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“Is it? Can you guarantee that after my Father passes that I will be the MacArthur that Alcon wants for it’s ruler? Can you think of no other that the people would perfer over me?”

Karena’s eyes lit up; “Tidas?! But you are the heir! The first born son! Magnus has always said that you and I would rule! It doesn’t matter what the commoners want!”

Marco looked over at Draco; “How many people live within Alcon?”

“I believe for the entire kingdom there are one point two million, My King. Nearly half of which reside within and around the capital.”

“And how many of those citizens are nobility?” Marco asked as he watched Karena’s head whip back and forth.

Maybe twenty-five thousand at most,” Draco replied while still in his bowing position.

Marco waved at his guard to stand at ease, then he looked back at Karena; “Do you understand now? Even if every noble supported me, we would still be outnumbered. Even if I brought in mercenaries, there’s still the Highlanders waiting in the wings. The people are the life blood of a kingdom: we need them under control..”

“But how? Tidas is literally called the Commoner’s Hero, and don’t even get me started on his bitch-wife.. You would have to ruin Tidas before he could take the throne.”

.....

Karena felt a deathly chill run down her spine as her husband flashed a rare, icy smile, and said; “That’s exactly what I plan to do.. Come along, Karena. You are involved in this as well.”

“Because I sent the letter to my brother with the trade outline? Or because I am your wife?” Karena asked a bit snippier than she had wanted.

Marco stopped to look at her with a blank face; “That is exactly why. You are one of the few that know I was the one who had told your brother to approach Sync. And that I’m the one who bartered the deal between Sync and Ital as well..”

Closing the distance between them in seconds, Marco grabbed Karena around her neck, and added; “So if Anyone finds out Anything about my plans: it would come from you.”

Karena’s eyes bulged as she scratched at his hand and choked out; “I–I haven’t said–anything–to anyone! Ask–Draco!”

Marco smirked; “He says that you haven’t, but you came far too close to saying something in Skye’s quarters back there.. Like you were comfortable talking about it.”

Karena could feel the tears rising up; “No! No! It–It just started to slip out.. It’ll Never happen again! I swear! Please–Can’t breath..”

As her face went from a light to a dark red, Marco released her throat as he stated; “It better not.. Yours, and Our children’s lives depend upon your...discretion.”

Karena gasped for air as she felt along her neck. It was a good thing for her husband that she was confined to her quarters. Otherwise, everyone would see the massive bruise encircling her neck from his grip. If Marco hadn’t looked at Draco, then he might’ve killed her himself right then and there..

Draco didn’t care that Marco was hurting Karena. He was simply worried that his King would take it too far, and take the kill that he had promised to him. Being abused by Karena for years had left Draco cold towards her, which she deserved. As she caught her breath, she held her hand out to him, expecting him to help her to her feet.

He sighed then obliged her, earning him a flash fury. Draco knew that he’d be receiving a harsh lecture once they had returned to her quarters. As they started to walk along the hidden passageways, Draco thoughts wandered to Skye..

She had been so kind and gentle with him, it had surprised Draco at first. Her voice was soothing in a way he didn’t understand, and her touch was comforting. The effect that her aura had was both pleasant, and telling in how far along she was in her development as the Catalyst.

Skye could influence those around her on a very small scale, like putting those she was healing at ease. She intentionally manipulated the serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphin levels within those she healed, but this was different.. Draco had sensed her intent, and was shocked that she could genuinely want to help him.

Not just because he was a simple guard, but because he was one of Marco and Karena’s Royal bodyguards. His loyalty utterly laid with them, yet he felt no hostility from her at all.. ‘Why would she help me when the only thing that she does know about me is that King Marco is my master?’

“Because that’s just how she is,” Marco stated out of nowhere.

Draco stopped mid-stride, and instantly bent his knee and bowed. He had forgotten that Marco could read his thoughts when they were so close to each other. It was one of the consequences of having a shard imbedded in the back of his neck.

Like a collar that each of his guards had around their throats..

Marco turned at stared at his guard’s nearly prostrated position, and said; “Be careful where your thoughts lead you, Draco.. The little lass is mine: don’t forget it.”

“Aye, My King. I apologize,” Draco stated, then waited for Marco to relieve him.

Sheri didn’t care what they were talking about, so she just focused on what her tasks would be during the Mage Trials in a few months. She was assigned as an evaluator, and would be placed with Zas while they assessed the competitors. While Sheri would do her job, her other one seemed so..

“Do you find my plans to be ‘evil’, Sheri?” Marco asked out of the blue.

Sheri stayed standing and answered honestly; “A little, yeah. But they are.”

Marco barked one sharp laugh without a smile, then said; “I suppose one could see some of the individual parts as that, but I prefer to think of it as akin to a chess game.. If Zas doesn’t want to play my Knight, then I’ll take something to make him.”

Sheri crossed her arms over her chest; “And if he still refuses to play on our side?”

Marco shrugged; “Well, some pawns are always sacrificed during a game. If I can’t have him as my Knight, then I’ll make sure that Tidas can’t use him, either..”

Karena listened intently, but barely had a clue as to what they were talking about. All she could think about was what Marco had said to Draco. She wanted to be his ‘little lass’, but knew that neither of them would ever refer to her like that..

‘Does Draco have a lover that I don’t know about?! Is she sleeping with him or Marco? What stupid bitch would DARE to touch my men?!’

As they neared their quarters, Marco led them out of the passageway, and into a hallway. No servants were around as the five exited, and Marco walked back to Skye’s quarters seemingly alone. Sheri and Ahriman were always nearly, but no one would know unless an attempt was made on his life.

As soon as they had disappeared, Karena and Draco went into her rooms. As soon as he had latched the door, she had immediately turned on him. Screaming at him for first disobeying her, and second: for not defending her during Magnus and Marco’s interrogation.

As he stood still and endured slap, after scratch, after slap; Karena unleashed all the fury she couldn’t before. Her anger at Magnus, Marco, Shasta, Lawrence: all of them.. Especially Skye..

‘Skye! Were they talking about her before?! Is that whore really trying to seduce My Husband?! Like Hell he’d choose..’

The thought died before Karena could even finish it.. ‘Of course it’s her that Marco’s after. As much as I hate her, her power is nothing to take lightly.. Does this mean that Draco is her lover?!’

Without a second thought, Karena stopped mid-strike and asked; “What does my husband told you pertaining to Skye? Is he the reason that you wouldn’t kill her before?!”

Draco remained unflinching; “Nothing special. Just that I was to keep an eye out for her since you two don’t get along, and she has four traits.”

Karena didn’t fully believe him, but let it go as she commented; “Ughh.. Four traits. No one person should have that kind of power. Why her? Of all the qualified nobles out there, why was Skye Moonstone given so much? She’s just a commoner whore..”

“But a powerful one,” Draco added, then left the subject be by retrieving her a glass of wine.

Karena had tuckered herself out due to her assault on Draco, like usual. He usually gave her a glass of wine with a sedative in it, but was unlucky in the fact that she always wanted to have sex after their fights first. She would always drink it afterwards, but he sincerely wished that she would drink it first.

Thanks to the day’s events, Karena slammed the drugged drink without a second thought. Minutes later, Draco was carrying her over to the bed, then dropping her down onto it. As he went into the next room to find a book to read, an image of Skye crossed his mind again.

Draco pushed it from his mind, then split his focus between finding a book, and wondering exactly how his King was going to turn the people against his brother. He knew that the information from the Highlands was part of it, and that Tidas’ dealings with the Fae could easily be questioned. But Draco didn’t understand how those things would turn the people against their hero..

As Draco settled on an ancient battle strategy textbook, he shook his head, and thought; ‘I feel kinda bad for Skye.. She has no idea how fast her world is going to crumble after they go to Sai.. I hope that she and Tidas enjoy their time together..’

************

It didn’t take long for Marco to return, then the MacArthur men to leave. Shasta and Lawrence both thanked Skye for everything she had said to Karena in Shasta’s defense while Marco was gone. Magnus apologized to Shasta for putting a damper on ‘what should be the happiest day of a woman’s life’. She had a few choice words to say to him about his ancient ideologies, but Skye convinced her to ignore him..

“Since yer in such an apologetic mood, how about ya raise our spendin’ limit fer the weddin’? But Tis gotta come outta yer savings! It Canna be taxpayer money.”

Magnus huffed; “Must I Literally pay for my mistake of putting Karena-”

“Aye, twas yer fault-”

“Yes you do,” Skye and Shasta had replied at the same time.

Magnus grunted as Tidas and Lawrence tried desperately not to laugh out loud. It was funny to see their partners giving their father grief, which he rightfully deserved. Had he just listened to Lawrence, then Karena wouldn’t have had the chance to go ballistic.

As Magnus griped about the cost, Maevis fluttered forward; “Tis close to lunch time, ladies. We need to finish the measurements, and get the first cuts done. Let’s move it! Skye’s not the only one starving here!”