I’ve thought about the contents of this letter for over a month now. In my grand perspective of time, it’s really nothing more than the blink of an eye, but still, it’s been on my mind every waking second.

Your mother tracked me down and told me of your existence. I must admit that I couldn’t really believe her at first. You see, it isn’t an easy thing for someone like me to create offspring. And it’s been a long time since I last saw Marlene Ryan. But she sent me your picture and I knew. I see it with my own eyes. I am your father.

And that knowledge fills me with both great elation and solemn regret. I’ve lived a life of isolation for a very long time because losing my only family member has destroyed me in ways I never could have imagined. So knowing that for the past nineteen years I have in fact had family makes me so happy. I wish I had known sooner. I wish we could have had time together. I wish I could have been there for you.

I don’t realize that I’m crying, just a few paragraphs in, until a strangled breath catches in my throat and a tear rolls down my cheek and drips back into my ear. All my insides are shaking, quivering. My chest feels tight and constricted.

I have many wishes for what might have been.

But I am also sorry.

Knowing that I am your father, I know the fate that I have put upon your shoulders. Eventually, you will know the truth about what I am. It may take years, hopefully many, many of them. But what I have is yours, and someday, I suppose, you will learn everything.

I am sorry I have thrust you into this immortal life. My own has been a long one, and the vast majority of it has been unhappy. It’s been full of politics and manipulation and distrust. I never want that for you.

So I ask you this: stay away from the House. Stay away from the King. Stay away from our kind.

I know this is asking for a life of isolation, but I only found peace when I removed myself from everything I’ve just listed out for you. They can bring you nothing but pain.

Should you ever come to Silent Bend and I am no longer alive, I’ve asked Rath to give you this letter. I had hoped that we could meet some day, face to face. But I am a coward. If you’re reading this, it means I never found the courage to seek you out myself and do it the right way. There are not enough sorrys that I can put on these pages for that.

But if you come, trust Rath. He will never lead you astray. His loyalty is unprecedented, and he will take care of you.

I wish I could have gotten the same opportunity.

I know we’ve never met, but I do love you, Alivia.

Until we meet, all my love,

Henry.

I will do my best, Henry. I promise.

“RISE AND SHINE, PRINCESS.”

I breathe the words right into Ian’s ear. When he lashes out with a fist, I hold up the frying pan, blocking his blow. But he springs off the couch faster than I expect, diving for my legs. I go down on top of him with a yelp. Determined not to be bested, I twist, wrapping my legs around his neck and attempting to squeeze.

But Ian is a rolling, writhing snake and he springs to his feet. I dangle with my legs still wrapped around his neck, the two of us back to back, me hanging upside down.

For half a second, a smile crosses my lips.

But with a great yell, Ian flips me over his shoulder. I manage to twist slightly as he does and land on my back. Hard.

Ian pins me to the ground, forearm across my throat, clutching a stake in his hand. He pants, eyes wild and wide. They go even wider when he realizes it’s me.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he asks as confusion takes over his expression. But his voice is loaded with annoyance.

“Trying to prove I’m not a useless little flower,” I say with a snide smile. Ian is shirtless, his bare skin pressed up against my stomach since my shirt has ridden up during our wrestling match. “I may not know how to defend myself yet, but I’m not all that delicate, either.”

Ian stares at me, his eyes going back and forth between mine. And slowly, a smile chips its way onto his lips. He lets out a little chuckle. “Yeah, you’re Henry’s daughter, all right. He was a defiant little prick, too.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I say as Ian stands and pulls me to my feet.

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