Twenty-Two
Prince George
“What were you thinking?” I stormed into the throne room where my father was.
“What was I thinking?” he said. “What are you talking about? Do you understand, that girl holds the key to our power!”
“She’s not a thing, father!” I shouted. “She’s Ashden! She’s the girl that I---”
King Archimedes snorted. “The girl that you love? Son, I’m not an i***t. I’m perfectly aware that you’ve been in love with Lancelot Larkin since you knew what a c**k was. Maybe even before. I don’t judge, son. But let’s not pretend.We both knew what Ashden was. A means to an end.”
“I loved her,” I said, “I love him, and I love her, and I’m not ashamed of who knows it. It might not be traditional, but that’s how it is, father. And you were going to kill her!”
He laughed. “I was n
