Page 9 of Go Luck Yourself

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knows what crazy shit i’ll do left to

my own devices

Wren’s there. And you have a whole palace full of staff.

COAL

you know what i mean

You’re sniffing Hex’s pillow right now, aren’t you?

COAL

need i remind you that I am your king

you dishonor me, i shall have you excommunicated

That’s the Pope, dumbass.

And dad’s still the King of Christmas, technically.

COAL

what the fuck do i mean then

exiled, that’s what i mean

i’ll have you exiled

I swipe to a new text thread as I make my way back out of the library.

HEX

Coal said you’re going to visit him tomorrow? How’s he been doing, really?

Hex is in a similar situation to mine—juggling school and his own Holiday duties, but at least his parents are actually doing their jobs and running Halloween. Like Iris, he’s been into the online school thing for a while, so he’s able to pop over to be with Coal more freely.

Which is… weird. Good. But weird. The prevailing theme that came out of Christmas:good but weird.

All these changes—Coal being in charge now, him having a stable relationship—are good.

It’s only the shit I caused that’s decidedlynotgood.

Nope. Not going to wallow.

HEX

I’m finishing up a few things to leave now, actually.

Now? Why? What happened?

HEX

Nothing happened. My schedule opened up. Really, he’s been doing quite well. Understandably stressed. A few of the negotiation topics with the other winter Holidays have hit sticking points, and you know how he hates anything overtly political.

But I’m proud of him. He’s happy.

Try not to worry.

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