She’d waited all this time—all her life—for that? To be locked away again and told he’d send for her in a few days? Gods damn Elric had literally punched her on several occasions, and even he still showed her more affection than her only remaining blood relation had.

“I know you’re upset—”

“No offense, but you don’t know anything about me.”

Jaeros settled down on the edge of the bed and ran a hand through his hair, combing it back and tying it at his nape. “No, I don’t—”

“Which is your fault,” Jaren chimed in, resting his hands on her hips as he stood protectively behind her.

“I need to know, Jaeros. And I’m not waiting for Dedryn. What was all that? And who the fuck was Lady Death Glare?”

He froze for a moment, likely at her nickname, before resting his elbows on his knees and massaging his temples. He suddenly looked a lot older. Like the entire morning had already been too much for him.

The feeling was mutual.

“Veralie, King Vesstan is…a very closed-off male. He not only lost his wife, but he had to end a bloody rebellion, learn how to lead an entire island alone, and deal with the consequences of Vaneara’s death. He hasn’t been the same since.”

Jaren huffed a laugh, his breath coasting over the top of her head. “That’s an understatement. He made Deds look downright chipper. He accused her of lying and didn’t do a damn thing about Taeral running her foul mouth.”

Taeral. That’s right, Dedryn had called her that. Vera preferred Lady Death Glare, it was far more fitting.

She sighed, walking across the room to plop on the opposite side of the bed. “I can understand that, I guess.” And she could, but it still didn’t change how the encounter made her feel.

“Jaeros,” she started, looking up into his tired, blue eyes. “Why was I given to you? I know you hid me, and that the rebellion was because of me. But why? And why didn’t you just take me home the night you found those males taking me?”

Why didn’t you let me stay with you where I could have been loved and seen? Where I could have been raised unaltered and unafraid of living my life.

She had so many damn questions, and with each one, Eithan’s words came to the forefront of her mind. His warning.

There's a reason your people went to war over you, Vera. It's not safe there.

Jaeros’s lips tightened for only a moment, but she caught it. His uncertainty. Jaren either saw it, too, or sensed her own unease growing because he ground out, “Lie. I dare you.”

His father snapped back, his patience with Jaren’s constant verbal attacks finally thinning. “Stop acting like a damn child, I’m not going to lie to her.”

Ignoring Jaren’s answering growl, he faced her again, resting his hand on the bed between them. “We raised you because your mother asked us to.”