home with their children.
It’s understandable to some degree… but also sort of laughable for Thora to even say something so out of touch with reality.
Annika clears her throat and raises her fork, gesturing with it. “I’ve been back for the better part of a year, mor. And…” A muscle flexes in her jaw. “I’m feeling very smothered by being a royal at this moment in time.”
Thora’s brows arch up. “Oh? Well, that’s no good. At least you have Erik, though. That’s certainly better than having some bodyguards on your tail every moment of the day.”
She just glossed over the fact that she didn’t know how long Annika had been back here at the palace. Typical of Thora and Goran, though. The crown just allowed them to parent from a distance, it seems.
Nika looks down at her plate with a murderous expression. “I think that Momse would agree with you on that count, mor.”
I clear my throat. “Everything is running smoothly. Isn’t that right, Annika?”
She shoots me a glare and takes a big bite of her food, chewing it. I send her my stoniest look. But Thora’s attention has already wandered over to her other children. “And Lars, what about you? How is… what’s her name? That lovely redhead that you are always running around with?”
I glance over at Lars, who frowns down at his plate. “I assume you mean Pippa. And she’s fine. She’s actually just taken a new job with a fashion magazine.”
Margot finally pipes up. “Yes, Pippa is going to be a junior editor with a fashion magazine. It’s a huge step forward in her career.”
Thora smiles. “Well isn’t that nice. You know, Lars, it’s really too bad that your Pippa is commonly born. She would make an ideal partner for you otherwise.”
My eyebrows lift. Margot’s face goes a deep shade of crimson. Thora seems unaware of the fact that two of her dinner guests were not born into her same world of wealth and privilege.
Goran clears his throat. “Thora, darling. You’re making Margot uncomfortable. Let’s change the subject.”
I don’t even factor into the conversation. I keep my expression carefully blank, but inside I’m wondering why I’m even here. Finn shoots me an uneasy glance and lifts a shoulder in a shrug. Nika looks at me, her mouth tugging down into a frown.
That’s the worst feeling, in my opinion. Pity for being born poor, coming my way from a fucking princess.
No, not just a princess.
A princess whose hot little body I’ve felt under my hands, whose perfect pouty lips I’ve crushed with my kiss. I can’t stand the fact that she feels pity for me now.
It makes me so angry that I can’t even look at her right now.
“Well… this has been nice…” Lars rolls his eyes, clearly still upset over how his mother talked about Pippa. “But I do have to get up early tomorrow.”
He rises, saying goodbye to everyone before he heads out. For a minute, there is an awkward vacuum of silence. I’m focused on keeping my emotions internal and silent.
Perhaps Nika does have a point with her teasing about my strait-laced, buttoned up personality. I look around the table uncertainly.
Stellan pushes himself up from the table. “I think we should call it a night.”
He and Margot say their goodbyes. I eye Annika, trying to work out my own excuse.
Thora pouts a little bit. “All my children leave me. Stay for a bit, those of you that are still here.” Silence reigns for several seconds, then Thora turns to her daughter. “Tell me Annika, who are you seeing right now? Is there anyone worth mentioning to me?”
Annika eyes widen. She goes still, looking extremely nervous. Her eyes dart to me for the briefest of moments. Then she controls herself, looking at her mother.
“No, mor. There is no one.” Her mouth twists to the side. “I mean, there was someone, but he ruined it.”
She doesn’t even so much as glance at me, but I feel my neck heat anyway. I’m a thousand percent certain that she is talking about me.
“Oh, that’s too bad.” Thora pulls a face. “What did he do?”
Nika tilts her head. “He was obsessed with wealth and class and status… and because of our differences in how much money we were born with, he messed things up with me too many times.” She licks her lips, darting her gaze my way. “You could say that I’m taking some personal space from dating now.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Goran says, nodding.
I stand up