Page 96 of Royal Lies

Everetta

I could feel the burning pain coursing through every fiber of my body. Into every inch of skin as I smiled wryly at Fletcher, the man I'd killed. True, I hadn't been in my right mind at the time. If I was being honest, I couldn't even remember the complete details of that day, which was why I wanted to talk to him. To come up with a logical reason as to how everything went down. Then, a blond-haired half-Lion half-Wolf thundered in like the raging snow storms that often hit the Wolf Court. The door slammed off its hinges in Eli's need to get into my room. Rolling my eyes at his dramatics I stared at the half-unhinged door.

"For lords’ sake." I heard Fletcher mutter as I couldn't help but snicker a little at his annoyance.

My hand squeezed his in comfort; our hands intertwined as memories assaulted me.

"Everetta! Y-Your awake. Lucarious- he suddenly popped up in my office and-" Eli trailed off just as the red-headed bastard I sent away just seconds ago winked back at me.

Narrowing my gaze on his cocky grin. The bastard was planning something. I knew he wouldn’t have taken my subtle threat against his sister lying down, it was a gamble to do it in the first place. I knew if I hung hisdearlittle sister on the line he would take the bargain I dealt, no questions asked.

"Yes. I am. Is that the first question you're going to ask me? No hello or welcome back?" I smirked back, masking my fury at the audacity this guy had to come into my room while I was… recovering? No, I don’t even think I can from whatever Luna had injected into my system. Who else could it be? No one else but Fletcher has the skill needed to poison me and Fletcher wasn’t here until… until the ball. Magics I’m such a mess.

"You remember," Eli stated. Not a question, I noted.

I forced the grin to remain on my face. Oh, so he knows what he did was wrong? Yet, he still went through with it.

No, I am sure he'll apologize sooner or later. Eli has always been like that, ignorant, he was my little puppet. It was the whole reason why I never suspected he of all fae would do such outrageous things to me.

"Yep." I popped thepas I sighed, please don’t let this be a long conversation. I was tired as fuck. A few seconds after my wishful thinking Akasuki stumbled into the room clasping her hands over her mouth with Snow, Eli, and Fletcher's younger sister, trailing behind her. Well fuck, this was going to be a long conversation.

"Yep, everyone just barge in. I certainly wasn't planning to have some peace and quiet with Evie or anything.Alone. That's great." Fletcher remarked glaring at Eli and Lucarious as I pressed my lips together as if to say. "Nope, no. No, we are not."

Geez they could let a girl rest a little before she has to come up with an explanation for their current predicament. Of course, by that, I mean who in the magics took our crowns. I have a suspicion but nothing concrete. Let’s just say it had something to do with the vision I had on my so-calledjourneywith Eli to find that witch. Ya, turns out that shit was not a memory. Then again would they even believe me if I told them my theories? It’s a little far-fetched even for me. Plus, I'd still have to do a little more research on it but I'm like 85% sure of my theory.

Silence. I waited, clasping my hands together in hopes Eli would spill the beans already. I certainly wasn't going to speak first.

When silence remained as they all stared at me I sighed, exasperated, “No, sorry?" I cocked a brow staring over at Eli, it should have been obvious that was what I was going for. He was clearly in the wrong. If he said sorry all would be forgiven, Imean Ihavedone far worse to him but each time I made sure to apologize. Now it was his turn.

I’m just joking with you, he’d say sorry and then we would proceed to me taking revenge on him and then we could finally negotiate on ways he could make it up to me.

My brows scrunched together in the still silent room. You could really hear the little chirping insects getting it on with how quiet the room was.

Eli narrowed his gaze back on me just as much in wonder as I was, "What apology? I was doing what I thought was right."

I scoffed, staring back at him in utter shock before I bursted out laughing.

Oh, my magics! Was this his attempt at making a joke? He must have been joking.There was no way he could possibly think what he did was right. It was an invasion of privacy, never mind that it was forbidden.

This wasn't funny anymore.

He really should apologize and get this shit over with.

I was about to tell him just how nothilarioushis joke was when Eli's inquisitive eyes turned as cool as ice as he gazed back at me, “You don't seriously expect me to apologize, do you? I was doing what I thought was right. I was protectingyou. Why the hell shouldIsay sorry for that?" Eli crossed his arms in front of his chest. His stance firm. He spread out his legs as if I would lunge at him any second now. I might very well do so if my body was up for it. As it was, my body needed a few more minutes to recover from the…situation I had with my other half.

I blinked still in shock as my mouth hung a gap, “You took my memories, Eli. If anything, that's the least you can do." I deserved a pat on the back for how deadly calm I was. Because who wouldn't be flying out of their bed right now to stab the man in front of them.He was so lucky I didn't have my arrows on meright now. Eli only scoffed back at me. I heard Fletcher shifting beside me as he called out my name.

"Everetta maybe you guys should discuss this some other time?" Fletcher began as Akasuki tried doing the same with Eli. Shaking my head I shook off Fletcher's calming hands. I knew what he meant. My rising temper was not helping my body heal. It was building up magic that my body couldn’t handle at the moment, what with the poison thatwitchdrugged me with.

"No! You owe me a damn apology. You fucking messed with my brain Eli!" I could already sense the magic coursing through my hazardous body. I needed to calm myself. If not, I would only further hurt myself. I tried but the next words out of Eli's lips destroyed any chance I had at soothing my inflating rage.

"An apology? I owe you no such thing. I did what was best foryou. Forus."

His words were like coals to my flames. The rising embers grew like the infernos of hell. A blazing red like a sun ready to burst.

"What was best forme? Forus?! No, you did what was best for you! Did you even think of the painyouwere causing me? Did you ever think of the repercussions? For magics sake Eli, this isn't some minor parlor trick you perform in front of a crowd!” I reprimanded as it hit me.

"How the hell wasIsupposed to knowyouweren't going to kill yourself? All I knew was that if you woke up and found out that Fletcher was dead byyourhands might I add. You'd just end your life right then and there. So excuse me if I was trying to save you!" Eli snarled, not a hint of guilt in his voice. His brilliant blue eyes like the cool icebergs of the Wolf Court glowed through the freezing room.

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