Page 93 of Royal Lies

"I'd rather you not belittle me Lucarious. After all, I don't call youLittle Blood Prince, do I? Now will you or will you not make a bargain with me?" Everetta's words promised vengeance if he were to ever call herLittlePrincessagain. She never did like those words together, maybe it was because she was in all rights the Queen of the Griffins. Throne or not, that was who she was and always will be. In other words, calling a queen alittleprincesswas a slight to their power.

Lucarious grinned his own devil's smile as he mockingly bowed. His right arm swirled in the air, far past his head, as he placed his left to his lower stomach bending at his waist, "Come on now darling. I had to make sure you werereallyyou. After all, you fooled me before. How did the mortals put it fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me?" He bent back up at a flick of Evie's hands. Evie never was one for formalities, not even in this life I see.

"Oh, please. That is so not how it goes. The first was totally on you, the second would be mine. In this case though, if Ihadfooled you it would still be your fault. Now, enough with the formalities. Besides, it wasn't my fault you were stupid enough to fall for Eli's little shenanigans." Everetta’s slick tone was like poison on its own. A tick began to pulse once against Lucarious' right temple.

Tit for tat. He calls her a princess, and Evie calls him stupid.Maybe I should call Akasuki in to enjoy the show.

"But I'm not here to pick a fight with you. I want to revisit that bargain you proposed, claiming your throne back, was it? I accept, on theconditionthatyoudo something formein return." Everetta smiled her feline grin.

“Oh? Here I thought you rejected it." Flashing one of his obsidian chairs behind him Lucarious sat. Knowing fully well if he remained standing he would be eyeing down at Evie who had yet to leave the bed.

I see he still has respect for my love.

I'm not sure how I feel about that one.

On the one hand, I'm glad, she deserves as much. On another, the green monster under my skin was waiting so I could tear his guts out.

Taking the seat by her bedside I sat as well. I didn't want to leave the two alone just yet. I didn't trust that damn devil to not touchmyEvie.

"Please, that was Ellie's simple-minded plan," Evie smiled, her lips slightly twitching downwards as she said my brother's nickname. I believe she came up with it one day when she turned my brother into a girl that one time. That nickname has stuck ever since. My brother is still peeved about it.

"Mine on the other hand ismuchdifferent. We both know how his mind works, protect and control. It doesn't excuse what he did but I understand where he comes from. Still,mywishes arenot hiswishes.Elionly wantshiscourt back, asyoudoyours. I don't have to walk down his fucking mind to know that. No doubt he was planning to keep me sedated in my past state, with no memories and no opinions of my own, I would be easier to control that way. But we both know that's not whoIam. No, whatIwant is for us to be back in our places." Everetta continued as she looked over at me, without a word I handed her a cup of tea I had sitting by her bed stand. I'd change the tea every few hours or so just in case she woke up. She loved her tea warm with a tilt toward the hotter side.

The small warming of her smile told me her taste still hadn't changed. Earl Grey, her favorite. It was sweet but also slightly bitter, it was just right. Whispering a thank you to me she turned her gaze back on the man patiently waiting and eyeing our interactions.

"You know the laws of this realm. What Eli plans to do can not happen without the other courts deteriorating. I'm assuming he would’ve had me and you duke it out. Of course, I'd win, I always do." Evie was right. Even as Lucarious’ right eye began to twitch it was true that Eviewasthe strongest of theROYALS, the five strongest fae in all the realm. The acronym was a homage to their royal lineage, or so Evie claims.

"Go fuck yourself, Everetta. Just because your affinity for creation allows you tomimicmy magic doesn't mean I couldn't overpower you in terms of brute strength." The room remainedchilly in the brief silence after the challenge. Evie simply stared across the bed at the man dressed in black before her.

I on the other hand had no such ease to let such treacherous words pass without retribution.

Slipping down a needle from my sleeves into my hand I fought not to slip the tip into his sun-kissed skin. My needles were always dipped in a lethal poison. The one I currently held in my hand was dosed with a drug that would stop your heart in less time than it took you to blink. The rest I had stitched in my sleeves contained a various assortment. I had made my sleeves in a way that would be easy for me to slip one needle down into my hand. Each needle was also designed in a way where there was a small valve holding the poison but once plunged into the skin the deadly serum would be released into the bloodstream.

Evie laughed, her voice ringing like little bells in the summer night, “Sure, though I think Ellie and you might tie for that round. Now handling twin blades, I'll give you that win. But, I rather like using my arrows a lot more. You won't be able to use yourbrute strengthon me if you can't catch me. You can't cut me if you can’t even get close to me.”

"Don't degrade my art. They're not blades, they're called khopeshs. If you ask me they're far more superior to Ellie's swordplay." Lucarious like always was quick to defend his court’s art, his nose wrinkling at the comparison of a sword with hispreciouskhopeshs. Evie’s eyes slid from Lucarious’ crossing over to meet mine, silently asking for my input on the matter.

I sighed rolling my eyes, “I grew up with the sword but I agree the khopesh is more lethal at least in the way you handle it. That's not to say that the sword isn't dangerous as well." I started helping to get the cup of tea back from Evie; setting the half-drunk tea back on the nightstand.

"Please, that thing is far too heavy to maneuver anywhere. Whereas my khopeshs are light. I could throw them from a mileaway and still hit my targets." Lucarious boasted as my need to defend my dear brother rose.

"Yes, well it's so small I don't even think you could slay a beast with it. Nick it, sure. Behead it, I don't think so."

Lucarious rose his body hovered inches from the chair ready to try and end my life for the third time today before he was firmly tugged back onto it with magic. It was like an invisible hand had yanked him down forcing his body to remain seated on the carved chair. I looked back at Evie who was still smiling but the light airy warmth in the air told me it was her doing.

"Boys, let's not get sidetracked by here. The bargain, Lucarious, will you take it?" Evie cocked a brow.

"Fine. If say, I did accept that bargain of yours, what would you havemedo in return? You also mentioned how Ellie doesn't wish for it so what made you change your mind? It must be quite the favor you're asking of me if you've suddenly changed your mind like that." Lucarious shrugged his composure back in place. He rolled his shoulders as if shaking off his roaring anger.

"As I’ve said before, that deal was Eli's mess.NOT MINE. I’ve never once said no, at least not if I had all my memories intact." Evie replied as Lucarious relaxed back into his seat crossing his tanned arms over his chest. His sleeves rolled up to his elbows in his black-tied suit with a red button-down underneath. "Fine, but areyoualright making this bargain?" Lucarious asked, earning a glare back from Evie as she growled.

"I'mquitefine. But thank you for your concern." She reluctantly conceded as she sighed.

"You'll find out sooner or later, but Eli and I had children. Now before you get on my case, no we didn't have sex. As if I ever would with him. The realm umm, sort of gave me an egg and then they just popped into existence after the first whole ordeal with my brother. Your sister hid them from me and here we are. All I ask in return for returning you toyourthrone is that youfindoneof them for me and keep it a secret from Eli for now. I'll tell him later." Evie flipped a hand in the air as if to wave away the whole issue. I should have been shocked except I was there when it happened. I was planning something fun for us at that moment but needless to say, seeing babies that had half my brother's genes was a mood killer. As if expecting that very thing Lucarious glanced over at me arching a brow as I just smiled calmly back. Never in my life has it been so hard to grin before.

Did I wish they didn't have children, yes. But they were not just my brothers but half of Evie's magic too. So, do I hate them, no. I'm sure the realm created them for a reason, to what extent I don't know. I'm still not sure how I feel about the whole matter if I'm being honest, just that I will support Everetta in whatever she wishes. I could feel the slight claws of my nails digging into my skin as I hid them underneath the chair.

I knew she loved me and I knew my place by her side, yet. "Fletcher? What's the matter?" Everetta was saying as she too was looking at me. Though my pleasant smile might have fooled Lucarious I knew Evie was looking past my mask, as always. "Nothing. You should finish your bargain." I shook my head slightly, not moving from my seat. Frowning Evie nodded as she glanced back over at Lucarious.

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