Nothing was said for a long time. I couldn't even think of something to say and I was terrified if I opened my mouth this dream would crumble at my feet. I was led out of the corridor to a closet filled with guard uniforms and when the stunned guard turned away from me I shifted. Once my human form was covered in an undershirt and breeches three sizes too big the man turned around.

And seeing his face again was a shock to the system all over again. Perhaps more than it had been the first time.

The once red hair had turned auburn now, but it could never be dark enough to take away the boyishness that came with his round face and chubby cheeks. He wasn't skinny anymore, now he was stocky and short, barely taller than me but still as daunting as ever. But, even when he had been as thin as a twig he was always that way. Too proud of his own good and stronger than anyone I knew. The brown eyes that had always been so brave and so guiding now searched me up and down over and over again. He couldn't believe I was there, in front of him just as I couldn't believe that he was real. In fact, I was so terrified that he was a figment of my imagination that when my impulses demanded I throw my arms around him in a tight hug I resisted. If this was a dream I wanted it to last forever. I couldn't let him go, not again.

He had been my future alpha.

He was my brother.

"Oliver." I whispered.

"Violet." He breathed, his voice filled with disbelief. Then his eyes moved to the three guards who had been attempting to get me into the cells. They had all watched the exchange from the distance, knowing they were to fulfill the prince's wishes, but not sure if they should interfere. "Go, stand down, I will answer for this." Oliver grunted.

And it was then that I realized that this wasn't something my imagination could concoct. The last time I had seen him I had been young and so had he, barely more than a teenager. Though his face had stayed young the rest of him had changed. His voice was deep and strong. His confidence was unchallenged, something that only came with experience. He was wearing an elaborate uniform, one I had never seen before. He had scars I had never seen before and a necklace was tied around his throat. The only way I knew it was him was the scent that circled him- still smelling so much like home- and those brown eyes.

"How is this even possible?" I whispered.

My fingers brushed against the cuff of his jacket. Stiff and rough, definitely real.

"We shouldn't talk here, let's go somewhere more private." He suggested.

I didn't understand why he wasn't comfortable here and now. I had so much I needed to say, so many things I needed him to clear up. How was he even here, in front of me? He was supposed to be dead many years ago. But here he was. Living and breathing and I wanted to know how. But he had been raised to be an alpha and even now it was clear that he was not a normal guard. Oliver was not to be argued with and if he wanted to talk somewhere privately then we would.

We walked side by side. My fingers kept touching the sleeve of his jacket, occasionally touching the warmth from the back of his hand. I couldn't believe it. My brother. He was here. He was breathing. He was alive. After all these years of thinking he was dead.

My brow furrowed at the thought just as we passed a pair of grand doors. I slowed to stop and Oliver halted beside, always the attentive older brother.

I was about to open my mouth and demand to know why my father had claimed he had died when he was clearly very much alive. But I was cut off by the my mate's furious voice.

"My God, does no one in this palace listen anymore?" Griffin grumbled. "Fine, I'll take her to the cells myself."

Before I could even spin around to face him Griffin's hand had closed around my covered wrist tightly. With a firm yank, Griffin attempted to move me. I stayed froze. No, he couldn't take me away from my brother. Not now, not after I had just found him.

"Don't!" Oliver shouted, sounding more desperate than I had ever heard him.

And as my mate began pulling me away my brother drew his sword out, the blade glistening angrily in the light. My brother, wearing a guard's uniform, had drawn a sword on the future king. It was impulsive and uncalculated. I watched in shock as Oliver's expression shifted from concern, to fierce family loyalty, then bled into regret and horror.

And beside me Griffin just straightened. His shoulders went back and he took a step forward, easing me behind him ever so discretely. And behind Oliver's back three guards had seen the gesture and were sprinting towards the tense scene.

Oliver lowered his sword slowly, his brown eyes wide with horror and his mouth moving, but he was unable to make any sounds. His chest was rising and falling quickly. Even he couldn't believe what he had done.

"Did you just threaten me, Oliver?" Griffin demanded.

Hearing my brother's name drip out of my mate's mouth made chills run down my spine. Everything that I had assumed to be true, everything that I had believed for years was no longer valid. I felt delighted and sickly all at once. It made my head spin.

"I'm so sorry." Oliver whispered. He had replaced his sword and was bowing his head, slowly sliding down on one knee.

"And what are you doing with my mate, anyway?" Griffin snapped. "I gave clear orders, what makes you think you can disregard them."

Oliver said nothing, staying low and humbled, so unlike the arrogant soon-to-be-alpha I had known so well all those years ago. He could not see the guards that were moving closer behind him, now slowing down since the weapon had been sheathed. It was common sense that one didn't threaten the prince they were meant to serve and it was infinitely clear that Griffin would be taking me down to the cells regardless. And god knows what would happen to my brother.

"Griffin, please." I whispered.

"Hush." He hissed. His grip on my wrist tightened in warning.

The guards were almost within reaching distance now, a thick rope in some of their hands. I knew what would happen, I was no fool. I saw the way they were watching Griffin. When he gave the approval they would grab my brother- he would go willingly- they would restrain him and after that it was up to Griffin's discretion. He could rot in the cells for weeks, he could be discharged. I could never see him again.

"Finn, please." I begged, now placing my free hand on top of his.

I purposely placed my hand on his bare skin, too aware of how he had avoided my touch, not wanting to be affected by the pull. And when I touched his skin I closed my own eyes for a moment, loving the sensation of being near him again. When I opened them Griffin was finally looking at me. I could see the anger swirling in his blue eyes. He was furious, his kindness had run out and he was sick of being walked over and betrayed. But I also saw the pain there. I saw that he was hurt by my actions and by Oliver's, that he felt like making a show of force was the only way to regain control. My eyes shamefully dropped to the now bandaged wound on his leg.

"He's my brother." I confessed, the words even tasting strange in my mouth after so long.

"That's impossible." Griffin snapped, turning away from me once more. I could tell that I had ignited the fire that was his anger even more, "His father sent a messenger when his only sister died. He was given a week off to mourn her. And you were running with rogues, you have no family."

"What on Earth were you doing with rogues, Violet?" Oliver demanded. The precarious situation he was in was clear not enough of a reason to keep his mouth shut about my behavior.

"Very convincing, but her name is Lettie." Griffin state with a certain amount of arrogance. But when his eyes came back to me I just shook my head ever so slowly. I watched as he gritted his teeth.

My mind scrambled, thinking about how girls in my village used to discussing toying with their mate's emotions. I could kiss him here, in front of all these people, but it was too forward. He would know that it was simply manipulation and I could imagine all of this blowing up far worse than it already had. Just as he opened his mouth an instruct his guards to seize my brother I placed a gentle hand on his cheek and steered his face towards me.

Warmth flooded me and I saw a look of surprise touch Griffin for the briefest moment. I hardly ever initiated contact, always trying to fight the bond. But now the bond worked in my favor. And now, I no longer knew where I stood.

"Finn, let me explain everything." I whispered. I felt the tight grip on my sleeve soften and he took a small step towards me. I swept my thumb over his cheekbone. His eyes fluttered shut, but his jaw remained tight.

"How are you going to explain all of this?" he demanded, "How are you going to tell me that you're a sister back from the dead, he's your brother even though you run with rouges, and that you attacked me?"

I winced at his words.

"At least let me try." I breathed.

There was only for silence for a moment.

"Take him to the cells." Griffin ordered.

"No!" I protested, already moving to defend my brother.

Griffin held onto me tightly, refusing to let me move more than a few inches.

"If I find your explanation satisfactory I will release him." he bargained.

I just stared at my brother who wasn't even flinching as his wrists were tied behind his back and he was yanked to his feet.

I just swallowed hard and nodded.