Chapter 1

The laughter and revelry died at once. The assembled gods stared at me in stunned silence.

With the Atlas of Dominion in my grasp, I summoned the Crown of the First Sun, an ancient power carried only by the bloodline of the High Kings. Its blazing radiance illuminated every corner of Silvermere Palace.

Garrick, God of Horses, sprang to his feet and roared, “You dare seize the relic His Majesty bestowed upon the Divine Heir?! You insolent servan—”

I regarded him with cold contempt. The air trembled beneath the weight of my power.

“Your dominion extends no further than the horses of the mortal world, Garrick, yet you dare challenge me?

“Open your eyes and look closely. I am the only son and rightful heir of High King Caelion and the sun goddess Aurelia!”

“Only a fool eager for death would recognize that wretched sparrow as the Divine Heir!

“Guards, strip him of his magic and cast him into the Underworld, where a storm of iron arrows will pierce him anew with every dawn!”

In the original timeline, Garrick had ingratiated himself with Corvin, the false Divine Heir. When I ventured beyond Southwatch Gate, he had ambushed and murdered me.

Since I had been sent back through time to the day of my coming-of-age ceremony, he would be the first to pay.

After watching me boldly reclaim the Atlas of Dominion, the gods attending the Silvermere banquet began glancing between Corvin and me.

Garrick cowered on the floor and turned a pleading gaze toward my nine sisters.

Seravelle, my eldest sister, rounded on me with fury.

“Auren, have you lost your mind? You ruined the Silvermere banquet and attacked the Divine Heir! Do you have a death wish?”

I stared into Seravelle’s furious eyes. Nearby, my other eight sisters surrounded Corvin and wove healing magic over him. For a moment, the sight left me disoriented.

I was High King Caelion’s only son and had long been living in Sunrest Vale to restore my health. Corvin was merely a common sparrow I had happened to rescue on my return to the High Realm.

For some reason, all nine of my sisters were captivated by him from the instant they saw him.

They lavished all their affection on him and repeatedly told the other gods that Corvin was their true brother.

Meanwhile, they treated me as little more than a servant, ordering me about whenever it pleased them.

After being cast back through time, I finally understood the situation.

I was a golden Dawnwing, one of the most exalted sun-born creatures in existence. My father was Caelion, High King of the Three Realms, and my mother was Aurelia, the sun goddess whose light sustained all creation.

As their only son, the Divine Heir, and the future ruler of the Three Realms, why should I allow some gutter-born sparrow to steal my name and birthright?

My nine sisters had proven themselves unworthy of the power and titles they held. Why should I continue to regard them as family?

Anyone who dared defy me would discover how keen the edge of my blade was.

If they tried to stand between me and my destiny again, I would not hesitate to kill them. Their blood would pave my path to the throne.

I rose effortlessly into the air until I towered above Seravelle.

“A death wish? The blood of the High King runs through my veins. I have every right to strike a witless sparrow.”

Seravelle gave a contemptuous snort.

“Corvin is Father’s beloved youngest son. Return the Atlas and beg his forgiveness before everyone here, and I may show you mercy.”

I tightened my grip on the Atlas of Dominion and sneered.

“Do you not even recognize your own brother? Call Father here and repeat those words to his face.

“I let everything else go, but the Atlas of Dominion was Father’s coming-of-age gift to me. Must you take even that and hand it to him?”

The assembled gods looked from Corvin to me and back again.

Corvin stepped forward and took Seravelle’s hand. He said with practiced consideration, “Let it go, Seravelle. I’m to blame for failing to teach him better after I rescued him.

“As children of the High King, we should show compassion to those beneath us. Let him have his way this once.

“Besides, he has no idea how to use the Atlas of Dominion. Let him borrow it for now.”

His words made me scoff in disbelief.

“You witless bird, I saved your life, yet you stand there pretending you rescued me. Had I known what you truly were, I would’ve left you to drown!”

My words drained the color from Corvin’s face. Several of my sisters hurried to reassure him.

“You’re too kind, Corvin. You saved his life, yet Auren repays you with nothing but contempt!”

“Auren, get over here and apologize to Corvin! Otherwise, I’ll have you dragged to the gods’ execution grounds!”

I could hardly believe that my own sisters would say such cruel words to me.

I tightened my grip on the Atlas of Dominion as power gathered around me, growing stronger with every breath.

“You dare presume to command me?”

Elvarra, my second-oldest sister, said coldly, “Very well. Since you insist that you’re the true Divine Heir, submit to the Mirror of True Forms and let it reveal the truth.”

My eyes widened. Were they actually going to use the Mirror of True Forms on me? Had they lost their minds?

When I remained silent, Seravelle smiled triumphantly.

“What’s wrong? Has the mere mention of the mirror frightened you? Renounce your claim and beg Corvin’s forgiveness now, and we may still spare your life!”

Hesitation crossed my face, but inwardly, I was already laughing.

They could protect Corvin all they wanted. The Mirror of True Forms would still expose him.

“When the mirror exposes what you really are, no one can save you!” Corvin taunted me.

“Silence, you lowborn sparrow. You forget whose presence you stand in.”

With a flick of my finger, my blade flashed past him and severed a lock of his hair.

“You vicious creature! How dare you attack the Divine Heir again?! Bring the Mirror of True Forms at once! We shall expose his true form before everyone here!”

A cold smile lingered on my lips. The Mirror of True Forms would soon reveal which of us was the impostor.