Different Perspectives 2

Pharon gazed at the cloudless blue sky and bright sunlight streaming down on the world outside. It seemed like even the heavens had decided to betray them today. The atmosphere should be dark, gloomy, and gray, not bright and fair.

"Where are you?" His brother's voice asked in Pharon's mind.

"I'm in Mother's study. You should join us." Pharon replied.

"Alright." Blaize said. His tone was confused.

Pharon glanced up at his mother, Queen Sephiria, "Blaize is coming."

"Darling, won't you tell me what's going on?" The queen asked. Her brown eyes were soft and her rosebud mouth pouted.

Pharon shook his head, "We need to wait for Blaize."

The Queen sighed heavily, then her expression became frigid.

"Does this have to do with that repulsive Cow of a female you've told me of?" She asked.

"Yes." Pharon said as his face flushed in anger.

The Queen's eyes glittered, but she calmly sipped her tea.

Pharon's gaze returned to the aquamarine skies. His face darkened. Even the world was against them.

Six minutes later, Blaize entered the room.

The Queen jumped to her feet and ran to him.

Pharon watched Blaize forcibly hold their mother back.

"My angelic little boy, I just want to hug." the Queen pouted.

"Blaize isn't a little boy anymore, Mother. You'll embarrass him behaving like this." Pharon said coolly, "and

now that he's here, we can talk."

The Queen heard the seriousness in Pharon's voice and walked back to her seat. Once she and Blaize were both seated, Pharon relate their father's words.

After he was finished no one spoke. Both the Queen and Blaize sat in stunned silence for a full minute.

Finally, the Queen exploded, "He wants to make my perfect darling a scapegoat?"

"I'm more concerned that he wants you to seduce that repulsive blob. Does he want to traumatize you as

punishment?" Blaize exclaimed.

Pharon hid a smile of relief at the reminder that someone cared about him.

The Queen frowned, "Does he want you to lay with that beast?"

"I don't know Mother. He just told me to seduce her." Pharon replied.

"Did he tell you why? Please. Pharon shook his head with a frown.

"He's lost his mind. We'll get the Archivist to draw up succession papers." The Queen said jumping to her feet,

"Pharon don't say anything to that-"

"We should at least go talk to him before we do anything rash." Blaize said hotly. His eyes burned with desire though.

10 minutes later the three of them stood before the King. He gazed at them over his folded hands. His eyes were steady and calm.

"I suppose you all have come to protest." the King said gravely. His expression turned frosty.

Pharon swallowed at the hard look in his father's eyes.

"My dear mate," The Queen began. The King's eyes narrowed. The Queen continued as if she didn't see his hostility. "What is the meaning of this? You are destroying your son's reputation while sacrificing the other to that Cow."

The King grimaced, "Do not call her that. From now on, you will all treat her with respect."

The Queen flushed, "She is an improper, unnatural, ugly female. In short, she is worthless."

"There are other things that are more important than her appearance." the King said calmly.

"Her offer is only 100,000 gold, and she has no land. So how exactly-"

"She has other property. Pharon, before bringing your mother to fight for your banner, did you not inform her of all the details?" the King asked. He once more began to drum his fingers on the desk.

"She has an estate and some investments." Pharon admitted in a soft voice. He lowered his gaze and flushed.

"Some investments," his father mused, "that's not exactly how I'd refer to almost 1,000,000 gold worth of property." Pharon's wide eyes darted to his father. The King continued, "That alone does make her considerably more appealing, however she has something much more precious in her keeping."

Pharon frowned. The cow had something worth more than a million gold?

"And what is that?" The Queen demanded putting her hands on her hips.

"She has the only hereditary system in existence." the King said with a small smile.

Pharons frown deepened, "Systems aren't hereditary father." he said

"There is a good chance that this one is." the King replied. Pharon let out a sharp breath.

"Well what's it for, basket weaving?" Blaize scoffed.

The King grimaced, "That sort of thinking is why your brother gets to claim her!"

"Well, it doesn't matter now. She's dead." Blaize announced.

The King's expression darkened, "Get out." He ordered. As one Pharon, his mother, and his brother moved toward the door. "And Pharon if she isn't dead, your orders are the same. You will comprise her and then you will claim her." The King added.

Outside the door, Pharon turned and punched the white stone wall. The stones cracked and chips dropped to litter the floor.

Blaize grabbed Pharon hand, "Stupid, it's nothing to get worked up over. The Cow is dead and your free."

"It's not a basket weaving system. If it were something as dumb as that, I wouldn't be having this issue."

Pharon said.

He gazed at the window down the hallway.

"She's probably still alive." He added.

Blaize snarled, "Then we try again and if she doesn't die we'll keep trying. You will not have to claim that Cow, even if I have to run her through myself." He squeezed Pharon's hand and Pharon looked up at him with a small smile.

"That's right. There are other ways to ruin a female than just comprising her." The Queen said. "My cousin is mated to the Chancellor of Nolanar. Perhaps her taxes since owning the have disappeared like she never paid them." Pharon's smile grew.

"Now come Brother, we must get to the mating event. What was it today?" Blaize asked running a hand through his shining locks.

"It's an afternoon in town." Pharon replied. He was feeling more hopeful now that the Queen would help him.

"Well we can't keep the others waiting." Blaize said happily.

***

Rhana waited with the other participants in the courtyard. The Princes were late. He was trying and failing not to be pissed about that.

Rhana was also trying not to be pissed that his kitten was not here eihter.

He'd heard the rumors about his Kitten and Prince Blaize, but he'd simply dismissed them. But now they were both missing.

His eyes roved around the waiting participants. When he realized Kane was also absent, his expression soured. He knew Kane hadn't given up on his Kitten.

Rhana's eyes found Lord Glade. He stomped over to him.

"Lord Glade do you happen to know where my K- the Cow is?" He asked a hair too forcefully. Lady Brook, who was with Lord Glade as always puffed up, as if to defend her brother.

Lord Glade frowned and then shrugged, "Lord Rhana, she got lost in the Adventurer's Guild Training Grounds this morning." A myriad of emotions crossed Rhana's face. Finally, they settled into anger.

"So she got herself killed?" He growled.

"No my Father rescued her in time. She's in her rooms resting." Rhana's face became blank for a moment.

Then he thanked Lord Glade and walked off. As he was about to reenter the palace, the Princes finally appeared.

Prince Blaize didn't look at him. His eyes roamed over the waiting participants. Seeing that the Cow was absent his face broke into a glorious smile. Several of the nearer females saw him and sighed.

Prince Pharon paused and glanced at Rhana.

"Lord Rhana, it's time for the mating event." Prince Pharon said.

Rhana's jaw worked in anger. He was furious. His dumb little Kitten nearly gotten herself killed. She needed to hear his lecture so she wouldn't be so stupid in the future.

"You will have to excuse me for today. I have something I must take care of." Rhana said.

Prince Pharon's frown darkened, "And what is that?"

"I need to go inform Miss Adamare of her stupidity." Rhana snarled. He wanted to smash things. Prince Pharon straightened as if slapped. The he sighed.

"Fine." He said in a defeated tone. Rhana nodded and stomped off.

When he got to the blue rooms on the second floor of the guest wing, he knocked. No one answered. Thinking that his Kitten was just asleep, he opened the door to the rooms.

His eyes widened at the sight of the burned out room. All that remained of the furniture was charred fragments. Black scorch marks lined the walls. He gasped.

They'd killed her. Those Damned princes had killed his pet. That's why they were late. Everyone else was accounted for. His eyes turned red. He turned on his heel and stormed away. He would make them pay.