The air in the throne room shifted the moment Lucien finished speaking.

Alder grew still, his eyes narrowed as he met his brother’s gaze.

“What?” he asked, surprise etched in his tone.

“You heard me, brother,” Lucien said calmly. “We need to talk about you putting your hands in places where they don’t belong.”

Alder slowly rose from his throne, his visage one of anger. He moved like a predator as he took a step forward, his silver eyes gleamed with fury, and the smile on his face vanished,

It was replaced with something different, something far darker.

“Are you giving me orders now?” he growled, his fingers lengthening into...