Page 85 of Rebellious Royals

But I just shook my head, feeling stinging in my eyes. "I can't do this, Keir."

"Ah, there you are," he praised, cupping my cheek. "And you don't have to do it alone."

My gaze jumped between his beautiful eyes. That blue was impressive. I wanted to call it indigo, but it wasn't quite that dark. It also felt like a safe place. Like the sort of color that would wrap around me, shielding me from the shit I didn't want to handle - but which I had come here to tackle head-on.

"They like that I'm the heir," I breathed, holding his eyes desperately.

"Because youarea good guy, Tor," he soothed. "Believe it or not, you are."

"But they know I'm the prince!"

His thumb swept over my cheek. "Because you told them."

And that was when I realized he didn't get it. "No," I said, trying to sit up.

Keir just pushed my shoulder back down. "Talk, pretty boy. I'm not going anywhere, and I've already shielded the room so none of this will get out."

Fuck, how had I missed that? Never mind. I needed this, and the soft, intelligent, compassionate look in Keir's eyes made something inside me crack. The words tumbled out.

"They were supposed to hate me," I said again. "Keir, I said that so they'd fear me. So they'd stop attacking Winter users, thinking I'd be as cruel as my mother. Instead, they're thrilled. They smile when they use my title."

"I saw," he agreed.

"And theywantme to be the heir!"

He shook his head quickly, making it clear he hadn't followed that jump. "Tor, why's that such a bad thing?"

"Because I'm aproblem!" I spat. "Don't you fucking get it, Keir? I'm the heir tobothcrowns. I'm not just the fucking Summer Prince. I'm also the Winter one as well. I'm the thing that could destroy our magic forever!"

That was when Keir knelt, his knees hitting the floor before me as he leaned in. "You, Torian Hunt, are many things. One of them is good. A good man, a good friend, and a good ruler.Thatis why they're ok with this."

All I could do was shake my head. "But I could rip it all apart."

"How?" he asked.

"If they realize I'm Aspen's only heir, they'll kill her, Keir! They'll come at her harder. They were supposed to hate me so the Winter Queen could become a beacon of hope. Instead, they've embraced me, and that means she's at risk!"

"We'll keep her safe," he swore.

"And if I inherit the Winter Crown," I went on, "my mother gets the power. Mymotherwould rule everything. She'd be able to rip the gate open! She could strip everyone but herself of magic. That's the part you don't understand. With a crown comes responsibility, not privilege! Those stupid hunks of jewels make it possible for us to grant more - and take away all of it."

"Like you did with Nevaeh," he realized.

I nodded. "Yeah. And the only way for me to get the Summer Crown?"

"To kill your mom," he said, showing he knew that.

"But Aspen? She's not safe. They'll go for her. They'll try to put her crown on my head, thinking it's the answer to all their problems, and no one here realizes how magic fucking works!They think I'm a good thing, but I'm not. I'm the worst. I'm the one fae who should never exist, and I'd planned - " I stopped hard.

Keir tilted my face, making me look at him. "Finish that."

I swallowed, but even after that, the words would only come out as a whisper. "I need to die."

"No."

"Keir!" I hissed.

"No," he said again, stronger this time. "That is not an option, Torian."

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