57. Illusion of the Eldemere kingdom

AT THE SAME TIME

XAVIER'S POINT OF VIEW:

The silence stretched between us, heavy and unspoken.

The truth had finally been laid bare. I was never their son. Never the youngest prince of this kingdom. I had lived my entire life in a lie. But I wasn't broken. I wasn't lost. Because now I knew who I was. And I was going to find my real home. I turned to my brothers—Terrence and Michael. I had expected them to hesitate. I had expected them to doubt. But instead Michael was the first to step forward.

"You're my brother." His voice was firm, steady. "That hasn't changed."

A breath I hadn't realized I was holding left me.

Then, Terrence the eldest, the one who had always carried the weight of our family on his shoulders. He met my gaze, his usual unreadable mask slipping just slightly. There was something raw in his expression, something protective.

"We're going with you."Terrence said.