For one second, every person on that little street seemed to hold their breath, waiting to see what kind of king I would choose to become in front of a frightened child.
I crouched.
Miranda went completely still.
Matthew’s eyes widened before he could hide it.
Adults forgot sometimes how large they looked to children. Kings even more so. I had spent most of my life towering over rooms because height, bloodline, and power had taught people to look up at me whether I wanted them to or not.
But this boy had lost his home.
Possibly his father.
His entire world.
I would not make him crane his neck to meet the monster he had been taught to fear.
“Good,” I said.
Confusion flickered across his face.
That was not the answer he had expected.
“I don’t want children afraid of me.”
His jaw
