Page 32 of Within the Veil

Hudson scrunches her nose in confusion. On anyone else, it would look ridiculous, but Hudson is absolutely flawless. Even when, actually, no.Especiallywhen she is attempting to murder me.

"So, they aren't the same thing?"

"Yes and no. I used to be King of all Tír na nÓg, centuries ago, before the Fhaell family and the Slievé family became the two families that would interchange their leadership. The queen at the time was Queen Tatiana. I was never mated to her. In fact, other than consummating our marriage, we never copulated. She was more invested in having trysts with humans. One relationship with a mortal witch culminated in her having a child, although her son was killed in the same battle that took Tatiana's life. Still, she was a great Queen to the people, in-so-much-as, that the Fae weren't lacking. But kind and benevolent she was not. Brutal? Ferocious? Absolutely. Our marriage was one of convenience. An opportunity to align the strongest pair possible, although it was mostly to protect Tatiana's ego, as I was stronger.

Regardless, once she died, I remained on the Throne as there was no one strong enough to take up the mantle. I may not have been mated to Tatiana, but we were friends. When she passed, I realized that being without a mate was...lonely; Running a Kingdom alone even more so. But those who seek the favor of the crown are just that; leechers. So beyond fulling my duties, I became distant and aloof. I still led my people, but it was all trivial nonsense to me. The only thing I lived for was battle."

Hudson's fists pump the air, "right on."

I smile at her bloodthirst--such a sweet mate. "Fortunately, I did have a violent reprieve of sorts. Shortly after marrying Tatiana, I busied myself with creating an Army that could rival my own skill. Could...but never will. I am supreme. Regardless, those Fae are better known today as the 'Whisperers.' If one survived training and the years after, they were downright unbeatable and undetectable. Ruthless, bloodthirsty, frightening..."

"Gaia, help us. He says it like he's describing a sweet puppy," Ryder chuckles.

I glare at him, "Nonsense. Puppies are nowhere near as bloodthirsty as they ought to be. I have watched all Disney films. Those spotted ones should have eaten that abysmally dressed creature."

"He knows all the Disney films but nothing beyond it. It's like watching an episode of the Twilight Zone," Remi murmurs.

I ignore the heathen. Disney is all I needed to learn, from misogyny, matricide, and blatant prejudice all the way down to learning how to say 'You're Welcome.' It took them a few years, but they were getting it. That may be attributed to the scathing missives I had sent. Either way, it worked.

"Stop interrupting. I happen to weave great tales. Let me ensnare you once again. Where was...ah...yes. The Whisperers are what all armies should aspire to be. They can get into every court and bring pertinent information. Anyone who I would deem a threat to the Seelie Fae would be tortured and killed immediately. It was a pleasant time. But I grew bored. I stepped down from the crown and dealt solely with whispers and secrets as my currency. In my absence, Nici had taken over the throne. But it was not my battle to fight. I did, however, make her life impossible by killing as many of her people as possible and gathering information for Kalen and the rebellion. After a couple of centuries, I caught the whispers of a prophecy. By the time I had gotten to the seer, the first portion had been given, but I made her repeat it for me and ripped the last portion from her hands before I killed her, as you well know--a merciful death, as Nici would have tortured her. Alas, I used those years to continue to train and grow my army, and without us, the rebellion would have been a mere blip in history. I traveled to every kingdom, as a very handsome shadow, and gathered all the information I could. As did my army."

"I have a question, you keep saying army. How have you managed to hide an entire army? How many of them are there?Where are they?" Hudson asks.

"About a thousand, give or take. As for where they are hidden... they aren't. You just do not realize they are there," I reply.

"That's not creepy at all. Nope. Okay, so backtracking, you said, 'the only names that bear any weight.' What other names are there? I have all the texts that I planned to read through, but if I can skip a few chapters about the person I'm mated to, it would save time for more stabby-stabby," Hudson looks up at me curiously.

I ignore Zane's knowing smile. The cad, "Well, I was known as the King of Cloaks and Jewels. Also, the King of Cups..."

"Cups? What the fuck for? Are you secretly Anna Kendrick?" Hudson asks with a laugh.

"I have no knowledge of this Kendrick woman of which you speak. I am the owner of the only cup in Fae history that can provide food and fine wine when wanted," I scowl.I will not be held accountable for yet another dalliance.

Hudson narrows her eyes, "You have a cup that produces food, and you have yet to give it to the pregnant mate? Can I get pizza with it?" She says excitedly. Grayson gives me a subtle shake of his head. Ah, they did mention that Hudson would have a diet of pizza and protein shakes if given the chance. Still, the cup is hidden and would take days to get to, so I could not retrieve it.

"You can get whatever your heart desires. However, it is under enchantment and would take several days to procure. At this time, it wouldn't be feasible nor safe."

She pouts, "It's a cup, not a damn Horcrux. Why did you hide a magical cup that gives you food? That's like self-sabotage. Think of all the snacks you can eat while sitting in a tree doing scary tree-watching shit."

"I cannot very well have a snack while watching for enemies. Also, it is large, very heavy, laden with jewels, and made of pure gold. It would be cumbersome to carry," I state plainly.

"Makes sense, I guess, if you don't account for the entire 'magical being' shit. Rude. Fine. What else?"

"At one time, I was called the King of Shakespearian Tragedies. Although that one, I admit, was spot on. This fellow was spouting stories of the Fae and came up with a ridiculous claim that Oberon and Tatiana were small, merry, winged entertainers who sang and danced beneath the moon. At this point, this fellow was quite popular in the mortal realm, and his stories were intriguing. So I couldn't outright kill him. I simply planted the idea in some heads that to speak my name would cause untold horrors and pain. It was quite effective. Now I am known to mortals as I am--A bloodthirsty, vicious, terrifying, awe-inspiring King."

She hunches over, laughing, tears streaming out of her eyes. The sound bounces around in my heart, giving me the strangest but not unpleasant feeling of melting on the inside. Hudson is more powerful than she realizes, except it has nothing to do with magic and everything to do with who she is as a person. I take her amusement as a chance to mention the last name I am known as.

"I am also the King of Le Petite Mort," I say quickly.

She sits up and wipes the tears from her eyes, vibrant color piercing into my dark soul. "Le Petite... The King of ORGASMS? How do you become the King of Orgasms? How many Fae women did you stick your tree root in to get KING? Not even Prince? Or viscount? Maybe a Nobel? A fuckingKing?" Her eyes widen as she rants.

"A nobel? Absolutely not. When I do things, I do them right. Also, I'm several centuries old," I defend.

She scoffs, "so are these fuckers. I do not need details like your littlealmostslip up. Keep that shit way to yourself. Please just tell me that I won't have to hold court and deal with a bunch of women who have been graced with many kingly orgasms. I almost had to shank a bitch at the university for salivating all over Zane. I have way more powers now, and I'm hungry and hormonal. I am also the Queen of these orgasmed people. So I'm going to need a warning here."

I pause to consider her question. In truth, I haven't touched a woman in a few decades. It became quite droll and time-consuming when I would rather maim several enemies than have someone pant after me. But again, I am the King for a reason. I am memorable. The women I have been with are varied, but in regards to the Seelie, that number is high... across several realms. So when we eventually do have a Royal event, as tradition demands, we will be met with several of my previous partners. Though they would not dare approach me, I am, first and foremost, the King of Whisperers.

"I can be confident when I say they will not approach me in that manner. Most Fae are terrified of me. They have every reason to be. So while yes, we will encounter several of my previous lovers, they will not say as much," I say confidently.

---