Of course, after what had just happened, Northern only grew more cautious, and it showed in the darker cast of his gaze.
Rigel, though, had gone stiff. He gulped once under the weight of that stare. Then gulped again.
'Who would believe me if I said he was my younger brother. He looks so scary!'
Even so, the young prince pulled in a deep breath and let it out slowly, and by the time it left him his face had settled into something as still as water, deflecting all that dark scrutiny without a ripple.
"Listen. Father does that to everyone, it really is because he cares about you and—"
Northern cut right through his words.
"Do not sell me that bullshit. Not your father, none of you care, about me, what happened to me, or my mother?"
Rigel frowned.
"That's a rather untrue statement, brother."
"Do. Not. Call me your brother."
The prince's mouth opened, then closed again, and when he finally spoke he sounded like a man being asked to prove the sky was up.
"But you are though."
