She stared at me for another long moment before muttering a curse and walking away.

I stared after her and watched the people around me react with shock at her words.

“Aunt Cass,” Prince Anselm said, his annoyance obvious.

The queen threw out her arm and pointed straight at me. “Look at him. Just look at him. He’s got Damon’s eyes, and that bloody thing he does with his eyebrow. I was hoping it wasn’t true, but...” She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at me. “What do you want?”

I tried not to sigh too loudly, although the rush of air came out of me before I had a chance to stop it. “I never wanted to come here. My mother raised me with full knowledge of who my father was, but she is, well,was... proud.”

The queen sank down onto the nearest couch, her face pale now. “I’m so sorry.”

I nodded once in acknowledgement. “It’s not the reason I’m here. I have no wish to take your son’s birthright or throw your lives into a state of chaos, and I apologize for doing so.” The last thing I’d ever wanted to do was come to the castle, announce my heritage, and have the king demand I strip to show them the proof of my lineage. It had been demeaning, and they were lucky I’d been able to hold my dragon shifter inside and hadn’t accidentally destroyed their foyer.

“What is it you want, Jaegar?” King Damon, my sire, asked.

I stared at him, finally letting a skerrik of my dragon out. “You know, I thought you’d be taller.”

The guy to my right snorted, then covered his mouth with his hand.

“Theo, this isn’t funny,” said Damon.

I gave my half-brother half a smile.

The guy stuck out his hand to introduce himself. “I’m Theo.”

I shook his hand with another nod.

The crown prince indicated to the rest of the room. “This is my brother, Barry, and our cousin, Anselm, and his wife, Kayla.”

I smiled at everyone in the room. “And Princess Veronica?”

“Our sister is travelling with her husband,” Theo said.

“And this is Rocky,” Kayla said, bouncing a gorgeous little boy on her hip.

“Hey, Rocky,” I said, reaching out my hand.

The little boy grabbed my finger with the strength of a healthy child and gurgled with a delighted smile.

“Whoa, aren’t you a strong boy?”

“Well, he’s got that tattoo you all share,” Kayla said, pulling aside the child’s shirt to show me.

I stared at that tiny little mark, remembering all the years I’d spent covering mine up and wishing that my mother would just let me burn the stupid thing off.

“He’s the next King of Bravadok?” I asked, and though I was trying to make the question sound jovial, even I could hear how stiff I sounded.

“He might be,” Kayla said, holding her baby close. “I was just glad he had something that Anselm has,” she said with such warmth as she glanced at her husband that I had to look away as envy twisted up in me and threatened to choke me.

“Yes, that must be nice,” I managed to mutter.

“Maybe we should head home,” Kayla said, putting a hand on Anselm’s arm. “Give this family time before they travel for the party.”

“The party?” the queen asked, throwing herself back and crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m not going anywhere—not with this hanging over the family.”

I thrust a hand into my hair, frustration clawing at my gut. “I’m not here to hang anything over you... God. This was not how I wanted to do this.” I’d rehearsed this conversation and many more, so many times in my head.

King Damon stepped closer. “Jaegar, tell us what you need.”