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“We’ll wait until the furor’s died down over Grandfather’s hospitalization. Maybe another month or two. You know how the news cycle is these days. It’ll be old news by then. We’ll keep the engagement a secret until then too. Elin’s already working on a press statement and plan, and—”
“Wait.” I held up one hand. “Elin already knows?”
A pink flush stole over Nikolai’s cheekbones when he realized his mistake. “I had to—”
“Who else knows?” Thud. Thud. Thud. My heart sounded abnormally loud to my ears. I wondered if I had a heart condition too, like my grandfather. I also wondered what would happen if Nikolai abdicated and I died right there in the saddle. “Who else did you tell before me?”
I bit out the words. Each one tasted bitter, coated with betrayal.
“Just Elin, Grandfather, and Markus. I had to tell them.” Nikolai didn’t back down from my glare. “Elin and Markus have to get out in front of this, politically and press-wise. They need time.”
A wild laugh emerged from my throat. I’d never made such a feral sound in my life, and my brother flinched at the sound.
“They need time? I need time, Nik!” Freedom. Love. Choice. Things I’d already had so little of, gone forever. Or they would be after Nikolai officially announced his abdication. “I need the two-and-a-half decades you’ve already had, preparing you for the throne. I need not to feel like an afterthought in a decision that’ll change my entire life. I need…” I need to get out of here.
Otherwise, I might do something crazy, like punch my brother in the face.
I’d never punched a person before, but I’d watched enough movies to get the gist.
Instead of finishing my sentence, I urged my horse into a canter, then a full-on gallop. Breathe. Just breathe.
“Bridget, wait!”
I ignored Nikolai’s shout and spurred the horse faster until the trees whizzed by in a blur.
Bridget, I’m abdicating.
His words echoed in my head, taunting me.
I had never, not once in my life, entertained the possibility Nikolai wouldn’t take over the throne. He’d wanted to be king. Everyone had wanted him to be king. He’d been ready.
Me? I didn’t think I’d ever be ready.
When did Nikolai propose to Sabrina? How long had everyone known? Was his planned abdication part of the reason for Grandfather’s collapse?
I didn’t remember seeing an engagement ring on Sabrina’s finger at the hospital, but if they were keeping it under wraps until the announcement, she wouldn’t be wearing one.
I was in the dark about something that affected me more than anyone except Nikolai, and I was so consumed by my inner turmoil I didn’t notice the low-hanging branch speeding toward me until it was too late.
Pain exploded on my forehead. I fell off my horse and landed on the ground with a hard thud, andthe last thing I remembered seeing was the storm clouds roll in overhead before darkness swallowed me whole.