Sit. Stay. Talk.

It was awkward to sit across the way from one another, but they did it anyway at the behest of their respective mates.

Ajax had his ears back in shame, as thought he had already done something wrong - and Metas stood sitting up tall as though he had to assert his dominance.

They had never had a dynamic like this.

It was so tense until Ajax let his peridot eyes run to his brother's in submission. His eyes spelled all of his truth out, and he said patiently to wait for his Alpha to speak.

Then, there was regret that flooded from Metas' chest and eyes as he let out a shattered sigh and shared a pitiful expression with the smaller of them. Even if he was younger, Metas was the largest of them all - including the kingdom.

"I'm sorry..." Metas and Ajax let out at the same time, only to share the next same words of, "why are you sorry?"

Then they paused and for a brief moment all was silent until the both burst out in laughter - from relief, from how awkward the moment was, to how comical everything was in the grand picture.

"This is fucked up, isn't it?" Ajax finally blurted out.

"Entirely." Metas admitted.

"Metas, I want you to know that I don't want your role. I don't want to be a leader. I would rather serve you and party on he side with Lara. I hope you can believe me."

"Ajax....I want you to know that I am foolish for ever thinking you would. I feel guilty. I was scared you'd try to challenge me. You are older, and technically - you are the rightful heir."

"Hah! Me? No. Blood or no blood- I am not the rightful heir. You look just like dad, and you're like three times the size of anyone. Plus, I am lazy and happy to put out minimal effort and you know it." Ajax answered with a laugh.

"No, I know.... Silas just got to me. I guess he was rightful heir the whole time...Harbinger must have known. That's why he always said we didn't know who he really was. We did not know who we really were either, it seems." Metas relaxed his body position and nestled himself into the dirt as they spoke in private in Ajax's quarters.

"Worst older brother ever, right?" Ajax joked.

"The worst. It makes me happy he is our brother for a few reasona, though..." Metas started.

"What could possibly make you happy about us being related to the biggest asshole that ever lived in our society?"

The Alpha smile and closed his eyes with peace before he responded.

"It means Syri is royal. I can make her actual Princess in the royal family. I won't have to fight anyone about her right to take the throne when my and Myranda's time is done. We can honor Syrana without having to get through red tape, too. I want to build a large statue of her in the crater. She should always be remembered as a martyr for who she was, and how much she helped the cause."

"Wow, Metas...see - this is why I'd never make a good Alpha. I wouldn't have thought of any of that...."

"I hope you know that I trust you. I just lost myself for a little bit. It was a lot to take in....and... I am sorry I killed mother with my birth...life would have been different, I am sure."

"What? Okay, first order of business for me as your older brother is to tell you that is some bullshit. Mom wouldn't want to hear that. I don't remember her..but... I also kind of do... Almost like a 7th sense, and trust me- she wouldn't think that at all. She loved us, and I know that stupidity is what split us up. Dad shouldn't have to had married someone he didn't love, and our mother shouldn't have had to be secret about anything. You're changing all that - right now. Literally this very moment in time, Mets.... You're everything mom could have ever asked for, and I know she would be so happy to know you are leading us into a better future."

"....We are friends for our entire lives, and now you have pep talk? A good one at that," Metas joked out to hide how touched he was. "All because you know I am your little brother?"

"Yeah, I guess so. I can just say I love you without it being weird since we're actual siblings. Wow. That's still really hard to process...." Ajax replied and looked at the wall with a stare of shock and wonder.

"It is. Your children will be royalty now, too. That is good for everyone. You and Lara will be fantastic parents, and it will help solidify what we build today so that it lasts. This is actually a blessing, even if hard to swallow with how sudden it was thrust onto us." Metas said reassuringly and picked his head up to nudge his older brother affectionately.

"Yeah. I'm excited to make Lara royalty. She deserves it so much. She is the epitome of a princess...n offense..."

"None taken. I agree entirely. Myranda does too."

"So...this may have been the worst day of our lives, but...in a way... also the best. We still have a chance, Mets. We still have a way to win. The fight isn't over, so it's all going to be okay."

"Yes, you're right. We go to bed with a loss, but also with hope. As long as they don't find our hiding place, we're going to be okay." Metas agreed.

With not much else to say, the two left to inform their wives that they had indeed worked things out just as they had suggested.

It was one 'you were right' that they were happy to admit to their mates.