Page 69 of Royal Lies

"Besides, why did you even offer to escort her home?" She added, cocking a brow at me.

Shrugging I smiled softly, “I had to keep up appearances."

I couldn't just tell her it was instinctual, again old habits die hard. Those types of girls fall so easily for the knight in shining armor. Hmm, now that I think about it two-thirds of the women I used to save fell harder whenever I played that role. I nearly truly smiled at the memories, how those women would weep, confusion and heartbreak written all over their faces as I slashed their delicate skin, watching the red blossom along the curves of their bodies.

But Akasuki wasn't wrong. It was the duty of the men to protect the women especially if they were weak, and even if they were strong some men would still rape them. At least I never didthat. Sure, I played with their feelings a little but as if I'd ever touch such vile women, not when I could have my Evie.

All the more reason for this court to change. It was falling too heavily into the hands of the black market. The royals were nothing but figureheads sitting atop a throne they had no claim on. Hardly any fae seemed to turn toward authority these days. Everyone handled situations with under-the-table money or blackmail. Rumors were left unchecked, and hatred towards their very king and royal family. Hatred for all except one, my dearest little sister.

I smiled as I caught the little rumors of the princess aiding yet another village, orphanage, or simply providing food for the impoverished. Simply put if it wasn't for her the royal family would have been over the throne by now. The issue was with all this popularity towards the princess, how would Eli gain the support he needed for the crown? I'll have to talk to her soon, a war is coming and she can't stay, it would be far too dangerous. She was too sweet for her own good in a realm filled with lies and double-edged swords. Not that she couldn't play the game as well as any other fae but I would much rather not have her do that.

But what was she trying to do? Is she making a grab for the throne? If so, how would Eli react? He's not one to simply bend over and give in and my sister, albeit kind, was not one to back down from a challenge. As for me, I would be tasked with keeping the two sides from killing one another.

Why not go for the throne myself, you ask? Well, I wasn't interested even during my last life. I knew where my position was; it was in my labs with my chemicals and books andEveretta.She was andisallI need.

A throne would just hinder my desires. If I had the crown it would only lead to more work and people to please. I couldonly take so many pleasantries before I inevitably gave in and murdered the lot of them.

No discoveries or findings, no potions or poisons to dabble with. How dreary of a life that would have been. Whereas in my lab, I would always beentertained. The discoveries I could invent, find, and develop were far morefascinatingthan sitting still and letting my butt freeze. Then there was her, my Everetta, being a King of Wolves was impossible if I wanted to rule by her side. I would rather have a companion who kept me on my toes, to share my findings with, to have someone who appreciates books and alchemy just as much as I do than a nodding marionette.

An image of her curly blond locks and bright golden eyes splashed through my mind, her joyful baring of teeth as bodies lay at her feet. Mmm, how I’ve missed her so. I loved her energy, her enthusiasm, her sense of justice.

Her.

I just need to finish this, then I can finally see her again.

I can still remember the day we first met in our past life. My father was holding a ball for the Marquis in celebration of his victory in another one of my father's endless wars. When suddenly, shadows started to attack. They had been mercenaries hired from the losing side of that war to assassinate my sister.

I remember the screams of people as they cowered beneath tables and the roars of the wolves as they howled for blood. Above all, I remember her golden hair blowing in a nonexistent wind, held up by the sheer force of her magic.

Unlike other women, she didn't cower. Not only that, she fought with such hunger that I fell for her at first sight. Or should I say I wanted her at first sight. At the time I thought my fascination would wither away. Just a lingering admiration from witnessing her valiant actions. Which was why I tried to playwith her a little during that announcement ball in the Phoenix Court.

The way she slit that shadow's throat like butter, her eyes piercing through the night like twin golden moons. Her elegant movements were like dance steps in a ballroom. Through the hurdles of swords and spikes thrown from one side of the room to another, she stood brilliantly above everything. That and her sharp mind, the way she cast and created spells as if it was nothing fascinated me. It tugged at the scientist in me. I guess, you could say my initial draw towards her was because I wanted to find out what made this hero tick, what could make such a spirited faebreak.

Yes, I understand I must be crazy to love a blood-hungry witch, to want to break someone so strong they could kill me with just a thought, but well, perhaps it was the Wolf in me, but to see such an alpha female; I nearly fainted from the pleasure at tasting her blood. It soon changed, she’d been the first to pass through that initial fascination. In a way, I suppose she turned my thirst for her blood and despair into love.

Of course, my brother believed I first saw Everetta during his dear friend Lucarious' engagement proclamations. In part it was true. That was where I had first talked to her, and decided that I really had fallen for her, not merely as another subject for my experiments but as a fae. I suppose that was the day my games ended when she saw through my smiles.

"Hello. Hello? Fae Realm to Fletcher? Hello?" Akasuki 's voice rang as I blinked away the blissful memories. I will have more memories with Everetta in this life,no matter what. I'll slaughter anyone who gets in my way, brother or not. I turned smiling down at the master I now served. Akasuki rolled her eyes, obviously figuring out what I had been thinking about.

"You know, sometimes I genuinely wonder how Everetta doesn't see it," Akatsuki frowned, genuine concern shown in hereyes, as I smiled. She was referring to my madness, but what fae didn't have some form of madness in them?

"Whatever do you mean?" I asked, a chill creeping into the alley. We both knew the sudden cold wasn't from the wind. She better not tell her, master or not. I won't hesitate to end her life if she intends to stop me from getting to Everetta.

My brother tried once.

At the time I gave in because Eli was looking after her mental health, to be exact herheart-breakfrom Lucarious. I must admit that time was not my finest moment. I along with Eli or perhaps it was Eli's worries that had spread to me. Thus, I had gone along with his plans as well as hers. I was scared that I too would make her cry, would make her heartbreak like the fae before me. After seeing her cry enough for men and women who couldn't see her brilliance I had to defy my elder brother's orders, and although we didn't have a great long life together during our first life we were still happy,Imade her happy for the little while we had together. Which is how I know she loves me too, even if she didn't say it. Call it a gut feeling. I would do anything to get her to smile, truly smile, and not the bull crap she does for Eli and other fae. If she ever does fall out of love with me, I’ll make her see reason again. After all, we were bonded, as Eli came to see.We belonged together. Which is why I won't make the same mistakes this time. I won't let Eli's words twist my decisions.

Dear brother of mine, you sure have a way with words. I do wonder why that is.

Eli never was as intellectually skilled as he was in his swordplay. So how in the lords was he able to convince fae to bend to his will? He never used violence as far as I know. I was his enforcer, so then how? His gift is ice, but his ability- What was his ability? I'll figure it out, heismy brother. If the nice civil way doesn't work I’ll just have to use other means.

"Ugh, you're seriously such a creep," Akasuki wrinkled her nose, a small frown creasing her lips. I smiled, getting lost in my train of thought again. Well, how could I stop myself, I missed her so much. As for my brother, some things were not adding up.

"I hope that gene doesn't run in every member of your family," Akasuki muttered, referring to her bond with Eli. Though he wasn't as persistent as I was, he was still asloyalas all Wolves were. The man did kill nearly all of Akasuki's suitors in my previous life to make a point. All but Lucarious, then again were Akasuki and Lucarious really lovers in the first place? I get the feeling Akasuki would rather cut off Lucarious’ balls than let him touch her in that way.

They did get together during a time when Akasuki and my brother were fighting. She claimed that Eli didn't care enough, that he didn't respect her. Although I could see her point it wasn't so much that my brother didn't respect her but more as if he was always too worried for her he ended up coming out that way. He would send nearly an entire army with her on her visits back to the spirit realm or would insist on coming along with her. He once hired Wolf mercenaries to trail her through her supposedalone timein the capital. Then again it wasn't as if she mourned those suitors. For all of Akasuki's angelic appearance, she was no angel. If you ask me, I think she might have instigated that fight and pursued those suitors just to prove to my brother that she was averydesirable woman, as if he didn't already know that. She wanted to make him act out, to make him jealous.

Their relationship was so weird.

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