Page 90 of American Royals II: Majesty

“Of course I was jealous,” Himari agreed. “I’d be lying if I said it was buckets of fun playing the quiet sidekick while you became more and more famous. While the press kept gushing on about you, with your perfect face and perfect boyfriend and perfectlife.Which no longer included me.”

“No, I mean—I thoughtyouwanted to date Jefferson. That you were trying to break us up so you could swoop in and date him yourself.” Daphne’s words sounded clumsy even toherself.

Himari shrugged. “I went through a phase of crushing on him, sure. But that’s practically required of being a teenager in America. I never actuallylikedhim, not romantically.” Her eyes cut to Daphne’s. “I’m still not convinced that you do, either.”

Daphne couldn’t afford to acknowledge that comment. “I’m sorry, Himari. For being a bad friend, and hurting you, and…”

“And sending me to Japan?”

Daphne let out a ragged breath. “Yeah. For sending you to Japan.”

“You never do things halfway,” Himari agreed, a note of grudging admiration in her voice. She looked down. “Still, we both know my parents wouldn’t have gotten this appointment without your…interference,” she said delicately. “And honestly, I don’t hate the idea of a fresh start.”

A fresh start. Daphne wouldn’t know what to do with that. For a fleeting instant, she let herself imagine what it would be like: if she wasn’t Daphne Deighton, future princess. If she was just…Daphne.

But she’d traded away so many pieces of herself, she didn’t really know what was left. She didn’t really know who she was anymore, underneath the bright, public self she showed the rest of the world.

“Truce?” she suggested, and Himari’s mouth twitched in amusement.

“You stick to your side of the Pacific, and I’ll stick to mine?”

Daphne nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

“You know,” Himari mused, “the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of being friends with a princess. I’m sure there’s a favor or two I could call in.”

Daphne tried not to reveal how her heart had skipped at the word. “Arewe still friends?”

Himari scoffed, as if it were self-evident. “What else could we be? Only friends know each other well enough to cause this kind of hurt. Only friends push each other past the breaking point.”

“I don’t think most people would agree with your theory of friendship.”

“So what?” Himari said easily. “You and I aren’tmost people.”

The two of them stood there for a moment in a strange, weighted silence. The wind picked up, raking its fingers through the trees.

There was an unmistakable similarity between the two young women: a stubborn, steely quality that each of them had seen in the other. It was what had drawn them together, and also what had set them against each other, and, in the end, perhaps it made them more like sisters than friends.

Daphne wouldn’t know. She’d never had a sister, had never letanyonepast her guard, except Himari.

And Ethan.

“I’m going to miss you,” Daphne heard herself say.

Himari held out her hand. “It’s settled, then. No more feuding.”

Daphne nodded and shook Himari’s hand, struck by the formality of the gesture, as if they were a pair of queens formalizing a state treaty.

Then, to Daphne’s utter shock, Himari pulled her closer, and threw her arms around her in a hug.

“I’m sorry,” Himari murmured, so softly that Daphne almost didn’t hear it. As if Himari was reserving the right to deny she’d ever spoken the words.

“Me too.” Daphne blinked back the tears that burned her eyes. “I wish I could go back and do things differently.”

“It’s for the best. This town isn’t big enough for the both of us.”

“Thiscountryisn’t.”

Himari softened, just a little. Then she stepped away, letting out a breath. “Well—I should get going. I have a lot of packing to do.”