Cruel King (Royal Elite 0)

I don’t know which part should surprise me the most. The fact that Dad saw my sketches or that he’s letting me study art.

“Thank you,” I murmur, my voice catching in my throat. “All this time, I thought… I thought you hated me.”

“Oh, come here, Astrid.” He opens his arms and I dive into them, wrapping my hands around his waist. A sob tears from my throat and I can’t help the tears.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry I made you feel that way.” He strokes my hair back. “I was scared I’d lose you, too, so I was stern. Now I realise that’s not what you needed.”

“I just… I just miss Mum so much and you’re the only one who reminds me of her.”

“I miss her, too.” He kisses the top of my head. “I’m sorry I couldn’t grieve properly with you. I wanted you to move on with your life, but that was wrong, too. You needed to grieve properly first. I promise to learn from my mistakes and be a better father for you.”

I look up at him through blurry eyes. “You won’t throw me away and adopt Nicole?”

He laughs. “That nonsense was never on the table. You’re the only daughter I have. Nicole will leave after her mother is sent away.”

“What do you mean by sent away?”

Dad opens his mouth to speak when the door barges open. Victoria walks inside with Grandpa’s antique shotgun pointed towards us.

“No one will send me away.”

51

Levi

Was it all just a fantasy?

* * *

I stare up at Lord Clifford’s mansion.

Logically, I should’ve given Astrid time to cope, but patience has never been one of my qualities.

If I have to climb through a window and search every room to find her, then so be it.

We’re going to talk then I’ll kiss the living hell out of her. Or it can be the other way around. The order doesn’t matter.

Astrid and I aren’t something decided by an accident three years ago. We’re more. We’re a lot fucking more.

Astrid didn’t only engrave herself in my soul, she’s also become an inseparable part of my core. And no fucking one can take that away from me.

Not even her.

“Captain?” Daniel calls from my side. “What are you doing here?”

“The same as you. To see Astrid.” I narrow my eyes. “But I came first, so wait for your turn.”

He releases a sigh. “She’s going through a lot. Maybe you should give her some time to cope. Ever heard of that term?”

“Whatever that coping is, Astrid and I are doing it together.” I push past him towards the entrance.

He grips my shoulder and pulls me back with a force I didn’t realise he had.

“Fucking stop. She’s not like you. Astrid isn’t the type who goes forward, not caring about those left behind.”

“Is that what you think I am?”

“That’s what the whole team thinks you are! They’re just too scared to say it to your face.”