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“I need a minute to process this,” he choked. Drawing in a breath, I leaned down to pick it up and read the dreaded letter.
My son,it began.It has been more than a decade since you and I have last seen one another, and I know I have a lot of explaining to do.
“Oh… why now?” I moaned, dropping my head.
“Perhaps if you keep reading, you’ll understand,” Ayan suggested, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to. King Lucius had been alive all these years. The speculation was over, and Nyx could have the closure he needed—or did this just make things worse?
I forced myself to continue reading, even though I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what excuses the man had for leaving, for leaving the burden of the entire kingdom on his son’s shoulders without a warning.
I met my mate all those years ago, a traveler witch named Estelle. There was no possible way that anyone would have accepted her or me with her, so I made a choice. I chose Estelle. I chose my mate.
I gasped, disbelief overcoming me, the bittersweetness of history repeating itself, striking me in a surreal manner.
“Is this true?”
Ayan nodded, the corners of her mouth pulled inward. “The lawyer explained that he has been living under an assumed name in Katyne now…”
She paused and pursed her lips.
“And?” I pressed, sensing that there was more.
“And that the king has a half-brother and sister that King Lucius would like him to meet.”
Dizziness overcame me, and I reached out to grab hold of something. “What?!”
“It’s a lot to process,” Ayan sighed. “No one expects an answer today.”
Without responding, I rushed out of the room to find my mate, my head spinning around until I saw him by the cars, head bent down, guards on either side.
I headed outside, my hand falling on the back of his crisp white shirt. He barely acknowledged me.
“Hey,” I said softly. “Come. Let’s go sit in the car.”
He allowed me to lead him into the back of the SUV, and I waved the driver and guards away. “We’ll be back out in a minute,” I promised.
“I can’t believe the nerve of that bastard,” he sputtered. “Thirteen years! After thirteen years, he reaches out!” I stroked his shoulders as he processed the blow he’d just been delivered. “He’s doing this to manipulate me!”
I swallowed, knowing that my next words weren’t going to be well received. “If he wanted to manipulate you, he would have come back here.”
He raised his head and stared at me dubiously. “Are you siding with him?”
“I’m always on your side, Nyx. Always and forever. Those are our vows to one another. We are a team.”
His shoulders relaxed slightly, but his face was still pinched and pained.
“Did you read the letter?” I asked gently. “Did you see what he said?”
“He met someone. He moved two continents and never said a word for thirteen years?—”
“He met his mate. A witch,” I corrected him softly.
Nyx stared at me. “So?”
“Doesn’t that sound familiar?”
His brow furrowed so deeply, I thought it might stay like that. “Are you honestly comparing us to what he did?”
“No,” I said quickly. “I’m comparing our situation to his. He made a very different choice than you did. You didn’t balk under public pressure. He couldn’t take the idea of being scrutinized and judged. You stood by my side, even though you were ridiculed. Lucius ran. Now he’s reaping the sorrows from that.”
