42

T his is it. The moment I've been waiting for. I felt the tugging, and I could tell from her confused glances that she could too, but like Roman, I couldn't allow myself to believe it until I was certain.

I knew tonight would confirm and erase any doubt.

And it did.

“I'm going to start at the beginning and explain as much as I can about the whole situation,” I tell them all.

The men scoot closer, eager to find out what's going on while Leera is perched on Roman's lap, and I just hope they both don't hate me for not saying anything sooner. I had to know.

“The King and Queen had been trying to have a child for nearly a thousand years. They continued to trust in the Moon Goddess and her plans, but were also heartbroken at the constant hole they felt in their lives. About twenty years ago, they'd been dealing with rumors of an uprising and spent all their time working to protect their people and thwart any threats. While their minds were preoccupied with something other than an addition to their family, the Moon Goddess decided that would be the best time to bless them with a child. I've heard it happens to humans all the time. They were obviously thrilled at the news but worried about what would happen if the rebels found a way to harm the child.”

“When the royal healer came to their chambers to check on the health of the baby, she made all servants and advisors leave, while the healer had to swear her loyalty directly to the Queen through a bond. She did this because there was not only one baby. The Queen was pregnant with twins. A blessing no other royal family had ever received from the Goddess. The King and Queen were terrified of news getting out. So, they announced they were with child, holding back the specifics. During her pregnancy, threats continued to grow.”

“Why wasn't I told any of this? Why wasn't I brought home to protect them?” Roman roars, Leera patting his arm with tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Because the King knew what you'd been through. He knew why you hadn't returned to Zabella. They continued to take precautions, and they thought they could handle it.”

“And they were wrong!” he continues.

“They were. Because of the growing threats, they made a plan that when the Queen went into labor, she would be with only the healer. No servants would be allowed. The day the princess was born was a magical day for our kingdom—for our kind. But she was not the only one born that day. I was born fourteen minutes before her. Our mother held us together for as long as she could before the advisors and court were demanding to see the baby. You know how awful they can be. It was decided that I would be hidden, raised in secret in case the worst should happen.”

The old heaviness settles on my shoulders when she touches my arm, and it slowly dissipates.

“The night of your introduction to the kingdom, there was an attack on the Queen. We don't know if it was always their plan, but they attacked her, and they took you. They took you, and I swore I would spend my entire existence trying to find you,” I choke.

“Why didn't the King and Queen just announce that they had a son and an heir to the throne?” Slate interjects.

“For fear that I, too, would be kidnapped. And so that I could do exactly as I did and find her.” I turn to Roman. “Do you really think that in all the realms and all of the worlds, I found you by accident? Sure, I knew your reputation, but the last few years, I should have still been looking for her. I should have moved on. But I couldn't. It felt wrong. I know the Goddess kept me here for a reason. As the heir to the throne, I didn't want it. It didn't feel like mine. It always felt like hers. If she couldn't have it, neither would I.”

Leera looks between Roman and me with wide eyes. “S-so you're sitting here telling me, in all seriousness, that not only are you my brother—not just my soul brother—but you are my...” She chokes on a sob as tears continue to trickle down her cheeks. “You're not even just my brother, you're my twin?”

I nod.

“And not only that, but ta-da, you're a fucking princess?!”

I nod.

“Shut. Up,” she says in all seriousness, and everyone just stares at me.

“Leera, baby, are you okay?” Roman asks her, cupping the side of her face.

“How the fuck am I supposed to respond to that? To any of this?” she asks, throwing her hands in the air. “As if I'm not awkward enough on my own, let's add a freaking tiara. You're joking, right? This is some kind of first shift prank, right?”

I shake my head.

She lifts herself off his lap and slowly walks towards me, arm outstretched. When she reaches me, I close my eyes, and her touch on my cheek sends shockwaves through my body, and my wolf howls.

“It's true,” she gasps.

All I can do is nod, another tear slipping through my eyes.