Paris' confession left Cassandra at a loss for words. She tried to speak, but only ended up opening her mouth and closing it.

"We need to take him to the King," Polyxena said. She bounced on the balls of her feet, and excitement flushed her face. "Now, Cassandra! The King would like to hear his story, right?"

Cassandra cleared her throat and found her voice. "I would, too."

"Let's take him," Polyxena cried.

The sky chose then to spit rain.

Cassandra realized she didn't have much choice. "Come," she said to Paris as she grasped her sister's arm.

She took off for the palace, and Paris ran beside her.

They reached the vast, sprawling palace on the hill moments later; their clothing damp.

Cassandra led her sister and Paris through the many hallways that made up the maze of her home. Soon they stood before the throne room.

The bright, polished silver throne doors had images of Priam's achievements carved into them, one of them the day he'd married Hecuba. The sight of her parents' elated faces always warmed Cassandra's heart. They'd been madly in love all those years ago and still were.

One day, Cassandra hoped to end up half as happy as the King and his queen.

Cassandra raised her hand to pound on the door, but Polyxena grew impatient and raced past her, and shoved her way into the room.

The doors slammed open, and the four men (the most trusted members of Priam's council) gathered around the King's impressive, jewel-encrusted throne stopped their erratic talking and turned in unison to stare at the intruders. Their faces melted into expressions ranging from mild amusement to outrage.

Cassandra ignored them as she chased after her sister.

Polyxena came to an abrupt halt at the bottom of the raised dais the King's and Queen's thrones sat upon. She dropped into an elegant bow.

Cassandra stopped beside her and copied her movements.

"Rise," Priam's powerful voice commanded.

Cassandra's and Polyxena's postures straightened.

A stern and unimpressed expression contorted the King's lined, strong features as his olive-green eyes bored into them. "What's the meaning of your intrusion?"

"We've brought someone who must speak with you," Polyxena chirped.

Priam frowned. "It had to be at this very moment?"

"Yes," Polyxena said, and then beckoned to a fidgeting Paris. "Come on."

The young man dragged himself into the King's line of sight.

The King's gaze roamed over Paris and surprised recognition lit his eyes. He masked it as he turned his attention away from Paris and said to the four men, "Leave me."

"But, my King, we haven't finished our discussion," the oldest advisor said. He threw Cassandra a sullen look.

"Leave me. Now!"

The advisors couldn't move fast enough. They exited the throne room and closed the doors behind them.

Priam put his unsettling focus back on Paris. "Who are you?"

"His name is P—"

Cassandra slapped her hand over her sister's mouth. "Be quiet."

"Who are you?" Priam repeated to Paris.

Paris bowed. "I'm called Paris, my King."

Priam nodded. He seemed to cool at Paris' polite tone. "Why are you so determined to bother me today? What couldn't wait?"

"I was sent here to be with my family."

Priam's gray eyebrows shot up. "Who's your family?"

Paris sucked on his lips, lips like the King's.

As Cassandra compared the two, she grew more and more positive Paris had spoken the truth. She didn't know how she could have another brother she'd never met, but Cassandra couldn't deny she and Paris shared the same father.

"You are. You're my father," Paris blurted.

"How can that be?" the King muttered. "How—I'd have—Who told you this?"

"My guardian—the man I believed to be my father until a short time ago—Agelaus."

"Agelaus?" Priam choked on the name.

"Yes, he was your chief herdsman. He confessed you'd employed him to dispose of me when I was just hours old because I was thought too sickly to live, but Agelaus couldn't go through with it. When I lived, he raised me like a son."

Paris didn't sound upset his existence had started out so unfairly. He didn't appear to harbor any resentment toward his real father.

Just then, Cassandra respected the man.

"That's very interesting." The King fingered his graying beard. "I wonder, though, why would Agelaus tell you after all—"

The throne doors burst open and in bustled Deiphobus and Helenus.

"Sorry for our rudeness, my King," Deiphobus said as he approached the throne.

Helenus mumbled similar words, and they both bowed.

"We overheard murmurs that spiked our curiosity and couldn't resist investigating," Deiphobus continued.

"Neither could I," a gentle but authoritative voice said from behind Cassandra's brothers.

Helenus and Deiphobus parted to allow the Queen through.

Hecuba went straight to Paris and turned him to face her. Her gaze drifted over him, no doubt noting the way Paris' curls mimicked hers, and how their noses were thin and pointed.

"Those eyes," Hecuba murmured, but it was so quiet in the room, as everyone watched her and Paris, her words carried. "Those eyes have haunted my dreams for twenty-seven years." She rested a hand on Paris' cheek. "You're my Alexander."

She sobbed the name, and tears tumbled down her face.

Paris intertwined his fingers with Hecuba's. "I've only been known as Paris."

"Regardless, you are my son." Hecuba looked over Paris' shoulder and grinned at her husband. "My love, this is our son! He's healthy and home. Can you believe this? He's home."

"Are you sure about him?" Priam asked.

Hecuba stood on her tiptoes and kissed Paris on the forehead. Then she wrapped her arms around him. "There's no doubt in my heart I'm in the presence of my flesh and blood."

"I knew he told the truth," Polyxena cried, and twisted out of Cassandra's grasp. She joined Hecuba in hugging Paris.

Priam rose from his throne and walked to the trio.

Hecuba and Polyxena let go of Paris, and the King embraced his long-lost son. "Welcome home, my boy."

The tension evaporated from the room.

After Priam released Paris, Hecuba, Polyxena, and Helenus burst into speech at once.

Paris' head snapped back and forth between them all; a silly grin plastered on his lips.

Cassandra silently laughed at the sight.

Paris didn't know it yet, but he'd just become one of the luckiest men alive. His newly discovered family would drive him mad, but he'd be loved, and never want for anything. He was a prince of Troy. His future held few limitations.

Without warning, Deiphobus grasped Cassandra's elbow.

"Come with me."

Not wanting to draw attention away from Paris, Cassandra allowed Deiphobus to lead her out of the throne room without a struggle. He pulled her behind one of the marble pillars near the throne room doors.

Cassandra wrenched herself out of her brother's hold. "What do you want?"

"Where were you earlier?"

"I took a walk."

The lie easily came; not the first Cassandra had had to tell Deiphobus over the weeks she'd spent with Apollo. With the way he breathed down her neck, she knew it would be her last.

"Did you hunt?"

"I have many hobbies."

Deiphobus scowled. "You did." He shook his head. "More is going on than that, though. Isn't there?"

"What makes you say that?"

"Your absences have increased, and rumors have whispered throughout the palace."

"Those rumors are spread by jealous gossips, and you're a fool for listening to them." Cassandra shook her head, tired of her brother's suspicions. "That's what you're proving yourself to be. A fool."

"I'll not be spoken to that way." Deiphobus raised his hand. "You will show me respect. You will—"

"Father's throwing a feast tonight in Paris' honor," Helenus' voice said.

Cassandra jumped, and Deiphobus grimaced.

Instead of slapping Cassandra, he played with a fold in his chiton.

"Isn't that... nice," Deiphobus said.

"Yes, it is, and the King wants you to inform the cook."

Deiphobus gazed at Helenus for many heartbeats.

Helenus crossed his arms and tapped his foot. He met Deiphobus' stare with unwavering determination.

"He should be told now."

Deiphobus glared at Cassandra. "Our discussion isn't over."

"I can't wait."

Deiphobus pushed past his twin siblings.

Cassandra watched him and sighed when he disappeared. She rubbed her face and willed herself to calm.

She looked at Helenus. "Thank you."

A dull fury glowed in her brother's eyes. "He had no right to threaten you."

"I'm not scared of him."

"I would be. Deiphobus is very upset with you."

"My personal life is no concern of his."

"Deiphobus is right about the rumors." Helenus avoided meeting his sister's impassioned gaze. "They've gotten elaborate and affect us all. I'm shocked the King hasn't spoken to you yet."

"They're just rumors." Cassandra's frustration with the topic boiled over. "I have done nothing wrong!"

"What have you been doing?"

"I can't tell you."

She couldn't. Not because she feared her brother would think her senseless, but because Apollo had asked her to keep silent. She'd vowed she would.

Helenus grumbled to himself but stopped mid-rambling and took a breath. "Are you at least safe?"

"I'm safe," Cassandra answered; certain Apollo would let nothing bad happen to her while with him. "I swear to you, I wouldn't do what I'm doing if I thought I could get hurt."

The look that crossed Helenus' face told Cassandra he didn't believe her, but he didn't press the issue.

Instead, he held out his hand. "Come. The Queen expects us to look perfect for Paris' feast."

Cassandra took his hand. "Then we will."