Page 56 of Royal Lies

As I thought this the little princess continued, "Please don't act so surprised. I know my half-brother, whether I like it or not. I know how his mind works, and howhermind works. I'm no fool, they couldn't possibly be ambassadors from a kingdom so far removed from fae society only to show up now. What's better, they claim that they want to help us now of all times when the shadows have been ravaging our lands for thousands of sun cycles. Please, who do you take me for, your sister? So wrapped up in her own self greed she can't even see which side she should be on? That she couldn't even see what her brotherhad truly done for her?" The princess' sneering commentary had the little hairs on the back of my nape standing straight. How did she know? No one else but Everetta should have known of my reasons for what happened, I made sure of that. If I didn't it would have humiliated my precious little sister and her pride.

The little princess was making a mockery of my sister so excuse me if I was a little peeved.

Taking a step closer, the little princess smiled bitterly. The sneer was written all over her emotionless mask. For once she was finally showing some feelings, at least to my knowledge she'd never shown them before in front of the courts. "She is a failure of an oracle and we both know it." Her jabs just kept coming and I would be lying if I said it didn't tick me off.

I've never slapped a woman before, it was true, I always just stabbed them, but never have I ever wanted anything more than to slap this bitch in front of me right now. How dare she criticize Luna. Though she may have had some-ok many faults, she was still my little sister. Yes, she was selfish, very selfish, but she was still only trying to make sure those she loved were safe. Her methods might be questionable but her intentions were pure. Bottom line, she wasmylittle sister, no one talks aboutmylittle sister that way except me, and well Eli, and yes, Everetta too... and maybe a little from Akasuki. However, the little princess has no right! She doesn't even know my poor adorable younger sister.

I mean I understood why they would say harsh, sometimes cruel things about my sister but they had their reasons. I mean Ev wasn't always so cruel to my sister. In the past, Everetta was kind, in her own way, towards Luna. That was until that incident happened. Eli, well, he's an exception. He's like a younger brother to me. One I would kill without hesitation but still a little brother that I hate.

Seeing my hackles climbing up my neck she continued her smile beaming like a purring cat, "You must have at least thought about it by now right? Oracles aren't supposed to be selfish or unselfish, they aren't supposed to let their emotions cloud their mission. They were made to maintain order and peace. Yet didn't your mother once do that, play the visions in her favor, to benefitherfamily." I could feel the fire stoking in my eyes as I followed thelittleprincess's movements across the room.

"Isn't that how your family eventually succeeded in overthrowing the Sphinxes? Oracles aren't supposed to die until their time is up or unless they wish to. Yet, how was it that your sister was able to behead her?" The little princess challenged pausing as she neared one of the ice pillars. Laying a soft hand against the beam as if admiring the intricate snowflake carvings etched in the block of ice.

"Now your sister is destined to the same fate, a death by the hands of a new oracle. How else do you think your sister was able to kill your mother, yet you couldn't?" The little princess smiled elegantly, briefly as she tilted her head like the innocent deer she was not.

Narrowing my eyes on the little princess, my anger was on the back burner for now as I tried to understand her meaning. She made her way back toward me trailing her hands across the table, her fingers lingering around a certain tavern in the Winter Court. "Did you know, that only an oracle can kill another oracle, and only one oracle can exist within one timeline?" She continued, leaving the rest for me to figure out.

I frowned, what was she telling me all this for? I had found it odd how my sister was able to kill our mother but-wait, if what she said was correct then that would explain how my sister's oracle powers came about when my mother passed and... how my mother never became an oracle again in any ofmy reincarnation with my sister afterwards... Because there can only be one oracle at a time.

I wonder if that's the same forROYALS?

Why did the little princess's words make it sound like she was a new oracle? If that was true, then doesn't that mean-

"I-I don't understand what you are implying."

The ice princess sighed, rolling her eyes like the arrogant brat she was. "Your sister isn't performing her duties, ignoring the guidance of her predecessors. In other words, she's no longer deemed fit to be an oracle. Another onewasplaced here to replace her position, and to do so-" She trailed off allowing me to fill in that dire sentence.

"She must die." I breathed as horror struck my chest, no- no that can't happen. Wait, why tell me this? She must know if she was the new oracle considered to replace my sister I wouldn't hesitate to kill her or convince my sister to do so, which I was sure Luna wouldn't hesitate to do. Luna wouldn't be that stupid to sacrifice her life for someone she barely knows. On the off chance that Luna won't, I'll just have to find a way and kill her myself. I'm sure Eli would forgive me, someday. Flynn... not so much. I'll have to ask Everetta to deal with him.

As if reading my thoughts the princess softened her tone, seeming sympathetic. I scoffed, not buying her little act.

"Icouldhelp you." She suggested, tilting her head as if trying to read inside my head. Did she believe after everything she said that I wouldn't want to kill her? News flash it was a resoundingno.

I smiled brightly, she wasn't the only one who could act. Pretending to perk up, acting like her words didn't just put her on my topWill Killlist. I looked towards her, "Do you?"

"Like I said you won't find my brother that way. On the other hand, IamEli's sister, and we both know how he feels about family." The princess continued, confusing me a little. I thoughtshe might help me track down Flynn, instead she was speaking of convincing Eli to help me take back my court next. Could she even do that? Even if she could, I didn't need her to convince Eli for me. I already have my deal with Everetta in mind after all. Her words meant shit, I will find Flynn one way or another. Still, if I were to protect my sister I need to play along.

"I can convince my brother to help you, in return for a bargain of course." The girl smiled nonchalantly, unaware of my true intention of working with her. Just shows howlittleshe truly knows of this world. Ah, such youth and naiveté. All the easier to slit her throat.

Besides, her words just sparked another idea in my mind. I could simply force her to convince her brother for me. I smiled viciously as ideas streamed in on how I could doexactlythat. I wasn't called the King of Blood and Fire for nothing.

"Oh, and how would that be any different from my bargain with Eli and Everetta?" I asked, letting my magic build in me. I could kill her right now, no one would ever know.

No, too quick. Who knows how many fae have seen her coming into my room.

Once she was off guard I'll use my magic and bind her to me, make her my little slave before torturing her to pieces. Yes, I'll do that instead.

"Haven't you ever wondered why my brothers sent me off, for my safety sure, or so they claim. If you ask me,Iwould wonder what exactly they were protecting me from. Especially when I could just freeze anyone who dares to approach me? I'm the Princess of the Wolves, the Ice Queen of Winter, nothing can harm me...exceptfor my mate. So think, little Blood King, just why would I tell you these things? Why would this bargain be any different from my brother and future sister in laws? Why? It's not because you don't think I'm a fool, do you? Am I simply just catching alittlebird without a worm? Telling you all this,without knowing fully well that you'd try and kill me to protect your precious little sister." Smiling viciously like the Wolf she is, her statement made me rethink my earlier thoughts.

Furrowing my brows I tried to decipher her words. What the hell did she mean? No, it shouldn't matter when I'm done with her she will tell me everything. If shewasthe new oracle then Icouldjust kill her before she even lays a hand on my sweet little sister. Or I could hold her captive for Luna to kill. Sure Eli and Flynn would be furious but what they didn't know couldn't hurt them. I'll simply convince them to send their dear infant sister into another realm again and then track her down there and help Luna end her.

As if sensing my thoughts she smiled softly but the predatory gaze in her blue eyes never changed as her magic cast off from her body and enveloped mine.

A frightening terror far more horrifying than anything else I've ever felt before froze me to the spot as I looked down at the petite princess.

It wasn't physically painful, no. It wasn't tormenting like those poisons but it was horrifying nonetheless. Suddenly everything clicked. Why she was telling me all these things, why her brothers had shipped her off in our previous life, why I was never allowed to see her, why I never found my mate.

For the same reason, Eli kept Flynn away from Everetta; he did the same with his little sister, keeping me away from her, saving her from my leering ways.

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