by K. Lyn Hill
Her chest heaved in anger. Eli could tell that she was trying to calm herself down. After a moment a maniacal smile crossed her face. “You know what you have just started, don’t you?”
Now he knew he was in trouble. Part of him didn’t dare to ask for the answer to her question and yet some sick masochistic part of him wanted to hear it from her lips. “What?”
She placed her hands on her hips and spun around. As she walked into the other room, she looked over her shoulder and smirked. “War boys. You just started a war.” At that she turned back around and strutted into the other room.
Chapter Fifty-Four
Siel
He hacked at the wooden dummy like it would help him feel more in control with each chip taken out of its form.
It didn’t.
Each slice of his sword or movement of his shoulder, was precise and flawless. Too bad his life couldn’t be like that too.
The thoughts circled around his mind like an unexpected whirlpool, sucking him further down until his head was underwater and he could no longer breathe. After the throne room, he tried to make sense of everything that happened, but he ended up empty handed.
Damien’s words shook him to his core. “I killed them. I killed them because of you.”
Siel hadn’t had the chance to decipher what happened and his brother had disappeared soon after the incident. Was he really responsible for what happened? Did Damien truly blame him? All because he spoke when Damien had said not too. But how could he have known the outcome?
His father’s words hadn’t helped much either. “She never made it back to her world Siel. She is still here. And your brother refuses to say where she is.” Was Aerity still here? If so, then where? Had he truly been playing the fool this entire time all based on a lie? And if he did know, why would Damien hide that from him?
The door to the training room opened and he didn’t even turn to see who it was. He was far too in tuned with how many gouges he could take out of the innocent statue before it fell apart.
“I had a feeling I would find you in here.”
He grinded his teeth as soon as he heard her voice.
“What do you want?” He growled, tightening his grip on his sword. The desire to take a chink out of her flesh was all too tempting. Taking a deep breath, he lowered his weapon but his shoulders bunched when she took a step closer to his dummy. It was as if she was just daring him to do something about his feelings.
“Quite the disturbance in the throne room today.” She said as she trailed her finger over the wooden grooves. Her eyes flashed to his and held. “Seems like it disturbed you. Want to talk about it?” The tip of her lip curled up like this was all just one big joke.
He threw his sword down on the ground with a loud clang, so he didn’t use her as his practice dummy instead. “Is it true?”
“And what would that be?”
“Is Aerity still in this world?”
The princess’ hand stilled. “Yes. Although I don’t have the faintest idea about where she it.”
So the only person who knows where she was, is Damien? Again, why wouldn’t he tell him? Not that they had many opportunities to talk. Siel hadn’t given him much reason to spill his guts. All this time he had been pretending. “So, you lied?”
“Oh yes. But you were the fool who believed it. You know what they say. Fool me once…”
He cut her off. “What’s to keep me from finding Damien right now and telling him the truth?”
She released a wicked laugh. “Oh, your adorable. Go ahead. It won’t make any difference now. Our need for your cooperation is coming to an end. In fact, I’m pretty sure you’re already too late. The plan has already been set into motion.”
“What plan?” He asked, not liking the devious way her voice dropped.
Her lips curved even more as she shrugged. “When is the last time you saw your father?”
Her words gave him pause as he had a flash back of one of their previous conversations. When she had first wanted him to play his role he had asked when she would let him see Aerity again. She had said when she became queen. But he had questioned how long that would take because of his father still being alive. Her response had been, “In this unstable world, one never knows how long a monarchy will last.”
Something leapt and danced around his stomach. While his heart went into overdrive. “What have you done?”
She smiled innocently and placed a hand to her chest in offense. “What could I possibly have done? Afterall. I’ve been here with you this entire time.”
Without listening to the rest of what she had to say, he sprinted from the room in search of his father.
It didn’t even cross his mind that he had left the sword lying uselessly on the ground.
∞∞∞
Aerity
They had no clue who they were dealing with. Kayden was the innocent one who poked at an unknown wasp nest but Eli, oh Eli knew exactly what he was doing when he walked up to the bear and poked it with a stick. She still couldn’t believe that they freaking bleached her hair.
Staring at herself in the mirror, she grimaced. Not that she looked horrible with blonde hair, but she always prided herself on having natural, undyed hair. A fact that Eli knew.
Hence why the idea of exacting revenge sounded so sweet to her ears. She couldn’t believe how well they did it either. When she glanced at her reflection, she had anticipating seeing blotches of blonde scattered in clumps around her head, but they had actually done a marvelous job at dying it. Which made her want to laugh, considering their entire conversation last night about Kayden being gay. She knew if it was only Eli doing it, her hair would be a blasted clown creation. At least she could be thankful for that. Even though she completely and one hundred percent wanted to shank them both.
But she had to bide her time.
For a few days after the infamous hair dying event, Aerity had acted like everything was perfectly fine. The boys both would shoot her nervous or suspicious glances but she would continue about with her normal routine. A few times, their gazes jerked quickly to her hair, which she hadn’t gotten around to dying yet. She secretly relished in their paranoia.
When she attacked, and she would attack, they wouldn’t be ready for her. They would get so wrapped up in their lives and forget about the fact that she was sitting in wait for the perfect moment for her revenge. For now, her hair would stay blonde as a reminder of their immanent down fall.
A wicked smile graced her face as she made herself a sandwich with her back facing the men. Schooling her features, she turned back around as the guys eyed her wearily. “What?” she said innocently as she stuffed her face with food.
“Nothing.” Kayden mumbled as he cautiously watched her chew. “Are your prepared for the game tonight?”
It was the second to last game that was scheduled in the tournament. Even if Kayden lost tonight, he was still in the final running for the final game. Soon. She calmed her beating troublemaker heart. Her time would come soon. “Yup. I better finish getting ready though.” Her evil smile returned as she trotted up the stairs.
∞∞∞
Eli
He couldn’t help the jealousy that stabbed through his chest when Aerity came downstairs and took Kayden’s arm. Even as a blonde, she was ravishing; always possessing a twinkle in her eyes. She viewed life with excitement, even while doing something that she dreaded. He knew she hated to be on display and yet here she was already stepping into her roll.
The past few games he had tried to escape to the town before he had to torture himself with seeing her in her dresses but today, he had just missed his window of escape.
Today she was dressed in a scarlet dress that hugged every curve to perfection. Where most of her other dresses had been completely revealing, this one was shrouded in sophistication. Mystery. He knew how much Kayden liked to play his cat and mouse games. Let people wonder what lays under the fabric of his latest muse.
Oddly, he had com
e to understand Kayden. And in a strange way, could relate to him.
Aerity flashed him a smile that would make anyone else’s skin crawl. He knew her better than anyone and he was just waiting for her to seek her revenge. He knew what she was doing. Biding her time. Letting them slip into a relaxed state of ignorance. He needed to keep on his toes or she would catch him off guard. “You too love birds have fun tonight.”
Kayden grinned right before he swept Aerity into a dip. With her bent towards the ground laughing, Kayden wiggled his eyebrows. “Oh, we will.” Right before he tossed her over his shoulder and headed for the door. He shook his head and laughed along at the sound of Aerity pounding on his back to put her down, but Kayden just started hopping up and down, jostling his cargo. Eventually she defeatedly slumped against him and propped her chin on her elbow that rested on his back.
Eli followed them out as they stepped into their carriage and he went his own way.
The taverns were swimming with new patrons. A familiar buzz as he stepped inside. He was the eyes and ears while they worked to pick up on any news that might have come from the capital. There was an uneasiness around the room that wasn’t normally there.
Sliding into the bar seat, he whispered to the man next to him. “Does it feel different in here or is it just me?” He ignored him but the bartender overheard and leaned down. “Word is that the king returned home, and the court is a mad house. Apparently, it’s in shambles and there’s a lot of unrest among the people.”
Eli sipped the drink that was placed in front of him and tried to act casual. “Oh?”
“Yeah. They say the crown prince ran the place into the ground in his absence. Then a group of villagers were found dead for stealing. They say Damien is to blame. Even the king’s oldest advisor was found dead. Claimed it was old age but the foaming at the mouth suggest foul play. Bodies be linin up around the castle these days. Makes ya wonder who’s next.”
“Any rumors about the princess?”
“How much time have you got? They say her personality is like a mental patient. One day she’s hot. One day she’s cold. Like she can’t make up her damn mind. There was talk about the marriage negotiations not going well between kings. Can’t blame the girl for not wanting to marry him though. The guys a monster. They say he doesn’t even leave the castle. There’s been soldiers scouring the area but no one knows what they are looking for. Or who they are looking for. If you ask me, I say the worlds gone half mad.” Eli nodded reflectively and took another sip of his ale.
After he spent the night listening to other useless chatter, he made his way back to the house.
He smiled as he opened the door and heard Aerity’s voice. He had to tell them about what he just heard but he didn’t want to ruin the peace. Not yet anyway.
He took a seat beside them and relished in this moment where the crushing reality wasn’t quite as heavy.
∞∞∞
Siel
He needed to get to his father.
His stride tripled as he headed up the courtyard towards the gates. By this time, the castle was bathed in darkness as the sun began to sink low on the horizon. It barely kissed the surface of the ground as one of their infamous lightning and thunderstorms suddenly ripped apart the sky. Buckets of rain dumped on his head before he ducked into the entryway, soaked, his boots squishing filled to the brim with water. As he sped through the castle on a mission, he ignored that the princess was on his heels. “You’re making a mistake. Don’t you get it? You will only make things worse!” She called from behind him.
Ignoring it, he continued heading towards the royal wing.
Bolts of lightning shot through the sky, just as he reached his father’s corridor. Movement shuffled at the end of the hallway and Siel instantly knew something was horribly wrong.
His suspicions were only confirmed when a loud panicked shriek tore through the air.
∞∞∞
Aerity
“Which one cheated?”
She rolled her eyes. “Nobody.”
“No one counted cards?”
“Nope.” Exasperating. He was exasperating
“What about cards up their sleeve?”
“Kayden, no one cheated.” Like she had said about twenty times in the carriage ride back to the house.
“So, what happened?”
“You lost.”
“But I don’t lose.” He glanced down at his raised palms like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. She had to admit that he looked adorable when he was lost. So far away from the arrogant charm he normally held on his mask.
She wanted to laugh at the dejected look on his face. It was like a little kid with a broken toy. “Well ya did.”
“But...”
“Kayden, you lost fair and square.”
He pouted. The tough, dangerous man pouted and she lost it. Her laughter echoed the room as he glared at her.
“It’s not funny.”
She snorted. “Yeah it kinda is. You have never lost a game so far. Stop being a wussy.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I am not being a wussy.”
“Oh yeah you are. A big wittle baby.”
“Well this big wittle baby is kicking you out.”
She laughed even harder as his normally megawatt smile dimmed. “I don’t know why your laughing. Your sleeping on the street tonight.” He nodded toward the door.
“Huh.” Ignoring him, she began rustling in the cabinets. “I know what will make you feel better.”
Eli walked into the room as she was pulling down the flour. “What are ya doing?”
“Aerity is getting ready to take flour outside, where she’s sleeping tonight.”
“Uhhhh okay?” Eli commented skeptically.
“I called him a wussy and now he’s acting all pissy. I’m making cookies.”
Eli practically jumped up and down and looked at Kayden glowing. “Oh man, her cookies are so freakin good. Thanks for being a big baby.”
Eli slapped him on his back and Kayden growled. “I’m not being a baby.”
They both shot him knowing looks as he mumbled under his breath something about picking up stray dogs. Aerity smirked as she went to work.
They didn’t have electric ovens here but the flames surprising cooked things evenly. Within thirty minutes, the scent of
warm cookies filled the air. They obviously wouldn’t taste as good here as back home but it would still work. “Do you have milk?”
“There’s a cow outside. Have at it.” Apparently, Kayden was still a little feisty from their comments earlier. He watched as she searched all his cabinets and eventually sighed and went to grab the milk out from a crate by the door.
Aerity smiled gently at him as she grabbed milk and poured him a glass. “It’s hot. Blow on it first.” She commanded as she set the tray down in front of him. She could tell he was reluctant to take a cookie, but she also knew that the smell was too enticing.
After a sever internal debate, he sighed and took a cookie. “I still don’t forgive you.”
She shrugged. “Try the cookie and then say that again.”
His first bite was tentative and then his eyes widened marginally as his mouth bit down on the chewy goodness. Eli had already helped himself, stuffing his face with about three so far.
Aerity smiled to herself as she too went to take a cookie. Kayden slapped her hand and yanked the tray closer to himself. “These are mine. Get your own.”
She chuckled as he narrowed his eyes at her and Eli, not relinquishing his hold on the tray. Clearly ready for battle if need be.
“Am I forgiven?” Aerity leaned confidently against the counter. Her cookies always had that effect on people back home. Crashed her first car? Cookies. Stuck Mrs. Nelson’s cat in the oven? Cookies...well that last one wasn’t the greatest idea. Was it cannibalism if the woman considered herself to share souls with her cat? Whatever. She was a freak anyway and it was totally an accident. Technically it was Eli’s fault.
“You’re thinking about Mrs. Nelson’s cat, aren’t you?” Eli knew her far too well and was now eying her up suspiciously.
She stuck her nose in the air. “It’s not my fault you put her in a gremlin costume.” She shivered. That movie had always freaked her out and Eli thought it would be a grand plan to scare her. That worked out about as well as sticking a lion in a deer’s cage.
She still remembered the poor thing screaming. Mr. pickles worth didn’t stand a chance.
“Am I missing something?” Kayden must have eaten his fill of cookies because half of the tray was empty and he was now focused solely on them, minus his previous stink face.
Aerity smiled smugly. Cookies won the day again.
“Aerity killed her neighbors’ cat and then baked the woman apology cookies in the burnt cats’ ashes.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. Kayden looked at her with a face full of horror. “If was an accident.”
Kayden cocked his eyebrow like he didn’t believe her.
“It was!”
He still didn’t look convinced.
“Ok maybe that wasn’t one of my finest moments.”
Kayden took a suspicious look down at the cookie tray in his hand. “Is there a dead cat in these cookies?”
He looked deadly serious as Aerity sputtered. “What?! No!”
Eli came in close to investigate, sticking his nose in the cookies. “Are you sure?” He leaned in close to whisper to the cookies. “Fluffy...can you hear me?”
Kayden glanced down and joined him. “I just need a sign to know that you’re okay. Meow for me...”
These guys were ridiculous. “I make you cookies and this is how you treat me.” She signed but the guys didn’t give up. It only encouraged them more.
