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My lips parted. I managed to shake my headno.

“I told your mother I wanted to claim you as mine, but when she asked me not to, I honored her wish.”

He’dalwaysknown. That stung. And my mother had gone to such lengths to bind my magic. Anything to keep me from him.

He sighed. “And your mother, Teyr bless her, she tried to make you a general in the Valterran army, didn’t she? She wanted to give you a position as far south from the isles as possible. I always wondered if I should have ignored her wishes and reached out to you myself, but…”

I needed to speak up, but what could possibly be worth saying? I was furious—at countless things. I could deny him, storm off, and pretend this wasn’t real…

But deep down, I suspected he told the truth.

It explained the way my magic felt around his.

“So you knew who I was from the moment I gave my false name?” I finally managed to ask.

“No, it was earlier than that.” He tilted his head thoughtfully. “I recognized you the moment we sailed into Mer and I saw you on your boat. It wasn’t your eyes or antlers that gave it away, but your magic called out to me, the magic of the throne. And from that moment, I knew you were Ayla, firstborn daughter of Queen Avaline of Valterra and King Glaucous of the Starlit Isle.”

He named me, not as the bastard princess, but ashis.The recognition struck me to the core. It feltright. A terrible truth that I couldn’t shake…

My stomach lurched with realization. My head began to spin. He wasn’t lying. Ifeltit. The threads binding us ran deeper than those of father and daughter.

We were connected, as he said, bythe magic of the throne.

“I’m the Starlit Heir,” I gasped out. Not a question.

A second bond, dormant but always there, opened to me. Brighter than the sun, it illuminated my mind, piercing me with sudden and complete connection.

The Starlit Throne.

My heart picked up its pace as the second bond expanded into my mind. Pressure grew behind my eyes, my temples aching. I’d felt this before, and queasy, I leaned forward.

Deep breaths.

“Ayla!” Rhett rushed closer, grabbing my elbow. I watched from far away as he glared up at the Starlit King. “You’ve overwhelmed her.”

“She’ll be okay. Her bond to the throne is settling.” Hesitant, the Starlet King pressed his hand to my back. “It’ll pass.”

With his touch, I felt it again, the way his magic matched the frequency of mine. And by Teyr, his comforthelped.I closed my eyes, struggling to organize my mind.

He’s my father. My starlight is like his. I’m the heir.

Piece by piece, desperately, I reassembled the rubble of my mind. Slowly, everything began to solidify.

Zayne…

Our bond was still there. Damaged, but resilient. I flung myself into it. He was waiting on the other side, catching me. Reaching out for his shadows, I wrapped them around my soul like a blanket. His energy settled beside me, holding me.

Breath by breath.

Zayne was with me. Whatever happened next, he believed I would find the best way forward. Even if my mind had splintered…

Rhett cleared his throat. “I’ll take her back to our rooms. She can rest there.”

“I’ll walk her over,” the Starlit King replied. “But first…” He kneeled before the bench, angling his face so he could examine mine.

I have to be strong. Assure him that I’m okay. Give him reason to leave.

I straightened my spine, relieved when my vision didn’t swim. Determined, I met my father’s gaze.