“I’m not a member of the royal family,” he snapped. “I belong to them.” Lila’s forehead crinkled. “What do you mean?” “They own me,” he said, cringing at the words. “I’m a possession. A trinket. So you see, I grew up in the palace, but it is not my home. I was raised by the royals, but they are not my family, not by blood. I have worth to them and so they keep me, but that is not the same as belonging.”
