Page 57 of Royal Lies

"You're my mate, King of Blood and Fire, and I am yours. But I am also the new oracle, and I have a duty to fulfill, so now the choice is yours. Who would you keep alive, me or your sister?" The princess stated as panic struck my chest.

Everyone knew if you killed your mate you might as well be killing yourself because you would die not too long after your mate died but how-

"How did I not sense this?" I asked, looking up from my knees. I could no longer stand, my legs had given out the moment that death sentence hit my head.

"Magic." The princess shrugged her delicate little shoulders.

Smiling bitterly she looked down at me, "My brothers could never truly force me to leave. I went willingly. The moment I discovered you were my mate I feared for my life. It was quite known of your brutish ways, your 'extravagant'bed manners. I for one aimed forbetter. So I left." She tossed back causing me to frown. Was she looking down onme?Me?! What the fuck was wrong withme?! I was a king! A man with all the charm and looksanygirl can ask for. What in theshadowswas wrong with her?! Never mind that how the hell was I supposed to choose? Luna or myownlife, fuck. Cause I wouldn't hesitate to kill her if it didn't meanItoo would die. I do love my sister, but I love myself as well.

"So why now, why tell me this now? Why not run away again?" I asked, a little hurt that my own mate would leave me. I mean come on, she ran away from me! ME! I mean yes, I was a bit adventurous, but I was no 'brute'.I was no Wolf. I was anelegant charming beautyfor God's sake!

"Unfortunately, I was chosen to be the new one in this life so I couldn't run away even if I wanted to. Fates deem I don't and, as I have mentioned, an oracle must perform her duties, no matter her personal feelings. Unlike your sister, Iama proper oracle, and fates’ deemed it that we get married. So here is my bargain: marry me, King of Blood and Fire, Lucarious Shula Julian Hathor Kek Ash Dragonfall Bloodworth Sphinx Phoenix , and I will aid you just as you will me in the future." The princess declared.

I was laughing hysterically by the time she was done as I just couldn't believe any of this, a girl who had been running fromme in our previous life only just revealed herself, for what some prophecy? Fates! Fuck that!

"Why? Why would you tell me this then, what's your goal?" I demanded, feeling my anger towards this person I've only just met. True, I should have known her earlier for I have been staying in this castle for a month or so, yet she'd always avoided me.

Bending down until we were at eye level the princess smiled bitterly, her eyes going pure white, "Because I am an oracle, a beacon of justice and if I do not marry you, I can not guarantee this bargain would be fair, that this realm as we know it would not fall. All the courts will die, and this realm will forever rot. For the players at work are far more dire than we can ever hope for. The first life was a trial, a test, the second an attempt, and the third a war. You, my dear mate, can not fall to those beasts but your sister... your sister has long since been gone. Befallen to a man who had claimed her heart. Two beacons of light one dark one bright, if divided one shall conquer if untied all shall perish. So goes the tale of the twins born to oppose one another." My mate pronounced her voice like that of my little sister when she was reading some vision she had. Her eyes were milky white as if here but not here. It was then I knew this was no lie, my new matewasthe oracle.

"But how- how did you hide yourself," I asked, referring to how she hid her magic from me. For if we were mates then my magic would have sensed hers the moment we met.

To that the Princess smiled pointing to her bare neck, "My necklace, the one I always wear. Didn't you find it odd how I had never changed my necklace despite all the jewelry lining my drawers? It hides my magic, thus, in turn, our bond."

"Now that I have told you everything Blood King, who would you choose?Yourlife or yoursisters, for she will destroy everything, your kingdom, this entire realm, your own life. Thechoice isyours." With her final warning, the little princess left leaving me with tears streaming down my face for the first time since... since my very first life when suddenly magic, more powerful than I had ever felt before coursed through the castle.

Chapter 18

Everetta

I was planning on visiting the royal garden anyway. Normally only the royal family would be allowed in here along with a select few permitted guests. Since, I was technically royal, or so Eli tells me, I picked my way in. What I mean by this was I used my magic to pick the metaphorical magic lock that was preventing anyone not of the Winter Court royal bloodline from entering. It was honestly just too easy. I mean the magic was practically begging me to unlock it. It was on its knees pleading with me to open it. You can't blame me for breaking and entering if I was just granting the wishes of the garden.

Speaking of magic, since I've woken up today I've had a strange buzzing in my blood. I tried figuring it out with my magic but nothing came up, at least not on the magical end. Maybe I'm just sick. Who knows. But it feels almost like- no it's probably nothing.

Scowling at nothing in particular, I strolled down the gardens, looking for one servant or another. Staring across the expanse of lilies, roses, daisies, tulips, etc., I looked around hoping to find someone dressed in one pale blue vest or another. Maybe a maid uniform, I've seen the female servants wear it here or there.

Are there no servants whatsoever here? Who the hell's tending to the flowers?

Hey, interesting fact, the winter roses and snowfall hydrangeas do not need watering; they were named that because the roses are as cold as ice, and the hydrangeas drip petals like snow indefinitely. I smiled, plucking up a few of the flowers. I know, I know, I probably shouldn't do this. I mean it does ruin the work of the gardeners, but I can't help it. I just want to pluckevery single one of these little petals from their stems. 'Off with their heads' and all that. I giggled to myself at the notion.

Honestly, it is quite fascinating how these flowers appear to look like cotton roses. Unlike others, they can change their color from pale white to red in the afternoons. Perhaps something in their genetic makeup—no, focus, Everetta, you need information.

What information again?

........

Oh right, that information- wait what info?

What was I doing here again?

I looked around confused. My mind was kicking up a thunderstorm again. I wonder why, at this point, I could barely feel the pain I mean-

Oh! Pretty flowers!

Hey, how'd these get in my hands, we shouldn't destroy the work of the palace gardeners.

Scratching my head on how these pretty little flowers got in my hand I planted them back into the soil.

Welp, at least they can go back to the ground when they wilt. Once unplanted, even if replanted, can they survive?

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