Page 103 of Royal Lies

Eli

It wasn't my fault. I was only looking after her. After all,I've done for her, she dares to be angry at me?I might have withheld some things from her but it wasn't as ifshehad told me everything either.

What's more, that sister of mine dared to intrude and castmeout. I looked around the space I was transported to. It seems like this was my father's office. Or since I was now king it was mine. Sighing I suppose I should allow Everetta to have some time to cool off that temper of hers. I swear one of these days she's going to destroy herself with that rage she has.

"Spirits this room hasn't changed a bit has it?" A voice from behind me startled me before the sweet melodies hit my ear. I'd recognize that soothing voice anywhere, Akasuki. Relaxing the tension in my shoulders I turned smiling calmly at my mate.

"Akasuki, I see my sister decided to teleport us to the same room," I smiled, offering her my arm so I could lead us to the sofa by the corner of the office. The bright navy blue European coach and its glass table, so clear that you could see your feet below when you sat. A twin of the very same navy blue sofa sat straight across. Looking around I noted the same ivory-blue arches and old school bookshelves by the right side of the room.

On the left posed an adjoining bathroom coated in the same elegance and color as the office. The sapphire crystals that lined each edge of the room trailed off like veins clinging to the shelves. In front of the giant iced glass windows were the broad oak wood office desk, two adjoining armchairs sat away from the window, and one miniature throne chair behind the oak table.

I always loved that chair. It reminds me of sitting on the actual iced throne. The nearly frozen-over miniature diamond and sapphire blue throne. I can't wait to sit atop the actual one and make my presence known to the entire realm. Let everyone know that King Eli Scalivander Lusivous Gillian Avalar Vallian Lion Wolf is back.

"Yes, quite the favor she's done for me keeping us together. You know I've always wondered why she never fought harder to stay in the past. She has enough strength. Perhaps things might have turned out differently." Akasuki trailed off remembering the past, causing me to stiffen my shoulders. Her reminiscing only made me think of the mad events that had unfolded that night in the Griffin Court gardens.

The madness that ensued. The utter power that was unleashed. Although I cannot recall exactly what had transpired, perhaps because it had been so long ago. Or it must not have been significant enough for me to remember the exact details of the event that had transpired before Everetta's lapse into madness.

One minute we were fine. Everyone was enjoying themselves in the garden ball then Everetta barged in. Next thing I knew that bloody bastard of a half-brother of hers stormed down from the skies. We all thought he had been dead but apparently not. He came in and spouted some nonsense about leaving and something about the Griffin Court. Suddenly Everetta went utterly berserk. Screaming and shouting, firing her magic at everyone. I still haven't a clue why or what had triggered that episode of hers but all I know is I never want it to happen again. Which is why I decided to withdraw her memories. Let her start again.

From what I saw I thought she would have been happy to have a fresh new life here at the Wolf Courts. She could forget the title of being Griffin Queen. She's never wanted it in thefirst place. As for the Griffin Court lands. We'll figure out a way to save it without her being on the throne. Lords, I would have taken over for her.

Unaware of where my thoughts had strayed, Akasuki continued, "What happened back there? What did she mean by your abilities? Reading minds? Eli, surely she jests, if you could you would have told me."

Her words were like a? noose squeezing out the air in my lungs. Trying not to show my guilt in my expression I pressed a thin smile to my lips as I tried to suck in a ragged breath. "Well, she is wrong, I can't necessarily read minds. Per Say." I began because Akasuki was right. I should have told her. I should tell her. If there was anyone I should tell it was Akasuki she was my mate. She would understand, right? Plus, the secret was out now. If I try to hide it, it would just make me look like the villain. ?

Reading the anxiety written all over my aura, Akasuki turned to me her red gaze against my blue guilt-ridden ones. "Eli, what are your abilities? Don’t abilities have to complement one’s gift? Mind reading has nothing to do with ice magic. Eli?" Her glare said it all.

There are a lot of things I haven’t told Akasuki since the events of the garden. I hadn’t even known this was my gift untilthatday. I was going to make a whole announcement at the party but then Everetta just had to throw her little tantrum.

Clearing my throat I sighed grasping her hands in mine.

"Love, I do have my ice as my gift. I create anything I want with ice, butthatis simply because mygiftallows me to. Now everyone also has an ability like you said but not all fae necessarily have to have an ability that matches their gifts. You know my circumstances. You know how I came to be." I began as Akasuki started to stand only for me to plead for her to remain seated. I hated talking about my birth, I hated the reminder that I wasmeantto be weak.

Giving a slight pull against her lifting hands, I pleaded for her to understand. Begged for her to hear me out. To listen as to why I never told her of my true abilities months after my discovery and before the garden party.

"Get to the point Eli or I will leave." She threatened, hurt sprinkling over her eyes. I sighed, closing my eyes for bravery.

"My ability is to freeze the memories of others, and when I do, I could essentially take it away from that fae." Akasuki frowned, her brow wrinkling as her head shook against my words. Not quite believing the truth spilling from my lips. It was true, but it was also not the complete truth. I had left out the part where I could peer into those memories as well and twist those memories into something completely different, like puzzle pieces being cut and reshaped. All I had to do was freeze them then shave away some parts and fit them back together.

I might have also left out the part where I had performed that exact thing to her. It was only a small part, I just made her forget when she had caught me speaking with Alexander before Everetta’s spell had given us all a second chance. I had to, I-

It was necessary for my plan to work. I was doing all of this, working with that bastard Alexander, hurting Everetta, scheming with that witch, all so that my court- no. So that Akasuki’sandmy court could prosper. I wasnotwrong. So I can’t tell her. I mustn’t.

"I've never told you this because when I do I can see their memories too. It's not intentional but-" Akasuki snatched her hands from mine as she placed one against her forehead now trying to message the wrinkles out of her furrowed brows. I still had to give her something, if only to lessen her suspicion of me. Sharing one bit of the secrets my abilities can do should be fine.

"No- let me get this straight you froze her memories. You stole her fucking memories?! Eli! That's, that's not alright!" She bellowed standing as she looked down on me like a loomingshadow of ruin. Closing my eyes I sighed. I thought she would understand. No, shewill, I’ll make sure of it.

"I know but what would you have done in my situation? You saw how she was before the reincarnation. She wasn't herself. She wasn't m-our Everetta! Our Everetta wouldn’t have been like that! She would have killed herself again if she ever found out she had been the one to end my little brother's life. I wasn't going to let that happen." I began standing up myself as I tried to get her to understand to see my side. Surely she would. She saw how broken and utterly destroyed Everetta was. She must understand my pain. Those vacant eyes, those damned empty sockets. I can't ever let Everetta go back tothat.

Shaking her head Akasuki frowned her anger, blazing a glint in her eyes, "You had no right. You don't even know if she would have killed herself-" She began but the words spewed from my lips before I could stop them, "Alexander sure saw differently-" I froze, eyes wide and horrified by the red-hot rage coloring Akasuki's cheeks just like the glow of her ruby eyes.

"What?! I explicitly told you not to! After what had happened. After allhehad done, you went tohim?! Wait- what do you meanhesaw, Alexander isn't an oracle- Eli?" Her words halted as she fitted the pieces together to my doom. She was incredibly bright my mate, so even if I hadn’t confessed she would have figured it out on her own. But, to what extent?

"What did you do? Eli how the fuck did you get into this damn castle. I know your father wouldn't have just let you stroll in willy-milly. What did you do? What bargain did you make with him?!" Her voice was like the sound of thunder that clapped when the Spirit Gods of her realm raged. Like the lightning that stuck after a terrible monstrous storm. See Akasuki was fae but she was only half fae half spirit. Hence, she only had her gift of illusions and no abilities. It was why she lived in a differentrealm, the spirit realm. That didn't mean she wasn't strong. No mate of mine would be weak. Half or not.

I sighed, “Everetta was weak, I needed a way to ensure that she wouldn't just up and kill herself when we reincarnated. We didn't need another apocalypse... so I might have gone behind your back and asked Alexander for help."

I turned away, not able to meet the fiery depths of her ruby-red rage anymore. Too scared that if she kept looking into my eyes she would discover a truth far worse than a mere discussion between two kings. That she would discover how she had caught me and Alexander making that exact bargain. The issue was, I had chipped off that specific detail in her mind.

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