Page 178 of Rebellious Royals

"No, that would freak Hawke out," I said.

Wilder chuckled. "Probably, but you can still do it. And you know what? I have a feeling we'd all survive it being completely awkward. I'm pretty sure none of our friendships would crack if someone fumbled a bit. However, I'm certain that if you're not going to make a move on Keir, I just might."

I glanced over, finding my sister's protector smiling at me softly. "Or both?" I asked.

"Me and you both hitting on him?"

I shrugged. "I mean, fuck the rules?"

"Fuck the rules," he agreed, guiding me forward. "And you should talk to Liam about your sexuality too. See if he can help you sort it out in your head. If you're straight, then we're good with it. But Tor? If you're as pansexual as the rest of us? We're good with that too. I mean, might be nice to have the most powerful fae on Earth be a little bit normal, wouldn't it?"

"I'm not the most powerful anymore," I reminded him.

"Oh, you still are," he told me. "Maybe Aspen has more rank - "

"And power."

He grunted, clearly not agreeing. "But she lacks your ruthlessness. It doesn't count if she won't use it, Tor. Face it, we still need you." And he gestured for me to enter the hall first.

I did, but his words stuck with me. The court needed me. No. Myfriendsdid, and that actually felt even more important. I was no longer the heir to the Winter Crown. The problem had been solved.

It felt too fucking easy.

Chapter Fifty-Six

KEIR

Aspen had called us out of class to come help Torian, but I wasn't quite sure what any ofushad done to help him. At lunch, no one wanted to talk about it, keeping the conversation light and easy. I was good with that. Sometimes we all needed a break from the heavy shit, but when we headed to the gym afterwards, I pulled Hawke aside and got the condensed version.

I knew Torian had been having issues with how he was tied to both thrones, but naming Wilder the heir had really made it all better? Ok, I had questions. So during our survival course, the two of us came up with a plan. Hawke would come over to get Torian's help with something, and I'd go check on Wilder.

If either guy wanted to talk, they'd now have options. One of us should be able to tell if they were putting on a brave face - or leaving something out. And no, it wasn't a perfect plan, but it was one thing we could do without dragging the girls into this, because I had a feeling that would only make Torian clam up.

As we headed up to our rooms after dinner, Hawke tapped my arm. "Hey, I'm going to hang with Tor for a bit. Willing to chill with Wilder? I don't like him being alone, not after they got into his room."

Wilder grunted as if unimpressed. "Hawke, I told you I added more protections." Then he looked at me and smiled. "But if you wanna hang, Keir, I'm down."

"Oh, baby," I teased, shifting over so I could walk at his side. "Sounds to me like those two need some personal time or something."

"Shit," Torian grumbled.

And beside me, Wilder struggled not to smile. I caught that, but I was starting to think this plan Hawke and I had concocted might not be our own anymore. So when those two peeled off to head to Torian's room, I kept going, following Wilder to his. Around us, the other guys on this side were doing their normal thing, which was typically rather loud. I saw a few girls glance over, but their eyes tracked Torian and Hawke, not us.

"Guess I'm no longer appealing to the girls," I joked while Wilder unlocked his door.

"Girlfriends have that effect, I hear." He pushed it open and gestured for me to head in. But when he shut the door behind us, he kept going. "And most are too human to understand the mess you call a relationship."

"Eh, I'm good with it." I flopped down on his bed without asking, but I did keep my shoes off it.

Wilder claimed the chair in the room. "Hawke told me you're worried."

"Yeah," I admitted. "Aspen sent a text that sounded like we were having a crisis. I bailed on class, headed up to Torian's room, and then it was all just ok? Wilder, what did I miss?"

"He's no longer in line for the throne."

"And that's it?" I snapped my fingers. "Just like that, things changed and everyone's happy again? Never mind that you're now Aspen's heir. Are you ok with it?"

"I'd prefer it was someone else," he admitted, "but better me than Tor. He's right about that. If he inherits the Winter Crown,everything we've fought for is over. The magic could simply vanish for all we know. And if it doesn't? I think that could be worse."

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