Page 10 of Undertow
I grabbed it and squeezed it, taking advantage of the moment. “Too many are trying to change too much now that they’re gone. If there is ever a time I need everyone to stay the course and keep with what my parents wanted, it’s now when everyone is vulnerable and people are looking for cracks. Please, these matters aren’t small to other eyes.”
She swallowed loudly and nodded. “You’re right. It was a misjudgment on my part and it won’t happen again. I will make sure any potential changes toanythingare cleared with you first.”
“Thank you for understanding and being so loyal to my parents. They need that right now, especially after what the elders tried to do,” I said, faking the emotion in my voice. I talked to her a few more moments, but then when I turned away, I smirked at Elira.
Two could play the games she wanted to.
I was just better at them and had all the power.
Rage filled her eyes, and most might not want to poke her with so much else going on, but... How else would I get her to make a mistake and expose her true nature faster?
But it was everywhere I turned.
The head of the temple? He thought I needed to spend time reflecting with the gods on why I was so harsh on mysisterElira when my parents loved her. I let him go on and on, giving him the illusion that I was actually listening and considering this nonsense.
“I think you have lostyourway, High Priest,” I said when he was finally done.
“I beg your pardon?” His eyes were too wide for his thin, long face and it was extra comical somehow.
I swallowed a snort. “Have youeverlectured my father like this?” I nodded when he flinched. “It seems your time as the head of the capital temple… I think it best you start mentoring your successor since you’ll be retiring in the next few years.”
“Princess, I have no—no plans to do that,” he sputtered.
I slowly blinked at him. “You do now if you want to graciously extract yourself from your position and leave with your legacy intact.”
“That is beyond excessive when I simply—”
“Stood here fortwenty minutesand lectured me on how I’m so far off the path of what the gods want, you worry about the future of the country, because you seem to be half in love with a ward of the royal family that you sounddeluded, High Priest,” I cut in. “She’s not my sister. She wasnever adopted.
“The fact you aresuggestingto promote someone unrelated to me toprincesslike it’s no big deal is an insult to our whole government andmonarchy, not to mention my parents. I am not a child, but soon to be queen of the realm you live in. This whole conversation—no,lecture—was unhinged, and I’m beyond worried aboutyoubeing in charge.
“So start handing over your duties graciously but quickly to a successor or I will have you removed immediately as is under my sole authority. Not this insanity of my sibling I don’t have or whatever scheme is going on now.” I tilted my head and studied him. “Why her? There have been much more impressive wards our family has taken care of. Why her?”
I waved off his answer and made it clear he’d wasted enough of my time. Also, that it would be in his best interest to handle everything going forward perfectly or I wouldn’t give himthe option of a graceful exit and would simply kick him out of his cushy position.
“And if there is any mistake or type of petty rebelling against my decision during my parents’ lying in state here or at their funeral, it won’t simply be your position, High Priest.” I made it clear that his death would be on the table.
At least he wasn’t foolish enough to doubt me.
I made sure to swing by Elira’s room and tell her that if she didn’t quit her games that she was losing at, she would be out on her ass with nothing and disgraced. She tried to put on the act, but I reminded her no one was around so not to bother.
She huffed. “They love me more than you. They all do. Even your parents. I’m not going anywhere, Sagan. You might have been born of them, but I am who they all choose.”
I snorted, infuriating her even more. “I don’t believe that for a second, and if you do, you’re truly nuts.”
“I’m not,” she bit out. “None of them—”
“Know the real you, Elira,” I purred, gesturing to her. “This is all an act. They like thefake you. You’re a con woman. What they like isn’t real. I could get them to like me better if I was as fake as you, but I’m true to myself.” I gave a half shrug. “But none of it matters in the end because I am the princess and you’re trying to be a fake one. How sad.”
I was already down the hall when she gave a wordless scream.
Fool. She was playing checkers with someone who was a master at chess. I just had to limit the amount of damage she did while blowing up the board.
Her influence was everywhere and annoying. Even with the head of the stables who I had to deal with for the processions to transport my parents to the temple where they would lie in state for days before the funeral and then back to the castle where they would be laid to rest in the tombs below.
The outside caterers we were using.
Extra help for the reception of so many.
