“If you want to call it that, brother, so be it. I just don’t see the fun in torturing something that can’t even defend itself.” He mumbled and walked away after he had greeted us all.

  I looked at mother. A royal that doesn’t have the love or lust for killing dragons.

  There might be hope after all.

  “You will be spinning another story if they burn you to a crisp.” Charles yelled after him.

  “Come now darling, let him be.”

  “What is that school teaching him? Next he will discover a love for the beasts.” Charles hissed. “Mark my words, it’s only a matter of time before they rise up and burn this whole world to ashes.”

  He walked away.

  No one dared to ask the queen about her youngest son. Any sign of curiosity when it came to dragons would be seen as treason. But I had to admit, admiration for the younger prince was one of the things that I now felt.

  Maybe there was hope after all.

  * * *

  LOUIE

  I hated being back. I hated the palace, hated what father was becoming. He was starting to lose it with the dragons.

  Sure they could not be reasoned with but to torture them like that, for what purpose? It didn’t make any sense and by the looks of it, he had instilled that same hatred in Charles.

  What had happened to Charles?

  When we were young, he wasn’t like that. He was adventurous, kind, even humorous. Now he was an idiot. Couldn’t wait to please father, to show him what a great king he would be one day.

  He wanted it so badly.

  One of my tutors had asked me if I had any jealousy toward my brother and I had laughed out loud. It was the funniest thing, but I was the only one laughing.

  Being king was one of the things I had never ever wanted.

  Yes, he got more attention from father as he needed to learn how to run a kingdom, that was not easy, but as I grew older, I started to see things around me that none of them wanted to see.

  I had my freedom.

  I could marry anyone I wanted, as long as she was nobility.

  Charles was forced to marry a royal princess that came from the other side.

  She was nice and kind and Charles had no idea what an idiot he was being by treating her the way he had since she got here.

  She was great queen material, but all Charles saw was that her beauty didn’t match his.

  He was so vain.

  No, he had his heart set on someone else and he begged father for a long time to change his mind.

  She was at the high tea today. I had seen a glimpse of his Guinevere, but she obviously wasn’t as interested in him as he made it out to be. To be honest, it seemed that she loathed him a little.

  She was beautiful, with long blonde curls. She was tall with a slender figure and big soft blue eyes.

  My mother wasn’t off the mark when she asked me what was wrong today. My eyes had been a dead giveaway.

  They changed with my mood and the weather.

  On rainy days they would become grey, when it snowed, bright blue and when it was summer and spring, green as the grass. When I was happy they would be green too and upset, really upset, bright blue.

  They had every reason to be bright blue. The meeting was appalling. The things that came out of father’s mouth were pure cruelty.

  Paegeia wasn’t just the humans’ world. It belonged to all creatures.

  That was why the wall had been erected, enhanced with magic to keep the inhabitants safe. What happened to those days.

  Father had already gotten rid of magic, now he wanted to get rid of the dragons too.

  I was in the confinement of my room staring down at mother’s high tea.

  I watched how the ladies were chasing a pot belly pig. Mother had wrapped a ruby around its neck.

  Her entertainment for the afternoon.

  My eyes darted to one of the girls, Guinevere, who wasn’t participating in mother’s little game. She was talking to Magdel.

  She really was beautiful to look at, and kind too or at least that is what she looked like from the window.

  I couldn’t stop staring at her.

  It was as if she was magic herself. Maybe there was a reason for me to come home more often. If I could talk to her, discover who she truly was, she could become a reason the palace might not be as dark as it felt now.

  Two

  GUINEVERE

  * * *

  High tea was finally over and the drive home was silent. I knew father would talk to mother about the meeting later on.

  “How was Charles?” father asked me and I closed my eyes.

  “He was a boar, sorry, father.”

  “I heard about what happened,” he sighed.

  “What happened?” mother was all inquisitive now.

  “It was nothing. His brother came to my aid.”

  “What happened?” She hissed softly.

  “What always happens. I can’t be alone anywhere at the castle, mother. He has no respect for any woman he wants.” I felt like crying.

  “I will speak to the king.” Father tried.

  “Don’t. Like I said, his brother came to my aid.”

  “I’ll remember to thank him next time.” Father simply said.

  I didn’t even want to think about it. If his brother hadn’t been close by...

  “So what upset you today at the meeting.”

  “Later,” father said.

  “I don’t know why we don’t just leave, Philip. The king is getting madder and madder. His hatred is pure evil.”

  “It’s the curse consuming him. He won’t last long.”

  “You say that as if it is a good thing. Charles will take over and it’s like they are getting worse and worse as the throne gets passed down.”

  Father didn’t reply, he simply looked out the window of the carriage.

  I wondered if he missed his other form as much as I did.

  I struggled to get Charles’ stench off me and I kept seeing the images flashing behind closed eyes.

  He had tried again this afternoon when I went to find the garderobe to relieve myself.

  He had cornered me and spoke sweet nothings in my ear.

  The way his hands roamed all over my body. It made me want to throw up. I was so afraid to deny him but thanks to his brother, Louie, it was short lived.

  Charles didn’t appreciate it much.

  A part of me liked prince Louie more and wondered if there was more to him. If it was just an act, or if he truly despised whatever his father said in that meeting.

  I didn’t even want to hear what father was going to tell mother later on in the privacy of their room.

  I just needed to concentrate on my studies and maybe, just maybe he would let me go to the other side.

  It couldn’t be as bad as it was here.

  I missed the night sky. I missed the wind beneath my wings. But it wasn’t safe. Not with Charles loving the kill so much.

  We reached the manor and I went to my room.

  I wanted to read my favorite book and just get lost in its pages, to forget about today, forget about Charles, but I couldn’t.

  It wasn’t Charles this time that was on my mind. It was Louie.

  My curiosity about him was growing fast. Really fast.

  I wished I could read minds to find out who he truly was.

  I knew I shouldn’t and it would only worry father and mother more if my curiosity grew into something more.

  I should just forget about him and focus on my studies.

  Two days later a royal messenger came.

  One of the ladies delivered the message to father. He was going to leave in the next fortnight to go on a mission for the king.

  I still didn’t know what he had to do but father had never been this quiet before, so I could only assume it was something he didn’t even want to talk about.

  Father tore the parchment open and his face looked numb. His eyes grew wider as he looked up and I could see the fear in his eyes as he handed the letter to mother.

  Mother’s gaze shifted down the words of the letter.

  I was dying to know what it said.

  She looked up at me. The same fear in her eyes mimicked father’s.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked.

  My gaze shifted to my father. He didn’t even want to look at me.

  “The palace has summoned you.”

  “No, you know how I feel about Charles. Mother, please.” I looked at father. “You can’t make me go.”

  “It’s a royal summons Gwen, and it’s not Charles.”

  I stared at mother. “What do you mean it’s not Charles?”

  “He is getting married.” Father said. “The king would never allow it, Gwen. It’s his brother, Louie.”

  What? I now understood father’s fears. Louie was just as curious about me as I was about him.

  “It’s the king’s seal. Not the prince. He has spoken to Alexander, meaning he had already approved of this courtship.”

  “Courtship, father!”

  “You have no choice Gwen. Neither do I nor your mother. You need to make the prince dislike you, and fast too, sweetheart.”

  I started to struggle to breathe. This damn face of mine. So many young humans had tried to court me, but father had always said no. If they discovered what we were, they wouldn’t just send me to the dungeons, but father and mother too. Not to mention Delilah.

  We had gotten kicked out of our colony a long time ago. I had just gotten my human form.

  My grandmother, Delilah, had been, and still was, working at the palace as a nanny for Louie and Charles. She tried to hide the essence flowing in her veins now, but she was still fairly young for her age.

  I could ask her about Louie, maybe put mother and father’s minds at ease, she knew him the best.

  “Speak to Delilah and find out what Louie’ intentions truly are. What sort of a man he is. She should be able to assist in this matter.”

  Mother nodded.

  “It will be fine,” father tried to ease my mind but it wasn’t working as a part of me dreaded meeting with him, but another part wanted to find out who he truly was.

  The only question was what that would entail, my death or happiness.

  * * *

  LOUIE

  * * *

  “How could you, father. You know how I feel about Gwen. Not her, please.” I heard my brother’s tantrum from the throne room.

  “You are going to marry Magdel. That’s been decided Charles.”

  “I will never love Magdel.”

  “You will learn. We need this alliance with Spain.”

  “France isn’t enough for you. She doesn’t belong here.”

  “I have made up my mind. It’s a done deal.”

  “Not Gwen, please. There are plenty of other women that can satisfy Louie’s needs.”

  “Oh Charles, Gwen doesn’t even see you in that light.” Mother was getting tired of his tantrum.

  “I’m the crown prince, she has no choice if father would just change his mind.” He spoke to my mother as if she were a maid. He had no respect for women.

  “I will not. You are going to marry Magdel and that is final.” Father roared.

  Charles laughed. “Why is he even doing this?”

  “Your brother saw her at high tea and he is curious about her, that is it. If it will bring him home more, then I welcome it.” Mother pleaded.

  “Oh mother, Louie wouldn’t even know what to do with her. Besides...”

  “Enough,” father yelled. “This has nothing to do with you Charles. Your brother has voiced his reasons clearly and I see no fault with them. You will not interfere.”

  “As you wish your majesty.” He said through gritted teeth and his footsteps moved toward the door.

  He pushed the door open and froze when he saw me.

  His eyes were mad as hell, glaring into my soul. “Why her?”

  “You said it yourself, she is the pinnacle of beauty.”

  “Stop this please.”

  “Charles, you are marrying Magdel.” I tried to reason with him.

  “She is mine.”

  “Does she approve of you?”

  “She has no choice. I’m the crown prince.” He had that snide in his tone.

  “No, you are a spoiled brat. She doesn’t even like you Charles. That isn’t love.”

  He laughed. “Oh and you know all about love. You don’t even know what to do with her.”

  “I’ll be kind, something you still need to learn about.” I said and walked past my brother into the throne room.

  He grunted and walked farther down the hallway.

  “Louie,” my mother smiled from ear to ear.

  “You wish to see me.” I bowed down to father and kissed mother’s hands.

  “Philip answered your letter. They will come for tea tomorrow afternoon.”

  “He approved.” My lips curved softly.

  “You are a prince.”

  I smiled. “Thank you, Mother, Father.” I turned on my heel and found Charles with a sword in his hand.

  “A duel.” Charles said.

  “Charles, enough.” My mother said with a sigh in her tone.

  “No, I have the right. If you want me to marry Magdel, then I need this duel. The stakes are easy little brother. Fight me and if I win, you must change your mind. She won’t come here.”

  “And if I win?”

  Charles started to laugh. “You win. Not in my world.”

  I waited for a real answer. Silence lingered.

  “Are you serious?” Charles mocked me.

  I shrugged.

  “Fine, if you win you can court her.”

  I looked at father who was amused by this. He liked to see the rivalry between us. Said it was healthy competition. Mother on the other hand hated it.

  “Alexander.” Mother said.

  “Fine,” Father said lifting his hand up to silence mother. “If you win Charles, I’ll send Arthur a letter stating the courtship was misunderstood.”

  I hated my brother’s tantrums, but what my brother didn’t know, I had tutors in fencing at the boarding school and I was really great at fencing too.

  Charles swung his sword around and around, showing off as he circled me.

  “Give him a sword.” My brother commanded.

  “You want to do this now?”

  “You heard mother, they are coming for high tea tomorrow.”

  I turned around as one of the men working in the castle handed me a sword.

  “It’s stupid, Charles. Fighting for a woman that was never yours to begin with.”

  “Fighting for a woman that will never be yours either.” He grunted.

  “Fine,” I said.

  I blocked my brother’s sneaky attacks one after the other. He hadn’t expected this or how I ducked all of his blows, his knee kicks, and punches. My sword nipped at his arm and he started to keep his distance as he covered his arm where a tiny cut ripped his flesh.

  “You still want to do this. I’m not that pathetic little Louie anymore. I have had just as many tutors as you in fencing, brother.”

  He grunted and attack again.

  I simply stepped out of the way and nipped him on the backside. It made him furious.

  But he kept on attacking me. His first mistake. Never attack in anger.

  It was an easy fight, not like the others, and it was finally over when my knee landed on his groin. He doubled over in pain, his sword on the ground and I kicked it away.

  I pointed my sword at my brother. “I guess high tea is still on.”

  “Bravo, Louie.” My father said and clapped with the broadest smiled he ever gave me.

  What kind of a father enjoyed watching his two sons beating the daylight out of one another? He was seriously messed up.

  I threw the sword down, gave him my not impressed look, then turned around and walked out of the throne room to go back to my room.

  The next day father didn’t join mother and me during high tea. Charles was nowhere to be found either.

  “Are you excited?” Mother asked as we sat down in her garden at the table they had set up for our first introduction.

  “I am. She really is breathtaking mother.”

  “That she is Louie. If I told you how many men have begged Philip to court Guinevere, the list would be too long.”

  “Then I guess I have to thank my heritage.”

  Mother laughed. “Use it wisely, Louie. In all my encounters with Guinevere, I have to say she doesn’t impress easily. She has a deep fear of the dungeons though. Your brother once tried to win her over with fear, that was his biggest mistake. Show her how kind we royals can be.”

  I looked at her and she had a soft smile on her face. “If you hated it so much why didn’t you say anything, Mother?”

  She laughed. “Do you really think your father would listen to me when it comes to dragons. He has a deep hatred for them, just as his father had, Louie.”

  “Why did William hate them so much?”

  “I don’t know. Some say when he killed the alpha a deep darkness latched itself onto William. A darkness that was pure hatred and he focused all of that hatred onto dragons. He raised your father with that hatred and somehow his curse has latched onto your brother too. Promise me that one of my sons will stop the curse, Louie.”

  “Mother,” I sighed. “I know that story well. We are not cursed.”

  “Yes, we are.” She laughed it away. “I sometimes don’t even know who your father is anymore. He clearly isn’t the prince I married a long time ago.”

  I looked at her.

  “Show her kindness, she has a mind of her own too.”

  I nodded.

  “They are on their way,” mother whispered and she pretended not to see them. I started to laugh.

  “What?”

  “Nothing,” I teased her and she rolled her eyes softly at me.

  “My lady, your highness,” Philip bowed first. Her mother curtseyed.

  “May I introduce my daughter Guinevere,” Arthur spoke and I got up from my seat as Guinevere curtseyed. She was so damn mesmerizing. I simply couldn’t stop looking at her.

 

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