Princess of Faerl
57. Trouble in Paradise

*Aranelda*

My sister has grown close with both of my mates in the last few months. We’ve taken our time to get to know each other two. She really is the spitting image of me in female form, at least personality wise. Training it always interesting. Eliza seems to fawn over me like I’m a trophy to be won while Stacie is more reserved. Stacie seems to know her worth, which I appreciate. I was drawn to her first, even though she’s not yet of age. She will be 18 in a couple months. We’ve been in the castle for almost a year. I still can’t believe. So much time has gone by.

Elli and I finished up training for the day when Hephaestus showed up with a blown glass rose for her. I was slightly jealous at the way their relationship was flourishing. They didn’t have to worry about another person to keep happy. It was just to the two of them. I complained to Helios about it every once in a while saying how it was unfair. His only comment to the situation I found quite lewd. He always told me I get to have variety in my sex life while Hep was stuck with the same meal for the rest of eternity.

“Aran!!” Eliza’s sticky sweet tones flooded my ears. I smiled, only because… well I don’t know why I smiled. I don’t think I would be into her if there wasn’t a mate bond. “I brought you some water, baby.” She batted her eyelashes at me. Her clothing was beyond revealing and she was trying her best to seduce me.

“Thank you, Liza.” I took the bottle gratefully and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I appreciate your thoughtfulness.” She seemed to pout at me. I gave her a confused tilt of the head, “What’s wrong?”

“Why don’t you want me? I’m your mate, we’re both of age to recognize it, and you’ve not yet bedded me or marked me. Do you not want me?” Her tone was fiery and very serious.

“We talked about this. Stacie is also our mate and I’m not going to give either of you a position above the other. We’re a unit if equal loves. You agreed to this at the beginning, why are you making an issue over. This now?” My heart was starting to hurt. I know Eliza can’t feel Stacie’s emotions like I can, I’ve never understood it, but I could feel Stacie’s hurt.

“I am the elder, I am the first mate you recognized as yours, and the first one to fully feel the bond. You can’t ignore the fact you’re a royal and have to have an official wife for royal purposes. Stacie is lovely, and I love her, but she wasn’t raised in this world, neither were you. I am the only one who was and I feel like me being the official wife will help you in taking your place on the throne.” Her words were matter of fact, almost callous. “Im not after a title, I promise. I just don’t want you to be looked down on for not being able to carry things forward, if the worst were to happen.”

Somehow I doubted her words. I had felt odd pain from time to time, so had Stacie, when Eliza was away from the castle visiting family. It unsettled me. But she never gave away indication until now of wanting something so shallow. “That’s not how this will work, and you know it. I am also not the only option any longer. Yes, my younger sibling is a good bit younger, and we do not know if it’s a boy or girl yet, but they will be born soon. I was promised I wouldn’t have to be a prince in anything other than name. For which I am grateful. Not say I won’t step up if I am needed, but I have time to learn the ways and I have two amazing parents to teach me. I do not need to rely on you or put pressure on my mate bonds to keep the kingdom afloat. And if you do not want this mateship to end in a rejection, I seriously suggest you stop trying to push Stacie out of the picture.”

Her eyes looked at me wide with shock as if I had seen through a plan I was never meant to see. Stacie had walked up behind me. I knew she was there when I could smell her intoxicating scent float into my nose. I also felt ease through the bond with her. “You say there’s no favorite, but you’re showing me right now there is. You favor her over me.” Tears started to flow from Eliza’s eyes. Stacie started to cry as well.

“No, the only one that plays favorites is you. I love you more than I want to. You hurt me regularly and try to make yourself more important than me. You put down my upbringing because I had no idea what I was. You tell me how much more important to the kingdom you will be than me. You are the one, not he or I. I love you but I can’t do this with you any more. I can’t feel all your hatred for me, even if it is mixed in with forced love from the mate bond. I had hoped you would come clean, but you haven’t.” Stacie’s emotions were all over the place, it was crazy.

“What are you talking about, Stacie?” Worry laced my voice. I looked between the two women. “Come clean about what?”

“I have no idea what you’re spouting about.” Eliza spat out. Her eyes gave her away though, she was hiding something. Alke hadn’t left the training room yet and was watching it all unfold. She started to give a slow clap.

“You’re a convincing actress, Eliza. Think about whatever you’re going to say next very carefully or you might be on trial after Lyssandra is finally sentenced tomorrow.” Alke gave me a knowing look. Now I knew something was definitely off.

“We’ll talk later tonight, Eliza. How about you get your story straight between now and then, yea?” I took a deep breath in and turned towards Stacie, kissing her forehead. “I’m going to get a shower. It’s our date today, isn’t it?” I took her hand and led her away from the room, leaving Eliza with Alke. As we left I heard Eliza let out a scream of frustration, but couldn’t feel it through the bond. While that confused me, it answered some internal questions for me as well.

Either way, today was about Stacie and we were going to enjoy our day. I had to figure out what was bothering her, though, and try to fix it. I just hoped I could.