As the boys grew up to young men, their differences became more apparent and people around them also started treating them differently. As the first son and the heir to the throne, Gabriel received more respect and appreciation, whereas Merikh remained in his brother's shadow, often looked down upon because even after he turned eighteen, he didn't show any sign of transforming to a dragon, unlike his brother who could already shift at sixteen.
The way their father treated them also changed and it was evident that he liked the first son more than the second one.
As a mother, Danika's love for her children didn't change at all because she knew that her sons were both different, but also special so she treated them just as she did when they were children. The two were close and this helped the young man feel better. But his hatred for his father continued growing.
