Page 100 of Royal Lies

I watched as his cool blue eyes focused on the fading purple veins in my arm.

I smirked, cocking my head, “So, when’d you make it?" I sang grinning like the so-calledchildEli thinks I am.

Finishing up his task Fletcher cocked a brow, his gaze never moved from the needle. "I'll answer that once you answer my question. What did you see?" He repeated withdrawing the needle as I felt the slip of the thin metal leaving my body.

Damn, I was really hoping my question diverted him from asking that again.

I groaned forcefully, stopping myself from shivering at the memory of those brown eyes, from those last dying words, "Help me." It had pleaded as its body turned to black dust fading away in the wind. I wish I could just pass it off as a hallucination. But I wasn't drunk, like a certain fae I knew.

"A fae," I clipped, confusing Fletcher as he led me back to a large boulder. Arching a brow I noted the only slab of lush greenery not splattered in black or snow. It was quite obvious as the rest of the land surrounding this little circle of green was smattered in black blood and mud. Turning my head back at Fletcher who just smiled gesturing for me to take a seat on the plush grass. "I do have my magic back. Doing small things like this is the least of what I can accomplish. But anyways, what do you mean a fae?" He questioned as he completely changed my stained white nightgown or really it was more brownish black now.

Huh? Guess I never changed before coming out here. How many shadows did I flash my undies at? Oh well, they're all dead now.

Waving his hands over me Fletcher dressed me into fit black leathered preaches and a soft loose-fitting light golden colored ruffled button-up short-sleeved blouse with a string bow at the collar.

Hmm, that’s not quite right yet.

I added small neatly placed carvings along the sides of the blouse painted red. Happy at my addition I looked back up at the slightly frowning Fletcher but he didn't say anything, only pressing down on his lips. As if he wasn't exactly happy but also not unhappy with my alterations.

Did he not like me adding things to his design? Speaking of which, whenever I did it to any of Eli's designs he also showed that same face. Said it had something to do with an artist's pride. Making changes to it might mean that you didn't like the design or so Eli had informed me once.Opps.Must have forgotten about that small tidbit. I'll have to mind not touching Fletcher's designs in the future.

Hurrying to get his mind off my small mishap I cleared my throat. I can't take back what I did now. I had my own pride to consider, “Ehemwell, it seems they were originally fae, the shadows I killed I mean. Or at least some of them were. When I killed them, some didn't just fade. It was like- I don't know… it was just unsettling, and you need a lot to unsettle me."

"And that was what threw you off?" I wasn't sure if it was worry or curiosity burning below his light blue eyes. It was as if he was saying that that scene shouldn't have unnerved me the way it did. I knew that too but… it did. But he also didn't seem like he was judging me for that little fumble. It was more like he was just… concerned?

I sighed a bit disappointed at myself but nodded, "I guess. I just wasn't expecting that. I mean I know how shadows are made. When fae fucking turn to the dark side and all that crap. Fae who have light magic or elemental magic use dark magic, get influenced and then turn. Or they break a bargain and this is their curse. But once they become shadows they don't want to turn back anymore, more power and all that nonsense. What I mean is those faedidn'tseem like theywantedto remain a shadow. At least that was the vibe I was getting. It was more like they were forced into becoming one."

Turning I nearly blushed at how close we were. Like five inches and six centimeters with two millimeters of distance to be exact. Hurriedly I turned my face away again.

He was way too close! That and-

Flashes of him dying in my arms ran through my mind as quickly as lightning. His bloodied body crumbled in my arms. His ghost-like empty vacant eyes as they stared through me. My own hands drenched in his blood. Grimacing at the image I shook it off. I don't think I could ever meet his eyes again, at least not in the way all lovers seem to do. "What do you mean?" He replied and was that a little hint of hurt in his tone? I must be imagining his reaction. There was no way he could guess what I was thinking, I was masking my shit really well here.

"I don't know. For one, shadows don't just turn back into regular fae when they die. They explode, pop, turn into dust, melt. That is what’s supposed to happen. But… some of the shadows, they- Fletcher." I cut myself off as a thought entered my mind.

'She' always did love her experiments.

Could it be?

"Evie? What is it?" He asked, trying to get a read on my emotions as I blinked, turning back to him. My mind was far toodeep into my own train of thoughts to notice how he was inching closer.

"Ok, well. You're going to kill me for this but- and it might sound unbelievable like really really unbelievable. But it's true and-" I started turning back to face the man as Fletcher frowned, cocking a brow at me.

"Sweetheart, I love you. I really do but get on with it." He sighed, chuckling a little, causing me to smile a little back at him.

"Ok so have you ever heard of the tales about Celestial fae?" I asked as Fletcher frowned, nodding slowly.

I kept smiling as past memories of the garden events assaulted me. The blood, the fire, the scent of death and decay. I couldn't let Fletcher know about this yet. So, I had to remain calm, I had to remain put no matter how much I wanted to scoot away. Clenching my hands into fists to stop the shaking I hoped Fletcher didn't catch my slight movements.

"My mother, or my past life's mother used to tell me all about them. But they were just bedtime stories." He began. Frowning he started trailing off as he noticed the wince on my face before his eyes widened in shock.

"Are they real?!" Fletcher blinked in surprise, his aristocratic accent peaking out at his exclamation. Fletcher was better than Eli in the accent department but every now and then Fletcher does let his royal Wolf lineage show. Trying my best to play it off I smiled crookedly back, “Sort of? I mean they're not fae but well, their names are the same. They kind of do have the same history as those faetale bedtime stories, because they are fairies?" I was a little unsure of it all myself despite having visited their realm back in my past life. I mean they do have wings so, not quite like a fae. All we had was pointy ears, magic, and the wings. But, the ones we had were feathered, not translucent like the fairy folk.

When I had been young in my past life I'd snuck on a ride with my queen mother to the fairy lands. Then I remained therefor five sun cycles learning their trade and even became best friends with one of them. Who now in turn stabbed me in the back. Just thinking about it boils my blood.

You would think working under her would grant you some form of loyalty but no. I guess she and Eli have one thing in common: no decency for their loved ones.

Humpf, such disloyalty.

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