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“He really does look like the both of us. He’s our father,” Eryn declares, a big toothy smile breaking across his face, as he continues to look me up and down. “I knew it!”

My brother. Mine.

We return to his bedroom and Eryn slumps into the chair by his windows, leaning back with a look of self-satisfaction that changes to confusion. “How is this possible if he was sterilized?”

“That is something I’d like to know too, but can figure it out later. We need to decide what to do with him first.”

“Our father.”

I sigh, the tension coiling tighter. Until I look at him. My brother. “Yes. Our father.”

“You are my sister,” he says, a glisten to his eyes that sends lightning bolts that threaten to stop my heart. I can’t…I don’t deserve this kid.

“Unfortunately for you,” I tease before changing the subject like a coward. “Hopefully, Lottie gets here soon. I’m sure Bitty and Tovi will reach Riley and Beans quickly.”

“Bitty.” Eryn crosses an ankle over his knee with what looks like a smirk. “They’re cute.”

Shaking my head. “Oh. Nope. None of that. Bitty is too old for you!”

“You’re my sister for a whole minute…” Eryn grumbles. “And how much older is Riley than you, did you say?”

Five, almost six revolutions. “That’s totally different!” I whisper furiously, kicking his foot with my arms crossed.

Eryn snorts and mumbles something about double standards.

I sigh. “No one can ever know that I’m your sister, Eryn. You know that, right?”

“Why not? You could be a princess!”

“No, I wouldn’t be. And you wouldn’t be a prince. If people know we’re related, it opens up questions as to how. And the “how” is that there has been an imposter as the King Oferdu for a very long time.”

“I wouldn’t be the rightful heir. I’m not the rightful heir. I’m not the prince,” Eryn whispers, finally understanding.

“The people would dethrone you and find some distant relative to take the crown.”

Eryn’s face contorts. “Riley knows…” he admits. “I told him when I threatened to kick his ass if he hurt you.”

I don’t know whether to laugh or…laugh harder. Riley would flatten him with a flick of his finger. Eryn knew he was my brother long before I was able to confirm it. Maybe I knew it too, with his stupid little brotherly face.

I have a brother. Eryn, this brave, endearing, funny little creature (who towers over me), is my brother. I do not deserve such a Divine blessing…

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

Aknock sounds at the sitting room door, and Eryn answers it. I concentrate on shifting into the imposter king. My bones and skin stretch, the muscles protesting as they grow and change. When I've shifted fully, I stroll out to the sitting room where Eryn stands with Lottie, the latter looking bewildered. She gives me a greeting befitting a king.

“Lottie. I really hope I judged you correctly when I met you,” I say with a voice that does not belong to me. I shift back into myself, internally rolling my eyes at the theatrics of it all, but I need the shock factor.

“You!” Lottie says, looking utterly baffled. She steps in front of the prince and draws her sword, as I expected, but still to my relief.

“Good. I need you to guard him with your life, Lottie.”

Eryn’s looking at me over Lottie’s head with one eyebrow cocked. “This is a bit dramatic, isn’t it?”

“Can someone explain what the fuck is going on? Or I will run you through with my sword. Why have you impersonated the king?”

“Because there has been another man impersonating him for a decade, and I stole his power after he tortured me. Now I need to go and rescue the rest of the people he was torturing while I pretend to be the king, so we can do it with as little fuckery as possible. Okay?”

Lottie looks at the prince, who nods at her and swings on Tovi’s cloak.