V
Ixen Sventar

My brother's back slammed up against the wall and he growled at me. My father looked at my sister and nodded. She kept him there with what seemed to be wind, she must have my mother's aeromatic powers.

"That is enough," My father snapped at the both of us, "Nova, Orion, out of this room. Now."

"Father-"

"Who is your King?" He demanded of my brother and my brother scoffed. They both left and my father looked at me. I had no words. I didn't even know where to begin. "Pluto, when did you find out you were a Pyro?" I looked at him and thought of that fire again, and my fingertips lit on fire. My mother crosses into the room, and stands behind my father. She just watches us. My father looked surprised but I'm not sure why, he could wield it along with my older brother. Everybody who was of Red Blaze could wield fire. It was in our blood.

"I found out twenty-five years ago. I was 17," I told my father and he nodded. "That's when my mother told me that I'm adopted."

"Pluto, I thought I had more time. I hated that you found out that way. I'm sorry your brother is acting the way he is but normally," He shook his head, "The heir can only do full body flames like that. It's rare that you can do it, not impossible, just rare." He said and placed his hand on mine after I put my flames out.

"How old was Orion? When he found out about being heir, being a Pyro?" I asked him, suddenly curious about my dick of an older brother.

"Orion was a troublemaker through his teenage years. He came on the Castle grounds to steal from me actually," My father told me nervously, and I couldn't help the small laugh that left my lips. "That's when he got curious about the Dragons in the stable. He went in, saw my dragon, saw my dragon's son, touched him and that's when he knew. He got the mark, and my guards found him trespassing. They brought him to me."

"And you whipped him? Please tell me you did." My father laughed and shook his head. Even my mother's lips turn into a smile.

"I asked him of his lineage and he said and I quote, 'Why don't you find out old fuck.' I was understanding because of his past and I had a feeling. I touched his hand, and as you know, your memories unlocked, he did as well. I told him he was my son and that he was my Heir to the Throne."

"He passed out didn't he?" I asked and my father rolled his eyes at me.

"No, he didn't pass out. He demanded a DNA test which I gladly gave. When I gave the results-"

"I told him he forged it because there's no way in hell I'm this good-looking and his son. That I must get my good looks from my mother because he's an ugly son of a bitch." Orion made a grand entrance and I laughed. My mother only wrapped her arm around his waist and kissed his cheek. Orion seemed.. more relaxed and calm now that we were telling stories. My father looked at him with a slight smile on his face.

"My mother, she uh, she told me that I was from Red Blaze and that my Aunt gave me to her when I was two. She met my father a year later," I explained and they were listening. "They found out they were Mates and got married. My mother couldn't have kids so he didn't mind she adopted me, he saw me as his. Changed my last name to Kwon when they married. My f-father," I gulped, "He doesn't know I left. Not yet anyway," Lucijan grabbed my hand, gripping it. "And then, some things happened at Black Soul, I decided it was time to come here. Find my parents, find who I am as a person, and yeah." I told my dad and he nodded.

"Where in Black Soul were you raised?" My father asked and I gulped. He wasn't going to like this answer. "The truth, Pluto. I can handle it." He said softly.

"The Castle. My father was King Cha's top War General so we lived in the Castle. I-I don't know how to put this lightly. I found my Mate." My father nodded, waiting. I looked up to see my brother watching me and somehow when I wasn't looking my sister had managed to walk in, standing next to Orion.

"Who is it?" It's my mother who speaks up but there's something in her blue eyes like she knew before I even said anything.

"He's Jaejin Cha. Heir to the Black Soul Throne." My father didn't take the news, great. My mother sighs, looking at me, and then she follows him out to the back. He left, slammed the door behind him, and we heard him outside, taking his dragon to the sky.

"The universe really, I mean really, hates this family, doesn't it?" Nova said with a smile and Orion rolled his eyes.

"Did you forget he took our mother?" My brother asked and I scoffed.

"Minjun Cha took our mother. Jaejin was our age, Orion," Nova spat, "You can't blame him for his parents' mistakes. You have no room to speak of it." Nova stared at him and Orion's lips tightened into a straight line.

"Either way, Father has every right to execute Pluto just for being Mates with Cha." He pointed out and I gulped.

"But he won't. We won't let him." Nova glared and Orion nodded.

"I don't think Dad would do that but either way, you need to talk to Jaejin," Orion said and I gulped. "He doesn't know, does he?" My brother asked and I nodded.

"When I left, he had a girlfriend. I told him I had to come here. I felt the bond snap into place when our eyes met and I went to my room for the rest of the night. We said bye and here I am."

"You still need to contact Jaejin in some way, Pluto. He deserves to know who you are, if I'm wrong stop me," Nova started, "You grew up together. Childhood best friends. He's protective of you and you are the same. You hate his girlfriend, he's the love of your life and if I'm right, he feels the same way about you."

"Wrong," I pointed out, "JJ doesn't love me like that."

"How do you know?" Orion asked, folding his arms over his chest.

"B-Because I-"

"He doesn't know. I have some spies who could probably sneak some letters but we need a border control warrior we can trust." Nova said and Orion nodded in agreement.

"I have someone in mind. Now you," Orion looked at me, "Need to write the letter. Explain who you are and that you need to leave."

"L-Leave? I just got h-here!" I exclaimed.

"Pluto. You are in danger with every minute you stay here. Dad's generals will try to overthrow the King if they hear who your Mate is." Orion argued with me and I huffed.

"Pluto is not going anywhere," Nova argued, "He's our brother! We just got him back!" She snapped and Orion huffed, looking at her.

"I know that idiot, but I would like to see my brother alive!"

"Guys-"

"God, could you be any more like Dad? First chance you get, you gotta ship him off." Nova said coldly and I was frozen. Orion's jaw tightened, and I watched the fire in his palm light up.

"What did you say to me?" He asked, I barely heard him. All I could hear was the killer tone in his voice and my sister got into a defensive stance.

"Orion. Step down. Now." I said softly and he whipped his head up to me.

"You just had to come, didn't you, Pluto? We were fine without you. I was hoping you were dead." Orion snapped and left the room while shoulder-checking my sister.

"He means well," Nova spoke up and I looked at her. I was in my room, my very old, toddler room.

"Before or after he told me that he wishes I was dead?" I arched an eyebrow up at her, and she laughed.

"I'm sorry Pluto, I'm going, to be honest," I looked at the pictures on the walls, one of them was of my mother holding me after giving birth to me, "Orion is a dickhead," I choked and she couldn't help the smile that spread across her face, "He's a complex creature, if I had him figured out, I would tell but he's.. He's somebody who went through-"

"That doesn't mean shi-"

"You lived in a Castle, Pluto," My sister snapped, like a viper, poison-laced with every word, "You had no idea what he went through so you don't get to do that. I was left in a War camp, I could think of 50 different ways to kill you right now. I am the assassin princess. You know who Orion is?" I'm not sure I cared enough to know. I'm not sure what to say because damnit... She was right. I had a meal every day, I wasn't bullied, and the only struggle I had in my life was not knowing who I really was.

"The dickhead Prince?" I asked and she popped the back of my head with a flick of her wrist that had me growling at her.

"No. Ixen Sventar. Fire killer. He has no mercy. The first time his powers got out of control, he lit his own school on fire, luckily it was only him in the building. He killed his foster parents and when he went to steal from Dad, he k-"

"That is enough," Speak of, Ixen Sventar, Orion walked into the room. "Father is looking for you, Nova. Why don't you go do your job instead of speaking of business that isn't yours to tell?" He asks through gritted teeth.

"Whatever you want, Prince Kardos." She curtsied sarcastically and left the room. He deserved it. He was a dick, tragic past or not.

"I was out of line." He said and I scoffed, he grabbed my elbow, softly. I turned to look at him.

"You think they could've called you, dick head Prince instead of Ixen?" I asked him and he smiled.

"I shouldn't have said that. I'm very glad you are alive, Pluto, but I do have to think of the Throne that I have to take." He explained himself and picked up a frame, it was a picture of all the three of us.

"By telling me that I should be dead and that you have the right to kill me? Because of who my soul decided that was best for me? So when you meet the love of your life, let me know," I took a step forward toward him, "So I can threaten to kill you and her." I snapped and his jaw tightened.

"Pluto." He warned and I could feel the heat radiating off of him.

"What the fuck is your deal with me? Huh?" I pushed him and he looked at me, fire at his fingertips.

"Pluto," He snapped, "Back off. I am warning-"

"Fuck you!" I snapped, "You think I fucking wanted this, you selfish prick? That I wanted to find out that my best friend, my straight best friend is my Mate? That I am the lost Prince of Kardos? That me and the love of my life, can't be together? Because if I want to be with him, I lose my family. I lose my mom, my siblings, and my father. I have to accept that my father knew best by giving us up. I have to trust that this is the plan the Goddess wanted for me." I barked, my face in his. I could feel the audience, Nova and Lucijan's scents filling my nose. My mother's scent is very faint but I know it like the back of my hand.

"You think I want to turn you away? You think I want this, to tear my family apart when we finally are together again?" He insisted and I growled.

"That is not it and you know it," I snapped and pointed a finger at him "You have had a grudge against me since I arrived. Do you think I want your title? I don't want your fucking Title!" I growled at him.

"Like it or not, you have a Title!"

"He's my mate. Prince or not. I do not care about my Title!" I huffed, "What is your problem with me? The truth now. Stop bullshitting me, you dick." Orion looked like he was having an internal battle with himself and this was starting to piss me off.

"You want the truth? You sure?" He snapped at me, he was fire, he was death, and he was all fangs. He was the Ixen Sventar.

"Yes, I am sure!"

"If you are the Mate of Cha, and he finally figures out his shit," He took a deep inhale, "You will be taken away again, and if I'm being honest," He looked at me, his flames vanished and those blue eyes looked at me, "I am tired of losing family. I want you to go home before I know you because if I know you, Pluto, I'm going to love you and I do not want to lose my brother, again."