Page 13 of The Kingdom of Ruin

“But why?”

I look at Flora. Like, really look at her, and it’s my turn for my eyebrows to draw together.

“Before you ask, yes, our Flora here is slightly more sheltered than others. She doesn’t realize how much the fae as a whole are disliked in the kingdom,” Arlo explains, and I shake my head in disbelief.

“Why did you decide to come here then?” I blurt, internally cringing when Flora’s cheeks turn pink, but I’m next in line to be served, so I turn away to select my food. Pancakes, too many pancakes, with blueberries and two extra servings of raspberry compote poured over the top.

I murmur my thanks, grabbing an orange juice before turning to the tables.

This is where it gets more awkward than I would prefer. The desire to slip back to my room is strong, but Flora stops me before I can take a single step.

“Let’s sit with the other fae, shall we? May as well sit strong in numbers if we’re going to be targeted unnecessarily,” she grumbles, slipping past me, and without a word, I’m following after her.

Arlo presses his lips together and follows, as if he’s simply here because Flora is. A sense I seem to resonate with since I find myself moving along with her too, despite my initial thoughts to decline. I’m questioning myself with every step I take, worrying if I’m too soft for all of this if I can so easily follow her suggestion, but in reality, I’m simply showing strength like she said. That’s what I’m sticking with anyway as we approach the table where five fae are already eating breakfast. They all look up, but no one says anything as we sit at the other end of the table. It’s long enough to hold twelve people, leaving only a few open chairs between us, but it still feels like the gap could be a million miles.

“So, explain it to me. Why is there this invisible target on my back?” Flora asks, digging into her bowl of cereal. My gaze flicks to Arlo first, who nods for me to take the lead. Reluctantly, and with a heavy sigh, I do.

“Apparently, King Reagan’s sins are ours too.” The words taste like acid on my tongue, and they don’t seem any better to hear as Flora’s face twists in distaste.

“But he didn’t have any sins. It was his wife…wasn’t it? That’s what my mother always said.”

I shrug. “That doesn’t matter to anyone here. All they care about is their own origin taking over the kingdom. We’re just another hurdle for them to overcome. Except, given our history, it gives them a sense of validation to hate on us.”

“She’s right, Flo. The thought of fae taking the throne again isn’t one the other origins are happy to suffer,” Arlo adds, and I take the opportunity to stuff my face with food.

I can feel eyes on us from all over the room. I know it’s a feeling we’re going to have to get used to, but I really would just like to eat my breakfast in peace.

Flora clears her throat, gaining my attention, and when I look across the table at her, she’s already staring at me. “I’m here because my mother advised it. I want to be too, for sure, but being the heir to the kingdom isn’t really my end goal.”

I chew the food in my mouth, considering her words, but they don’t make sense to me. “I don’t understand.”

Flora peers at Arlo for a split second, who lifts a shoulder at her before her eyes are fixed back on mine. “My mother believed in King Reagan and what he stood for. I’m not a leader, that’s for sure, but I do have good skills that I can offer if a fae is selected.”

“So you’re here to gain connections to aid the throne when the time comes?” I clarify, and she nods with a soft smile.

“Yeah. My mother refuses to let me consider that the fae might not retake the throne, so I haven’t. I’m set on my path. I’m here to learn, to grow, to get stronger, and be of assistance to my people.”

That’s…impressive.

“What about you?” I ask, glancing at Arlo as I stuff my mouth with food again, and he shrugs.

“Pretty much the same. I have no interest in the stress that comes with being the heir, but my people deserve my support. Besides, I couldn’t let Flora come here all alone now, could I?”

There’s something he’s not saying. Not in relation to being here, or his reasoning behind it, but more specifically in relation to Flora. There’s something between them; I can sense it in the air, but it doesn’t feel like they’re more than friends.

Before I can formulate a question to dig deeper into the pair of them, a shadow casts over us from the head of the table and my spine stiffens.

“If it isn’t the foolish fae girl from yesterday, Raiden. What did you say you would do the next time you saw her? I forgot.”

Pouty red lips, high cheekbones, and layers and layers of mascara framing deep blue eyes stare down at me with a smugness you couldn’t even comprehend unless you saw it in the flesh.

It’s the vampire girl who interrupted the assessment that was being made of me yesterday, who called me out for standing with the fae when I don’t have pointy ears. Her presence instantly irritates the hell out of me.

Another looming shadow approaches a moment later, and I don’t have to shift my gaze to know who it is.

Black hair, brown eyes, a chiseled jaw, and a hateful look of distaste at the mention of fae rings true around him. I can’t stop my eyes from flicking to him though. It really is shameful for someone so good looking to be such a dick.

Raiden.

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