The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon

Author:H.E. Edgmon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Published: 2021-03-19T11:34:31+00:00

* * *

It’s very late at night when my phone dings on the bedside table. Briar is already asleep, soft snores blowing through her lips as she lies235 curled up against my side, her head on my shoulder. I’ve spent the last hour or so staring at the ceiling, trying to shut my thoughts off. Any excuse to grab my phone and provide my rabid brain with the immediate satisfaction of techy interaction is welcome.

My wallpaper’s a selfie of Briar and me back home, our faces smushed together, both of us smiling so big it looks like our cheeks might crack. It makes me smile every time I look at it.

I have three new messages. As soon as I open the thread, my heart sputters indignantly.

The first is a picture of Boom, lying in front of the closed door to Emyr’s cabin, as if waiting to be let outside.

UNKNOWN NUMBER

I think he’s waiting for you to come back.

This is Emyr.

I consider asking him how he got my number, but that feels like a pointless question. He’s the prince. Of course he could get my number if he wanted it.

Should I pretend to be asleep? It’s late enough to be believable.

But I’m bored. This is as good an excuse as any to avoid sleep for a little longer.

I save him as a new contact before messaging back.

poor guy. i’m very missable, after all.

he could come stay with me. plenty of room at the castle.

ROYAL PAIN

You are moderately missable.

He doesn’t like leaving the forest. I think the number of people at the palace make him uncomfortable.

mood.

What does moderately missable mean?

ROYAL PAIN

You’re up late. Are you and Briar having another adventure?

Another subtle accusation. I huff.

briar’s asleep. i’m having adventures with my other concubine.

ROYAL PAIN

There is another?

...joking, dude.

ROYAL PAIN

Oh.

Haha.

That was the most dry, unamused reaction I’ve ever read in my life. So much so that I can’t help but snort to myself in response. I roll onto my side, tucking my phone under the blanket so the light from the screen won’t wake Briar.

so, i go away for a little while and you give my dog anxiety.

ROYAL PAIN

I did not give him anxiety. Perhaps being abandoned by his other father gave him anxiety.

i would have taken him with me if i could.

ROYAL PAIN

What about me?

i guess you would have had to get a new dog.

ROYAL PAIN

No. I mean, would you have taken me with you if you could?

The question throws me off guard so hard my head spins. My stomach roils at the mere idea of doing even the barest amount of introspection required to answer that question honestly.

Would I have taken him with me? At the time, feeling the way I felt about him back then? We were fighting all the time; I wasn’t sure what to do with all the big emotions trapped in my body. It wasn’t really Emyr I was angry with, though. It was our circumstances. It was the kingdom. If I could’ve had Emyr, my best friend, away

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