Page 36 of The Dragons’ Eternal Mate

Bastian bobbed his head, but there was no mistaking the worry on his face. I didn’t want to say more until we found Orsen, though. So, we headed off down the hall, knocking when we reached the office.

“Come in,” Orsen called out, and we both stepped inside. “Hey, what’s⁠—”

Orsen’s smile dropped when he looked up at us, brow furrowing with concern. “What’s going on? You both look… Is Ma okay?”

I smiled, touched by their concern. “Yes, she’s okay. Recovering great. I just… I need to talk to you both about something important.”

I closed the door, ignoring the uneasy looks from the pair of them. They needed to know the truth. Were they going to be mad that I was telling them, not Ma? I hoped they would understand that she’d been through a lot.

“Ma told me some things today. Things she really should be telling you herself, but she’s exhausted from her recovery, so she’s asked me to. She may be able to get us some help against Cyrus.”

“How?” Bastian asked as he leaned against Orsen’s desk and perched on the edge.

I dropped my stare for a moment before looking at him. “Her brother is an Alpha.”

Orsen glanced between us, startled. “I have an uncle?”

“You do.” I nodded. “I don’t know how to say this delicately—and all things considered, this information is crucial—so I’m just going to say it: your father was Edmond.”

“Who?” Orsen asked, the name meaning nothing to him.

My chest pinched. “Cyrus’s older brother.”

“Now I have an uncle.” Bastian chuckled. “How did I not know?”

He sobered at my expression as I said, “Because Cyrus killed him. He and Ma were together, but keeping it hush-hush. She’d recently learned she was pregnant. They were getting ready to tell the horde when Cyrus found Edmond in the forest and murdered him for control of the horde.”

The two of them stared at me, the seconds dragging on as it all sank in.

“He… killed his own brother?” Bastian’s voice was thick with disgust.

“Yes. Ma never told anyone.”

“Why?” Orsen asked, his voice a horrified whisper. “If we’d known, we could have stopped him long before he ever knew about you!”

“She knows. She feels incredibly guilty about what has happened to me, but I’ve assured her it’s not her fault. The only person to blame is Cyrus.” I exhaled, sagging. “Orsen… she kept quiet to protect you.”

“Me?” he asked dumbly.

“Of course,” Bastian replied, sounding shell-shocked. “You’re the son of the rightful Alpha. You’d be dead if Cyrus knew about you… That also means we’re cousins.”

The pair looked at each other. I expected them to be upset or angry; the last thing I expected was for them to both descend into fits of laughter and hug each other.

“I knew there was a reason I put up with you!” Orsen declared.

I reeled back, more than a little surprised. “So… you’re okay?”

“I mean, I’ve been better, but…” Orsen huffed, letting all the air out of his lungs before sucking in more. “It tracks. Cyrus is a prick, and we all know it. I’m alive because Ma saved me from his lust for power. And it makes it even more clear that this horde was never supposed to be led by him.”

Relaxing, I blew out a breath and nodded. “Ma is going to call her brother when she feels up to it. A Southern Alpha could be useful if this situation isn’t resolved soon.”

“We’ll take all the help we can get,” Orsen agreed.

Bastian turned to him. “You’re really all right?”

Orsen bobbed his head mindlessly. “Yeah, I think. I never knew who my father was, so it’s a shock. It means we get more help, though, and knowing provides… closure? I won’t be wondering anymore.”

Bastian chuckled. “Just think, all the times my father has gone on about how I was the rightful horde Alpha. All along, he never knew I wasn’t. It was you.” He clapped Orsen’s shoulder, who looked slightly nauseated.