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“It feels wrong to be so happy sometimes, with all that’s going on,” Theo said. “And Vaughn … Sometimes I’m shocked he still wants to see my face after all I’ve put him through.”

“You didn’t put him through anything—Viktor did.” I picked up my cup and took a careful sip. “How is Vaughn, these days?”

“He lost his grandmother. She and his grandfather raised him when his parents died. Oh, and then he was tortured and fed from against his will. But he’s fucking great.” Theo sighed, then ran a hand over his face. “He’s healing. He says being with me helps. Hard to believe, right?”

“Not at all. You’re good company.”

“Vaughn’s grandfather’s still in rough shape, though. He got an infection from the wounds the chain left. I brought him to see our healers.” He was looking at me like it was a question.

“Good,” I said at once. “I hope Ailith didn’t give you any trouble. You know she can be a stickler for the rules.”

Theo laughed. “I reminded her my name was on the tower, and that shut her up. She’s a good healer, though. Funny how she loves highblood rules.” His face clouded. “It’s pretty fucked up, isn’t it?”

“What?”

“That the man who did this to Vaughn both times is none other than the man who created me.”

“Created half of you,” I said quietly.

“Viktor is Aryel’s brother,” he said bluntly. “Or at least half.”

I sighed. “I don’t know if we’re ever going to know where the fuck Viktor came from or who his parents really were.”

“Sure, but there was at least a little bit of incest involved in my creation.” Theo looked devastated. Like he was trying to keep his face from crumpling as he said the words.

“I don’t care about that,” I said bluntly. “I don’t think Vaughn cares.” I thought of something. “Does Vaughn know?”

“He does now. I told him earlier today.” Theo was quiet for a moment. “He said the same thing you did.”

I was relieved. “Good. Because it’s true.”

“That doesn’t make me feel any less disgusting.”

“You haven’t changed. This is who you’ve always been. And as for the incest thing … well, you took the same history classes I did. At one point, highbloods married their siblings or aunts or uncles all the time. It was just something the elite did.”

“To keep their bloodlines strong,” Theo repeated. “Sure. That doesn’t make me feel better.”

“It makes you more pure. Practically highblood royalty.” I grimaced. “Fuck. Even I can’t make that joke work.”

Theo laughed. “Thanks for trying. But I don’t think I’m more pure. If anything …” He met my eyes. “Don’t you think that anyone carrying any of Viktor’s blood in their veins must be, well, tainted?”

“No, I fucking don’t,” I said immediately. “Look, Theo, you’re not Viktor. You and Vaughn are the ultimate proof of that.”

He looked confused.

“Think about it. This is the part of you that Viktor has always wanted to change, right? He wanted Vaughn out of the picture. He thought the fact that you could love a blightborn and a male was the worst thing about you.”

“Right,” Theo said slowly.

I grinned. “So that makes it the best part. I mean, maybe not the best, but it means there’s this whole part of you that is just you. That’s nothing like Viktor. Or like Aryel,” I added.

“Mother is a bit of a bigot as well,” Theo agreed. “Isn’t it great to have parents?” He blanched as he realized what he’d just said. “Shit, I’m sorry.”

I waved a hand. “Don’t worry about it.” I hesitated. “Would it help if I told you my father wasn’t all he was cracked up to be either? You’re not alone in feeling disappointed and disillusioned.” I filled him in fast on the whole Peacebringer bullshit.

Theo stared at me. “Here I thought Uncle Alex was one of the good ones.”

I sighed and slunk down on the couch a little lower. “Yeah. Me, too.”