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“Yeah…for the most part.” A part of me wanted to tell her.

I trusted her implicitly, but I didn’t want her to carry the burden of this secret.

It wasn’t an ordinary secret, like when I’d lost my virginity or when I did something else questionable.

Keeping this from my father would be a betrayal.

So I bottled it inside and kept it to myself, my feelings a cacophony of emotion and confusion. “How are things with you guys?”

“We’re both so happy you’re home. A parent can only know peace when their children are close.”

“Does Hawk know that I’ve changed my mind?”

The mood around her suddenly changed. The smile that had been on her lips suddenly pressed together in a hard line. “I think he was a bit blindsided.”

“But Dad told me Hawk wasn’t ready.”

“But Hawk believed he had a chance when he knew you were out of the way. Not anymore.”

Hawk still lived in the castle despite reaching adulthood. He wanted more privacy, but not at the expense of the luxuries that came with royalty. The maids took care of his laundry and cleaned his bedchambers when he was out, and he always had a hot meal whenever he wanted it.

I didn’t blame him.

Since I was in the castle, I asked one of the maids to call upon him rather than visit his bedchamber unannounced.

“Prince Rothschild is not in residence,” his maid informed me. “He left several hours ago.”

“Thank you, Denise.” I left the castle through the double doors and crossed the courtyard.

Made of beige cobblestone with olive trees and potted flowers cascading over the sides, it was my favorite part of the castle.

It was hard to believe it’d been the center of conflict and death twenty years ago.

I heard the distant creak of the metal gates when they opened, and I turned to see the guards allowing someone to pass through.

My brother.

Dressed in casual attire, he seemed like he’d been in the village for a visit.

With dark hair like my father and a kindness to his eyes like my mother, he was a perfect blend of our parents.

But he had my father’s full height, and ever since he’d become a man, he’d been a source of fascination for many women.

His eyes shifted to mine, and instead of a look of warm recognition, I could see veiled hostility. His eyes shifted away, and he sighed under his breath before he directed his path toward me.

“Fun night?”

He ran his fingers through his hair as he approached me. He had the build of a man but the attitude of a boy who needed more years to mature to his finest. “Started out so. Not sure how it’s gonna end.”

My brother and I had never been extremely close like some other siblings, but we’d never been distant either.

Five years of age difference had been enough to reduce our commonalities.

We didn’t share the same friends, same life events, same education in school.

Every time I ended a stage in life, he was barely starting it.

“I don’t want the throne to be a source of animosity between us.

Not worth it to me.” Based on the history of the Southern Isles, envy and resentment from distant family members had been enough to nearly destroy it. I didn’t want to repeat that.

Dressed in all black, he ran his fingers through his hair again, his eyes shifting to the closest olive tree.

There was a heavy pause, light from the torches along the castle walls giving us illumination in the dark.

Fires also burned in the braziers throughout the courtyard, making the castle grounds an eternal light in the darkness.

His stare finally came back to me. “The throne is not the source of my animosity.”

“Then what is?”

His answer was quick, like a striking viper. “Father’s favoritism.”

My heart gave a tight squeeze, but the release ached even more.

His eyes hardened in confidence. “You know of what I speak.”

I wanted the right words to form on my tongue, but not a single thought came to mind. “I’m the firstborn.”

“And I’m his only son.”

“Are you saying you wish you were his favorite?”

“I’m saying he shouldn’t have a favorite.

And perhaps if he didn’t, he would see my strengths instead of my weaknesses.

He would see potential rather than liability.

Diagnosing my shortcomings has only drawn more attention to them.

You should hear how he speaks of you—and I already know how he speaks of me. ”

“He tells me you’re a brilliant fighter.”

“But he trains you to defeat me.”

“He trains me to defeat everyone, Hawk. It’s not personal.”

“It is personal,” he said. “Because he’s training you to be queen instead of me to be king.”

I felt the distance grow further between us. Felt the bonds of flesh and blood start to sever. “I will step aside if that’s what you wish. Our relationship is more important to me than any power. I would gladly serve you and support you.”

He gave a slight shake of his head. “I said it’s not about that. It’s about his love for you versus his love for me.”

“I have no doubt Father loves us both equally, Hawk.”

“But he loves us differently.”

I wanted to defend my father, but I’d witnessed the difference firsthand. “I’m sorry you feel this way, but please don’t let it affect us. Father said how close he and his brother were, how special that relationship is. This relationship is special to me.”

The grievance in his eyes slowly softened like warm butter.

“I’ve never doubted your worthiness or ability to lead our people.

I’ve never questioned your qualifications because of your sex.

But I believe you’re more worthy because Father wanted you to be more worthy.

Because he invested his time and energy into making that fact true.

Far more time and energy than he did with me.

I know that’s not your problem. You didn’t ask for it, but it continues to wound me. ”

“You should talk to him about it, Hawk.”

“And what is he supposed to say?” he asked quietly.

All I did was stare.

“He’s just supposed to admit that it’s true? That he preferred you from birth and I never stood a chance? No, he’s not going to say that. He’s going to deny it until his dying breath, because if he admits it to me, he has to admit it to himself. And that’s not something anyone would do.”

Rendered speechless and useless, I didn’t know how to contradict my brother, not when I felt the favoritism that he spoke of.

I wanted to defend my father out of loyalty, but this was a slight I couldn’t defend, not without belittling my brother’s feelings.

If our positions were switched, I knew I would feel exactly the same way.

He stepped closer to me, his eyes cool ash now that his flames had been extinguished.

“You’ve done nothing to earn my resentment, and I’m sorry for giving it to you.

I will support your reign with both my love and my sword.

I will watch your back if you ever need another pair of eyes.

And I will look upon you with pride—because you’re my sister. ”