Chapter 1
CHAPTER ONE
Theo’s heart was beating out of his chest. He navigated the long hallways of the Office of Highland Magic’s massive library and couldn’t shake the sensation that everyone was staring at him.
They weren’t, but he wasn’t able to decouple himself from the feeling.
Logically, he knew he looked like any other fae in the library, but logic wasn’t prevailing over his emotions.
How often was it that you had to introduce yourself to a brother you’d never met?
It’s going to be fine. Theo ducked behind a stack of books waiting to be reshelved. The worst thing that can happen is that he’ll refuse to see you.
He tried to reason with himself as he got closer to Emmett O’Neil’s office. His brain rather unhelpfully reminded him that, technically, the worst thing that could happen was that Calum could choose to imprison, exile, or execute him.
Okay, execution is probably off the table, but imprisonment wouldn’t be a great choice.
Theo was out of all other options, so it was time to meet Calum Welsh…
the ruler of the fae and all magical creatures in Scotland.
It added an entirely new layer of complication when your family was royalty.
It was Theo’s heritage that had forced him into hiding as a young child in the first place, and it was also the reason Calum had never known he existed.
Theo heard rumors that Emmett’s office was charmed and could only be found by people with an invitation or who had visited before.
He prayed that his royal blood would suffice and that the magic around Emmett’s office would mistake him for Calum.
When he crossed the library’s threshold, he had an instinctual idea of where to go, so he assumed his theory checked out.
As Theo got closer to Emmett’s office, he could hear a multitude of voices inside. They were all laughing with one another and shouting playfully. Through the frosted window panes on the door, he could see the shadows of people hugging and standing close to one another.
Theo’s chest nearly buckled at the sight.
Calum had cultivated a family of his very own.
A family that Theo wasn’t part of and had never experienced.
His palms were drenched in sweat, and his heart skipped a beat.
He shifted his weight from foot to foot, debating whether to turn around and run away.
You can do this. You have to do this. Theo reminded himself, forcing himself to breathe slowly. You have no other option. Do this or die.
That thought gave Theo the courage he needed to put one foot in front of the other. He might have been terrified, but he wasn’t ready to die. Theo took three steps forward and placed his hand on the door, pushing it open and finding a brief second of relief when it swung wide for him.
As soon as the door creaked open, Theo counted eight people crammed into the small office. He identified Calum immediately.
“Excuse me?” Theo’s voice nearly cracked as he said it, sounding like a petrified faeling again.
Every head in the room snapped to attention, and several of the office’s occupants dropped into fighting stances.
All of the boisterous energy evaporated from the room, and the descent into silence felt threatening.
“How did you find this office?” A curvy blonde baobhan-sith put her hand on her hip, gripping a dagger hilt. “It’s charmed. You shouldn’t be able to find it unless you’ve been here before.”
Theo swallowed thickly and tried to push his shoulders back in a desperate attempt to look and feel more confident. Calum stepped forward, his expression tense.
“Who are you?”
Theo’s blood was racing, and he thought he might pass out before he even got a word in. He looked Calum in the eye, trying to block out the intense scrutiny of everyone around him.
“Well…” Theo scratched the back of his neck. “That’s what I’ve come to talk to you about.”
“Spit it out.” A red-haired baobhan-sith hissed, her fangs elongating as she pulled a human man behind her. Theo held up his hands quickly in surrender, trying to convey that he wasn’t a threat.
“My name is Theo Welsh,” he admitted, his voice shaking.
It’d been years since he’d said his full name out loud.
If Theo thought everyone in the room was quiet before, he was wrong.
Now, you could hear a pin drop. Theo summoned the very last of his courage and stared at Calum, his eyes filling with unshed tears.
“I’m your brother.”
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Theo couldn’t take his eyes off Calum, who didn’t even blink. Finally, a curly-haired woman stepped up beside Calum. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at Theo, looking him up and down.
“How are we supposed to believe you?” Her eyes glowed gold, and Theo realized she had magic of her own—magic that felt like his.
Calum’s found a mate.
The realization rocked Theo. It was another piece of evidence that Calum was doing just fine when it came to a family; he might not care about Theo’s existence at all. That crushing weight caused Theo’s knees to buckle, and he nearly sank to the floor, his body now visibly trembling.
His eyes were downcast, unable to look at the stunned faces of the office’s occupants. The silence seemed to stretch on for an eternity. Theo was preparing to bolt from the room.
“I believe him.” Calum’s voice trembled, but it was strong.
Theo’s head snapped up as he met Calum’s gaze. He didn’t dare say a word. Calum looked around to the rest of the room’s occupants and finally landed on the woman at his side.
“Can everyone give us a moment together, please? Emmett, do you mind if I steal your office?” Calum commanded softly.
Theo recognized the tone of a leader who was gently leaving no room for argument.
There were some grunts and shuffling from some of the office’s wilder inhabitants—the large wulver seemed particularly less inclined to leave Calum alone with a stranger—but one by one, they all filed out.
The human woman was last, standing up on her tiptoes to kiss Calum on the cheek softly before shutting the door behind her.
Theo and Calum stared at one another, neither of them moving or saying a word. Theo was afraid to open his mouth. The atmosphere was that much more intense now that it was only him and Calum.
He took his first long look at the brother he’d never met.
Well, they’d probably met once in Theo’s infancy, but he didn’t remember it.
He doubted Calum would either. They were the same height with the same dark hair, except Theo’s was much longer.
Calum kept his in a much more professional, shorter style, a better fit for a prince.
He was dressed casually, like he was ready to go to the gym, which didn’t take away from his imposing stature.
Finally, when Theo was about to start rambling to break the silence, Calum moved forward as a dam broke.
He crossed the distance between them and threw his arms around Theo, pulling him tight to his chest. Theo froze.
The sudden affection—and its strength—caused his brain to malfunction.
It only took a moment before Theo wrapped his arms around Calum and started sobbing into his shoulder.
Both fae were crying. Theo lost any semblance of control he had over his emotions, the impact of everything hitting him all at once.
He lost track of time as they stood there, refusing to let go first. Finally, some of Calum’s grip eased, and he pulled back, although he kept his hands on Theo’s shoulders.
His eyes were red, and he chuckled. “Let me get a good look at you.” Calum grinned, taking in Theo’s face.
“Why do you believe me?” Theo whispered, sounding like a scared child. He’d never needed an older brother more in his life, which spurred his search for Calum.
“Your magic.” Calum smiled. “I can tell that we’re family. You can try to imitate it, but you can’t fake a magical signature this strong. Let’s sit.” Calum steered Theo towards large, tufted armchairs, where he collapsed into the leather with a sigh.
The brothers stared at each other for a minute before Calum clapped his hands together jovially, wiping some of the tears from his cheek.
“So how…” Calum’s voice cracked. “How have we never met? I don’t want to come across as rude, but why now? Are you in danger?” Calum stumbled over the words. He normally was very confident, but he found himself in a situation he’d never been in before. Theo’s eyes went to the floor.
“You could say that. You were only two at the time,” Theo began. “I was cursed the same day I was born, so our parents acted quickly.”
Theo took a deep breath. Calum didn’t push him, propping his elbows on his knees and steepling his fingers.
“They were traveling. I’ve been told over the years that dad didn’t want mom traveling when she was nine months pregnant, but they were going by boat, and she refused to be left out.”
Calum chuckled softly. “That sounds like her.”
“Does it?” Theo prodded. His stomach turned. “I wouldn’t really know.”
Calum looked almost ashamed for a moment before motioning for Theo to continue.
“I think they were on a political visit of some sort. I can’t remember all the details.
I’ve only heard it in pieces from my caretakers over the years.
I do know they were sailing on their way home to Scotland when Mother ended up going into labor.
She gave birth on the ship, luckily without any complications.
Or so they thought.” Theo started to get choked up.
Calum stood and went around Emmett’s desk, pulling an ancient crystal decanter out from one of the drawers. He held it up towards Theo in offering.
“Yes, please.” Theo smiled.
Calum poured two glasses and handed one to him, clinking the tumblers together softly in a small toast.
“Take your time,” Calum encouraged, trying to comfort Theo as best he could. Theo drained half of his glass in one sip.