S.T. Bende - Royal Rebel (Alfheim Academy: Book Three)

Royal Rebel

Alfheim Academy: Book Three

Copyright 2020, S.T. Bende

Edited by: CREATING ink

Cover Art by: Melissa Stevens of The Illustrated Author Design Services

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.

This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage system without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

First publication: 2020, S.T. Bende

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Aura Nilssens life hasnt gone at all according to plan. Shes the unwitting heir to a tainted throne, the recipient of not one but two unwanted legacies, and shes on the hit list of every dark realm in the cosmos. But with weeks to go before her graduation from Alfheim Academy and official coronation as queen, the reluctant royal thinks she can finally take a breath.

She should have known better.

When her allies borders are breached, Aura knows its only a matter of time before Alfheim is attacked. As dark powers move against her home, Aura and her friends set out to determine exactly who might be strong enough to overpower the light realms. With more than just Alfheims future on the line, Aura must decide how much shes willing to sacrifice for the home shes grown to love... and the warrior whos claimed her heart.

To my favorite little adventurers.

S ORRY IM LATE! MY drills got held up by this bat-skit crazy deer who should not have wandered onto the Verge lawn. Signy thought it might have been a Svartalfheim tracker, so she put the whole class on lockdown, and, well... I dropped into the gilded chair that rested regally beside my grandmothers desk. I raked my fingers through my ponytail, which had tangled considerably on my run to the royal residence. I was so not making a good impression. Anyway, I know you always say that theres no excuse for tardiness. Im sorry.

You are forgiven, Constance said primly. She opened a drawer and removed a tissue, which she slid discreetly across her desktop.

Oh, my nose isnt running, I assured her.

Perhaps not. But your mascara is. Queen Constance arched one perfectly groomed brow. And royalty always looks their best.

Right.

I took the offered tissue and dabbed at the corners of my eyes. When Id finished, I pulled my data pad from my bag, leaned back in my chair, and crossed my legs. So, whats on todays agenda?

Constance frowned. Posture.

Double right.

With a sigh, I set my pad on the desk and sat up straight. Better?

It could not have gotten worse, Constance said under her breath.

A smile tugged at my lips. Is that sarcasm? Am I rubbing off on you after all?

Posh. Constance waved her hand. But her eyes sparkled just a bit more, and I knew she appreciated the newfound ease we shared every bit as much as I did.

It had been a long road.

My relationship with Alfheims ruler had come a long way since our early days of mutual loathing. In the year and a half since Id forced her to job share, wed learned to co-exist as regents. We even had a standing weekly tea date, during which she shared pearls of queenly wisdom while I tried not to embarrass myself in front of her ever-presentand ever-judgingstaff. But no matter how much time we spent together, Id never get used to her insane standards of physical perfection. Constances office was always perfectly kept, her clothing neatly pressed, and Id never seen so much as a hair out of place from her tightly wound chignon. Me, on the other hand... I just wanted to do the job.

Preferably, in combat boots.

Good. Our tea has finally arrived. You may enter. Constance waved at the page hovering in the doorway. The girl glided into the room with the grace characteristic of my grandmothers staffI secretly suspected that her hiring pool consisted solely of principal dancers from the Royal Alfheim Ballet. The girl set down two china teacups and saucers, then placed a teapot beside each. I knew my grandmothers pot would contain her favorite jasmine tea, while mine, gods willing, held my own favorite beverage

Hot chocolate for you, Your Majesty. The girl bowed to me.

Thank you. But again, call me Aura. Your Majesty is my grandmother. Id told the pages a thousand times I wasnt that into formalities. This girl was new, so Id give her a pass.

She will address you by your title. Constances prim voice cut through the room. Traditions exist for a reason.

Progress exists for a reason, too, I muttered under my breath.

And for you, Your Majesty. The page bowed again, this time to my grandmother. Your tea was steeped for exactly four minutes, just as you like it.

Thank you. You may take your leave. Constance waved one hand, then turned her attention back to me. Where were we? Ah, yes. Todays agenda is brief. It concerns a matter of inter-realm diplomacy, and the merging of our cabinets. Regarding the latter, our official first meeting and swearing in is this evening, and I want to ensure your representatives are prepared.

I smiled at the page as she scurried from Constances office. Oh, theyre ready. Viggo, Elin, Jande and Finna are excited to settle into the trenches and get things done.

Governance is an involved process, Constance cautioned. One steeped in protocols and traditions. I worry that your new appointees arent sufficiently experienced to handle the tasks that will be put to them.

My friends will be fine. Elins going to rock the minister of arts post we creatednobody inspires greatness like she does. Finna and Jande have been working together all their lives, and I know theyre excited to bring new ideas as co-ministers of science. And Viggos more than ready to serve alongside your current minister of defense. Hes got plenty of ideas on how to increase our security, while still allowing me to do the job Ive trained for as a