Page 24

Eli

Light streamed in through the open window. Five days had passed since Lucarious' attempt to make a bargain with me and Everetta's dramatic meltdown. I was striding down the halls to check on Everetta. More specifically to see how she was doing; if she was awake.

Lords, she can be such a child sometimes. Snickering to myself, I shook my head, "And she asks why I treat her so. Hopefully, she's feeling better today and more awake."

Staring outside I listened to the howling winds blowing against the snow-capped mountains. The Winter Court was always surrounded by mountains but lately, it was as if the weather was growing warmer. All the more reason for me to sit on the throne. When I ruled we had the chilliest of Winters and the deepest feet of snow. Now it seems the snow wouldn't even reach our kneecaps.

Not to mention, the shadows outside the gate had been awfully quiet since my talk with Lucarious. I've been using my magic to survey those pesky little shadows on the borders since arriving here. Every fae, shadow or not, emits some form of energy signature. If one found us in the woods, it would only make sense that they might trail us here, so I made sure to keep an eye on them. If they were planning an attack I would know. Now, it seemed as if they were just disappearing. The numbers have been decreasing rapidly since Everetta's little meltdown. I wonder why. Were they regrouping? The numbers before were in the thousands, always around the borders of the Winter Forest. It was like they were taking a lay of the land. They never attacked, not even daring to lay a single claw mark on the fae who ventured out of the capital gates.

My deal with Alexander should have- no, let's not think about that. That alliance was not one of my finer moments. You can never be too careful. Fae were always listening, whether it was out loud or in your head.

As if the shadows disappearing weren't suspicious enough, that bloodthirsty demon kept smiling at me with that stupid look of his. Adding to that, Everetta didn't open her door for five whole days. Not to mention that sudden heatwave, clearing the snow for nearly six hundred miles. Of course, this was the Winter Court, so it didn't take long for the snow to cover the ground once more. Still, something isn't right. Why hold a party today of all days, and for what reason?

From what I gathered, it was to welcome us, the supposed ambassadors of the Dracool Kingdom. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get anything exact. My dearest little sister wouldn't give a single hint either, always avoiding my questions and asking about that child instead. What's with her anyway? Had she thrown another tantrum because I asked her to do some surveillance for me? Then there was that demon, I've said it but I will say it again, he just keeps smiling that damn smirk at me. Ugh! I don't like this, not at all. What in the lords is up with every fae today?!

I waved my left hand over my body. I stood dressed in a nice white blouse and a pair of black fitted breeches, along with a belt I invented myself—a small sapphire in the middle because even a man needs his accessories. Speaking of which, I'm so proud of myself for having created these new sapphire earrings coated in small diamonds, small enough to be seen as cute and not overly excessive like those worn by the women in the castle. If you ask me, those big chunky earrings were a bit outdated. Maybe these new jewelry pieces might help that child get over her little sissy fits. After all, no matter how fake this proclaimed welcoming ball may be we both still need to attend. It's only proper. Building alliances and regrouping with our citizens are important.

As I left, I nearly forgot one important piece for the attire I wanted Everetta to wear during the ball—a nice small pendant-like necklace to go with the outfit I had set out for her.

Perfect .

A soft pale baby blue off-the-shoulder princess gown with a white pansy pattern and a flowing bottom. Along with her outfit, I'll entwine a small chain of blue pearls and sapphires for her braided crown of golden curls, and a nice pair of clear sapphires to act as glass slippers. Now all that's left is ah-there it is. I grabbed the small packet of red powder for that girl's research—lords know what she would do to get her hands on this—I suppose I'll indulge her every now and then. This should get her to come out of her room.

I could imagine it now—her bright, brilliant eyes shining as I handed it to her. Her precious research. Her going on and on about what they could do and what they might be able to do would finally cease if I gave it to her. Then I'll warn her about coming down on time for the ball because she would always be late unless I came to get her. Honestly, that child. Well, she should answer the door after she sees that I have the powder she so desperately wants.

I made my way down the hall toward Everetta's roo. I pounded on this lords-forsaken door for the hundredth time now. "Everetta, answer the door right this instant!" I was nearly to my wits' end. I've had enough of her silence. For lords sake, it's been five days. I've been at this nonsense every morning and evening since I recovered. Doesn't she know how time-consuming and hassling it was for me to do this? I know she was awake today, her energy was different. Fainter in a way. It should worry me but perhaps she managed to restrain some of her magic now that she has awakened.

"Everetta! Everetta!" I gritted my teeth, only barely managing to hold in the boiling rage rising to the surface. This had gone on for long enough.

"Everetta, I swear if you do not open this door—" I began, as a delicate hand perched against my fist.

"Brother," the princess said, her cold calm ice-blue eyes cocked a brow at me.

I gritted my teeth as I took in a deep breath. "Princess Snow, greetings. I wasn’t expecting to see you up so early," I cleared my throat a bit bashfully at my actions. Red was creeping into my cheeks. It was a bit improper of me to be so loud in the morning. But it wasn't my fault; she was, that girl was—ugh! Why won't she just open the door?! I can clearly sense her in there. If she did I wouldn't have been so humiliated.

The little Princess of Wolves shook her head, sighing as if she knew something I didn't, "Brother, I believe that's enough. Besides, some of our guests have arrived early. I do believe it is best for us at the moment to hurry and go greet them, while the king is still resting," Ah, yes, Winter Court balls occurred at the crack of dawn and ended at the last chimes of midnight. With a breakfast/meeting ball in the morning, a duel in the evening, and dinner at night.

"Yes, of course," I blinked, agreeing automatically, understanding that to be the new king I must first gain the favor of the fae and nobles. Greeting them before the king could help boost my image, show that the king trusted me more, or that I might be challenging the king.

“You really aren't the brightest in the realm, are you, dearest elder brother?" She tossed out of nowhere, passing me with her head held high as if she would own this entire realm one day. What the bloody hell did that mean? How was I an idiot? I agreed with her, did I not? We both knew what it meant to greet the guests in place of the king, right? What other meaning was I missing?

What the bleeding crap was going on? As my head scrambled trying to figure out this new situation my feet automatically carried me towards the large iced crystal gates to the ballroom. Well, whatever. I was no idiot. I'm sure she only stated that purely because she detested me as her brother.

I was greeting the new arrivals, a bit too early if you ask me as I got lost in my thoughts. Smiling and waving on autopilot. Midway through, the king eventually came in, a bit odd if you ask me. Just how long did he plan to wait before coming in, and why did he seem so confused? Was the party not set for this early? Grand balls normally are. Yet nearly all the guests have arrived decorating the room in colorful shades of blue and white and the king finally deems it fit to grant us his presence. Even odder the king was merely sitting atop his throne on his designated balcony over seeing the dance. Surely he noticed what I was doing by the entrance but he made no move to stop or even take the position from me. What was going on?

First Everetta and Lucarious, now this. I mean seriously why was this party happening? Because I sure as shadows don't buy this nonsense of a “ welcome party” for us. We've been here far too long to have a welcoming party only now. When we arrived all we had to greet us was a hostile meeting with the not-so-jovial king. If you could even call that a meeting.

I turned to the smirking bastard walking up to me, but all I got was a mere grinning of his teeth. Did the guy's teeth just shimmer or was I hallucinating with all this stress over Everetta? Oh, and the king, needless to say, he was fuming at my audacity to greet the guests in his stead. But the little princess managed to help soothe things over, claiming she had asked me as it would help show the kingdom's alliance with the Dracool Kingdom. Perhaps she was the reason my stolen duty wasn't stripped from me yet.

It must have been nearing one in the afternoon when a sudden burst of energy popped into the room. Yet, it makes no sense; how was she here, how when she was still in her—

"You really aren't the brightest in the kingdom, are you, dearest elder brother?" My little sister's words repeated over and over in my head as a chilling horror coursed through my body.

I tried to process the whole scene before me.

The screams were certainly not helping; yes, there was blood, oh my lords how horrifying. Your bloody Wolves for lords sake, pull your pants together.

Confused by the sight before me, I focused on the energy coming from her room. I frowned; it was her yet, here she was, golden hair and all. So how was she here and also in her room?

No-wait, that power.

She wouldn't dare.

Oh, but she would.

The past her would most definitely defy me in such a dramatic manner.

She used that spell.

She promised me she wouldn't ever use it not after-

Sure it was in the past but still, a promise was a promise. That one little spell she used once devastated the entire realm. True it was on a much larger scale but it was the same spell, I just know it.

It takes some energy, but if done correctly, you could replicate a mass of energy that replicated your own. This energy ball would then act as a decoy, representing the same amount of energy its owner emits. But to do that it takes nearly half your magic, thus creating an illusion of two exact beings of the same mass and power at the same time.

Daughter of a bloody damned bitch!

"You really aren't the brightest in the kingdom..." Those words kept replaying as the damned pieces clicked in my mind. The shadows, the decrease in their numbers, the reason she never answered her fucking door. She was never there. She was never in this bloody castle!

How dare she deceive me!

"Everetta, just how long have you been away?" I gritted through my teeth, nearly fuming with the amount of anger I was holding in. How long has she been doing this stupid stunt?!

How could she not tell me? Even a fool could tell she was unhinged—Oh lords just look at her hair waving in the air like a bloody loon, golden eyes bursting with so much light you might as well be looking into the sun, such a disgrace. Could she not throw a tantrum for once in her life? Can't she just listen to me for once in her damned life?! Now look at what she's done, she's ruined my ball! True it might be just for show but it was a welcoming party for me and she was interrupting it!

She was embarrassing us.

Her bedraggled appearance, her blood-soaked black—black? Black Hair?

Oh, lords. Fuck—Bloody fuckity fuck. Fuck!

"Everetta!" I didn't even take one full step before a bright light came crashing through the ceiling. Oh bollocks—casting my hands above my head, I just barely managed to place the shield over us before—bang, another one? I thought there was only one. I glanced over at the glowing mass.

Wait, how?

She should have only been able to make one. Her magic should have been depleted after fighting off those shadows and casting that energy mass in her room.

Shit—was she making a new one already?

No way she couldn't have unless the blood; she was soaked in blood—black hair—shadows. She used energy she garnered from the shadows. Which means she remembers. Oh fuck, oh fuck me!

I'm bloody screwed. She's going to kill me. She's castrated fae for less. Wait- I'll just reason with her, yes, of course, that's what I'll do. The only way she or anyone would be able to garner energy from another was by using dark magic, and Everetta has light magic but her ability is creation. Which means she's able to create a spell using her light magic to change her gift from light into dark. She's done it before, not an easy task and it took her over seven hundred sun cycles to figure it out. I should know she dragged me through it all. She took me on most of her little adventures to discover new magic. Through all the realms, immortal and mortal.

We've been through a lot together, yes that's right I was there for her. Through all her heartbreaks, when her mother died, when she-when she left. She has no right to throw a fucking tantrum after what I did for her! She can't kill me for doing what I know was best. After I tried to prevent her from dying again. I even fucking went to that bastard, Alexander, for help. The only reason why I was able to fucking tell that bloody nonsense about being “ ambassadors” was because of the deal I made with him . So she had no fucking right to be angry, I should be angry, yet I never was. I always was the one to tolerate her nonsense.

"Everetta, you need to calm down. You're acting like a child right now." Fury was burning through my glowing blue glare pinned against her golden ones. I shoved my ice magic into the burning glowing orbs pushing against my charring skin. Shrinking them until they were nothing. Of course, I could do this as my magic was far better than hers. At least for now. I was a ROYAL for a reason.

" SHUT UP! JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADY! I'm so fucking sick of your lies! Everetta this, Everetta that, wah wah wah, do what I say, stop acting like a fucking child! I'm not a fucking child ass hole!" She bellowed her voice causing a tremor to shake the walls as people screamed, lights sparked as it streamed off her dashing throughout the room like small missiles. Some hit a few fae, some damaged the decor lining the ballroom, and a lot hit the expensive irreplaceable vases. Great. I rolled my eyes.

Bang!

Closing my eyes counting to five in hopes of quelling some of my anger.

She screamed, her voice bellowing in the air like a giant lion.

Oh please, she's not a child? What the hell was this then?

"Everetta, this has gone on long enough, stop this petty tantrum of yours at once!" I declared before another bang hit the room. Wincing at the damage control I'll have to do later I glared daggers at her. The light snow started to trickle into the room, melting just as quickly as it fell. Half the floor was covered in ice. The other half was as hot as standing on lava.

Shit, just how is she getting all this power? I mean surely she wouldn't have gathered this much from mere shadows, right?

"Tantrum? A fucking tantrum ?! I'll show you what a fucking tantrum looks like!" She roared as her gaze shifted towards the crowd. No—fuck! This is exactly why she is such a child . I flicked my left hand up casting a dome around us to protect the fae in the room.

"You're always fucking doing this, telling me what to do, treating me like a kid. Has occurred to you that-" She began as I had enough. Fuck the counting.

"That what? That you're not a fucking child? Then prove it because while you've been dancing around having the time of your life I've been doing my best to keep you from dying! Do you have any idea how much of a toll it was for me ? I had to watch you die Everetta, I watched you suffer. Watch you wither away like some breathing corpse. I did all of this for you!" I splayed my hands wide encompassing the room and its screaming occupants still scurrying away from the flying sparks. I'm sure some must also be trembling from the freezing temperature.

"A toll? A fucking toll on you ? Has it occurred to you that maybe stealing my memories would take a toll on me? No this- this is all on you ." Flicking her hand in a mirror gesture to mine she smiled, her white pearly teeth shimmering in the light of the chandeliers.

"Why did you have to lie? Why did you have to fucking lie to me?! Do you have any idea how much it hurts?! How much pain it is to not even know who you are?!" I rolled my eyes, she was exaggerating everything as always. She drilled a finger against her head as if trying to pierce through it with her bare fingers.

"Why did you lie ? Why!!!!!" Everetta bellowed as another tremor shook the ground-more screams. I made my move to, I don't know, restrain her?

Or at least I was about to when a hand clasped onto my shoulder. I wanted to shrug it off to tell whoever to sod off.

The gentle touch jarred me so much that I froze for a second. It was enough to shake me out of my fury for a moment.

I peered up at soft crimson-red eyes and flowing pale white hair, a good sign she was using her magic. I swore for a second there my knees collapsed. I could barely believe my eyes. She was here. How? No, she can't find out. I swiftly turned as if I could conceal this from her, my mate, Akasuki.

"It's ok, let him handle it." Akasuki smiled her soft soothing aura cooling my rage as the ice slowly melted down, but-she-does she know? Does she know what I did? What I had done to Everetta? Suddenly I couldn't meet her eyes.

Wait-she said he-she couldn't mean-

Whirling around I spotted him, the light dusting of blue in his pale hair.

"Don't worry, I've already taken care of the guest. I've healed all the injuries and wiped their minds, made it seem like some dream. What they're seeing now should just be an illusion." She reported her soothing tone easing my tense body as I looked around the room. All the random gazes turned into glowing red embers as Akasuki worked her magic. Her gift was illusion magic and a slight healing ability; her affinity was spirits, "I'm making it seem like all this was just a show for them, all we have to do is repair the ceiling and the damaged things. I'm sure you could handle it with your ice magic?" She was calm as always.

Akasuki, lords, when did she arrive? Maybe I should have worn something else, no she—she needed to get out of here. For a moment I had the need to look down and glamour myself into something more decent.

No, focus. Everetta was unhinged right now; she could get hurt. She should know that no one could stop Everetta now but either me or Lucarious. The best thing to do was to take Everetta down and somehow incapacitate her. No wait, the boy, that's right fuck why do I keep forgetting him.

Looking back at the boy I watched as he approached Everetta, her hair still floating, her eyes still glowing.

Ugh, what a child.

His pale alabaster hands softly pressed against Everetta's red-burning cheeks. Was he mad? Her heat could practically sear his hands off. Yet... it didn't. No-no it couldn't be. I refuse to believe it, but there he stood-unharmed. I turned back to Akasuki, not believing my eyes.

"Just who—" I began but Akasuki, my one and only mate, halted me.

"That's the real Flynn, or well, Fletcher now so, I think we're in good hands." I narrowed my gaze at the scene playing out before me I scrambled my mind trying to figure this whole bloody ordeal out. The words were coming out of Akasuki’s mouth but they made no sense.

And when lords did they arrive?

"Evie. Darling, what's wrong." The guy, Fletcher said, his voice comforting, soft, alluring.

Like a siren's call.

"Why don't you tell me? Come on, surely you must remember me, right?" The boy continued pressing their foreheads together. Scoffing I crossed my arms, the guy sure had some balls.

I refused to believe that he was my little brother. There was no way, yet there he stood, still whole and not a pile of ashes. Could he truly not sense the burning heat around him? The boiling sensation of the sun against his skin? I mean even for me, the heat was a bit too intense.

Just who the fuck does he think he is to do that. I don't give a damn shit who he claims to be. He was not my brother, he can't be.

"Him—he did this. He lied to me." Everetta’s temper rose along with the heat in the massive room. And just like a child, she glared daggers past the man's shoulder, causing a scoff to come out of me. Oh please, how is this not a tantrum?

I open my mouth to express those exact thoughts. "Oh—please—" I began but was quickly shot down by a single fucking glare from this newcomer as he twisted his body around to narrow me down. His silvery blue gaze sent shivers down my spine before he turned back to Everetta. Why that little—clenching my fists beside me, I was just about to give this boy a piece of my mind, if it wasn't for our current situation.

See I could sense when to fucking hold myself back; unlike that bloody child.

"Oh? Did he? That's not like him though. He'd never lie to you, but if he did surely he must have had a good reason."

Hmm, maybe he did have some common sense.

Fuming Everetta's little ball of energy only grew.

What the hell was this guy doing?! He wasn't helping at all. But as I tried to approach Everetta again, Akasuki shook her head, "Don't, he knows what he's doing." She sounded all too confident in that man.

I don't like this .

No, I have to put a stop to this-

"That's not true. He's always lying. He always does! Even after he told me he wouldn't! HE lied!" She wailed, ugh this was not helping. If this man was going to help then maybe he should try something else. Clearly reasoning with her was no longer one of his forte, and the gall he had to glare at me, how dare he. Does he have any idea who I am?

"He did, did he?" The man chuckles a hint of glee lighting up his eyes.

Everetta's magic was only increasing, damn it, this was not working.

"Haha, I get, I get. There's no need to be so angry. But I suppose my brother does deserve your ire. I mean he did lie, good intentions or not."

This boy, the audacity he has! My eyes twitched, he was so~ lucky Akasuki was stopping me from throttling his tiny ass.

"Then again, what about you, my morning starlight? I don't recall you ever giving into such trivial matters so easily before, even if my brother had lied, you'd never reacted like this before. Besides you should have expected that after all he is my brother, he's always lied, and so have you, remember? Besides, in my opinion, you were always a better queen than he was king."

Why that little brat, I fumed against the words this imbecile of a boy was spouting but then, it was gone, the ball of energy surrounding her, the spell Everetta had cast now glowed over us in small lights of energy like little lanterns. Even so, how dare he.

I made a move to knock some sense into the boy for daring to utter such blasphemy about me. Not to mention the way he was touching her. How ballsy of him to touch her in such a manner.

It was Everetta's small smile that halted me now. Well doesn't someone seem amused? I seethed in quiet resentment. I was one second from clobbering those two when Akasuki's glaring gaze met mine. Ma-Maybe I should just stay put, I mean a little damage to my pride is fine as long as the civilians are safe. Besides, it's not as if they could hear this conversation.

"Now, tell me what's wrong? Surly no little lie could have deterred my brilliant queen. Right?" The boy tilted his head slightly.

As for the boy, I will end him the moment Akasuki is out of range. Besides, why was he with Akasuki in the first place, how does he even know her? More importantly, what the hell were they doing together before now?

"You left-" Everetta choked out, causing me to halt in my musings.

"Why didn't you find me sooner-" Tears rolled down her bright red cheeks as Everetta stared back at the boy, elegantly yes, but crying nonetheless. One thing she got right this evening. If one must cry they should cry delicately and elegantly and not like a balling dwarf.

Ok maybe, I felt a little guilty about what I had done, but it was all for her. I did it for her, how dare she twist my good intentions. My rage was swiftly cut off as Akasuki narrowed her gaze on me. Her cunning eye lowered down to the frozen dance floor beneath me. I cleared my throat letting the floor thaw.

Akasuki sighed her elegant words causing me to press my lips together in guilt, not at what I've done shadows no. It was more so that she caught me, "We're talking about this later, Eli." With those words out of her mouth, we both turned back to the scene before us. Ugh, it was like they were off in their own lala land, which they so were not! I was right here!- I mean we. We were right here. The boy only smiled softly as the walls began to shake. Fuck. "Well, as you can see, my body isn't quite the same anymore." He chuckled softly as they both glazed past the crowd towards a certain false prince.

"Besides I am a Wolf, no matter the body I'm in, and no Wolf should ever return empty-handed. So I got you a little gift. I was hoping to give it to you under more... happy terms but well-" The boy paused as he took out a-no that was one of the gems, Everetta's little books- bloody hell.

Staring at the book wrapped in tongues, teeth, and lips Everetta cried more- well now that's an ugly cry. She should stop now. That's quite an embarrassing mess to show.

Swinging her arms around the boy, burying her face into the crook of his neck one hand clutching the book. If I could just- I reached slowly trying to inch towards the book and grab it.

"Eli! Seriously?" Akasuki glared daggers at me, her glowing red eyes still telling me she was working her magic.

Shrinking into myself I cleared my throat. Scratching the back of my head as if I was just caught red-handed. I mean I was caught but, I wasn't doing anything bad.

"Flynny it hurts, it hurts, so much-" She said, whining like a child again. I sighed just grateful she was done with her little tantrum.

"What hurts, my morning starlight?" The boy asked as Everetta spoke something unintelligible. Something about her head I think. I gripped my hands in anger, she could have told me , and who the hell even is he? I mean I know but-he-he can't be.

"I see, well then I think this would be a great time to take a little nap. After when you wake up, it'll be sure to be better, alright?" The boy suggested but before Everetta had a chance to speak as quickly as lightning the boy, Fletcher, injected something into her neck. Her body fell limp in his hands. I immediately jerked to help her to see what he's done to her but Akasuki was faster as she yanked me back, gripping onto my hands. "It's just a potion to make her sleep, to help her. Make her better after what you did." She explained, cocking a brow at my actions. I rolled my eyes. I did what I needed to do, but before I could say anything the boy was turning to face us, an unconscious Everetta carried princess-style in his arms.

He smiled brilliantly towards us. Chills ran down my spine as his pristine white lashed lids revealed eyes as cool as ice. Halting my protesting movement I started in awe, relief, and horror. I couldn't deny it now, that smile, it was bone-chillingly familiar. He was most definitely my little brother, Flynn, or Fletcher as he goes by now. Everetta must have still been able to find his energy, even in that state. I suppose they were true mates, after all, how else would he have been able to touch her without burning, or calm her for that matter. Really, I should have known the moment he touched her but- why didn't I?

"Well, what are you all just standing there for? We have plans, no?" Fletcher, my little brother, smiled, a cool frost froze over the ground where he stood as his true fangs came out. "Of course, I'll find the culprit who poisoned her." My little sister replied as my little brother held up a hand. How the bloody hell did she get here? Wasn't she also under Akasuki's spell?

"No need, I already know who it is, all I need you to do is well- make sure he stays asleep." Fletcher smiled a smile that had invited unsuspecting victims to their doom. His pearly white teeth getting ready to devour his prey. Frowning I had forgotten that Lucarious had been near me before when he- When he suddenly wasn't. It was just when Everetta had attacked, I thought the bastard had simply left me and was watching as he always did, by the sidelines. Lucarious' body lay on the ground six feet away. Ok, was no one under Akasuki's spell anymore?

My little sister, the Princess of Snow and Frost, nodded, though her anger was visible. What was she angry about? Wasn't she glad that Fly—no, Fletcher—was back? The two seemed to be having a little battle of wills before Snow left, carrying the King of Blood and Fire. I narrowed my eyes, wondering what that was all about.

His icy cool pupils landed on me as I tried to shield Akasuki, laying a hand across her, even if she was a whole four inches taller than me. Cocking a brow as if in challenge. Fletcher simply kept smiling. "Brother." The fae uttered, stepping closer, I gulped, not willing to back down. "I think that plan of yours should proceed now, yes? Surely you've had your fill of playing pretend." Fletcher's eyes narrowed slightly giving off all the wintry wind anyone could ever need. Enraged, I held my tongue, knowing fully well of the little threads surrounding us at the moment, after all, how else did he get Lucarious to fall so quickly and without me noticing? He didn't even move. I may not be able to see them but I know they were there, he always loved playing with them when we were kids in our old life. It seems he hasn't changed one bit, still obsessed and still as dangerously creepy as ever.

"I wasn't playing pretend." I grinded out.

"Oh, I'm sorry I couldn't help but assume after all there shouldn't be a reason for you not to inform my beloved Everetta of that false prince, yes? After all, you are my dear, dear brother, who already made a little mistake before. Remember when you so determinedly kept me and Everetta apart, followed by well, we don't need to be reminded of earlier, right? I followed your orders, in the past, I obeyed your wishes. Now in this life, I'm asking my brother for a favor, a wish of my own. Speed things along won't you? After all I've done for you, surely this simple request is alright? Or do you still wish for our father to finally recognize you as his son? Elder brother, let's stop fooling around. Do what you came here for. Claim the throne and be done with that bastard, or I will." Fletcher demanded his voice elegant, refined, soft, gentle, and above all a warning as frost blossomed further through the ballroom.

"Of course, how could he not? It's a request from his loving little brother," Akasuki answered for me as my mouth glued shut with fear and anger. My fingers curled as my nails dug into my skin. I felt a small trickle of blood leak down to the ground staining the fresh sein of frost on the floor. My little brother, not the fake impersonating his body, was a force to be reckoned with. As long as I had known that brother of mine, he'd always been obsessed with Everetta, so he wouldn't hurt her, but that is not to say he wouldn't hurt others, especially not me.

Shit .