Aria's POV
"What is all this, Your Highness?"
My voice came out sharper than intended as Belleah finally left the chambers.
Darius exhaled slowly. "I planned to explain to you earlier, but I was pulled into a serious meeting with Aeric. I… failed to inform you. And more accurately, I only learned about Belleah's return through him."
Aeric?
My brows knit.
"What do you mean? How on earth would he know anything about the Westwoods?"
Darius looked directly into my eyes, as if bracing me for impact.
"Because he is Belleah Westwood's brother."
For a moment, the world stilled.
Brother?
But—
Wasn't his last name different…?
"I know what you're thinking," Darius said before I could speak. "He uses his mother's family name. That's why he isn't known as a Westwood."
That answered the first question—but definitely not the main one.
"Still," I said, leaning forward, "how could someone whose sister you've openly insulted… become your friend? Isn't that illogical?"
