Max had heard about Lily's helping the village where his exiled aunt was. He always felt bad that she had been deposed or no fault of her own. She was the oldest and the next in line after him since it was her brother who had been in. She just didn't want his current step father as she wanted her true mate not a chosen mate. His birth mother had died giving birth to him. His birth father was a killed in a raid which is why the course of succession as so messed up.
Over the years he had asked Lily for help on various projects the mines being the main one since her area of study had to do with plants and the environment. His stepmother always made it hard on him, but was glad when one of his "ideas" came through. He tried to be a good son towards her but she only looked at me with disdain. He always felt like he was failing her, but after he became an adult he let go of ever trying to please her.
