Twisted-Games

in line to the throne.”
My mouth curled into a small snarl at the thought of her marrying another
man. It was irrational, but nothing about my reactions was rational when it
came to her. Bridget could wipe away every sense of logic and propriety I
had.
She continued, oblivious to my turmoil. “The palace is making the
official announcement next week. I’m not supposed to tell anyone until then,
which is why I haven’t said anything.” She swallowed hard. “After the
announcement, I’ll officially be the heir to the throne, and my life won’t be
mine anymore. Everything I do and say will reflect the crown, and I can’t let
my family or country down.” She took a deep breath. “That’s why I’ve been
going a little…crazy lately. I want to savor being normal for the last time.
Relatively speaking.”
I was silent as I digested her bombshell.
Bridget, the future Queen of Eldorra. Holy shit.
She was right in that most women would kill to trade places with her. But
Bridget was the girl who once ran out in the middle of a thunderstorm and
danced in the rain. Who spent her free time volunteering at an animal shelter
and would rather stay home watching TV and eating ice cream than attend a
fancy party.
To her, becoming queen wasn’t a dream; it was her worst nightmare.
“It was never supposed to be me. I was the spare.” Bridget blinked, her
eyes bright with unshed tears. My chest squeezed at the sight. “It was never
supposed to be me,” she repeated.
I grasped her chin and tilted it until she was looking at me. “You’re a lot
of things, princess. Stubborn, infuriating, a pain in my ass half the time. But I
promise you, you’re not a spare anything.”
She let out a weak laugh. “That might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said
to me.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
Another small laugh, one that faded as quickly as it had come. “What am
I going to do?” Bridget whispered. “I’m not ready. I don’t think I’ll ever be
ready.”
“You’re Bridget von Ascheberg,” I said. “You’ll be ready.”
Bridget excelled at everything she did, and being queen would be no
exception.
“In the meantime…” I hoped I didn’t regret what I was about to say.