Kore sat between Markus and Richard, just as Ruel and Zayn Torren sat across from them in the car. They were on their way to the Torren-hosted event.
"Yesterday's events were unacceptable, Zayn," Markus said. "I don't appreciate the ones that are under my protection being prosecuted."
"I understand. The Knott family was out of line," Zayn said, looking at Kore. "They had reason to believe that Davina Knot was killed by Kore Greylight."
"And she was killed by me, Mr Torren," Kore said calmly, her hands in her lap as she held a small black clutch. Tsar laid on her shoulders, loosely wrapping himself around her neck as the black tourmaline crystal, the same necklace Markus gave her for the Iscariot Institute ball, sat on her sternum. "It was self-defence."
"How do we know this was the case?"
"Isn't it strange that Davina Knot starts to attend school only weeks after I do?" she said, "And as soon as I start to have disagreements with the other Crowns, she comes to the rescue by offering her allyship as payment for my blood."
"A fair trade."
Markus knew the politeness on her face was fake. It couldn't be helped but at least she looked pretty while trying to be polite. Her eyes were lined in a dark maroon eyeshadow to highlight the grey and match the red of her dress.
Her lips came up into a smile, "Not when I realised she was lying and was going to drain and dash. When I realised this, I changed the Magic to heal her completely and change the components of her Magic. I was going to make her human but decided against it, killing her instead."
Zayn shifted in his seat, "So you do admit to killing Davina Knot?"
"I admit to killing her in self-defence. By GAL, Global Arcane Laws, you have no right in ordering my death because I am not one of your subjects,"
Markus concealed his smile as Zayn glared at her and Kore just looked at her phone.
When the car stopped outside the building, they all got out but Kore was the last. Markus lent her a hand as she slid out of the car, watching her gather a section of her dress as Tsar dropped to the ground from her bare shoulders.
The dark burgundy red of her dress was only a couple of shades darker than her lipstick, flowing to the ground with a slit on the left side as it was a little on the tighter side.
He noticed this dress was similar to the one she wore to the Iscariot Institute ball. The skirt tucked under her bust where it connected to two panels of fabric that would go up and around her neck to create a halterneck style. The back stopped at her natural waist and showed off her scar, now pale again.
It had stopped bleeding within hours but the thought still made him uncomfortable and angry.
Annaliese had done Kore's hair again, putting it into a french twist with a circlet crown tucked into it. Usher had the forethought to bring one of Kore's circlets for her, something she usually only wore for posh events. It was black wire twirling to create designs with tiny amethyst gems tucked into it every so often.
When Richard went inside, asking Ruel to follow so he could be introduced to the other Wardens and Guardians there. Zayn excused himself, not wanting to be near the tempting Witch or her feisty Familiar for any longer than needed.
Kore tucked her phone away into her clutch as Tsar jumped into her arms. She held him in her left arm as she linked her other to Markus' offered arm. He escorted her in.
Tsar strutted down the large staircase as his mistress and Markus walked behind him. As soon as they appeared on the staircase down, all of the Arcanes bowed, save for their classmates. Ruel rolled his eyes, drinking whatever he had in his hands.
They were bowing in Markus's presence, and Kore had to turn her head towards him to hide her smirk from everyone.
"Enough formalities," He said, Kore's hand still tucked into his elbow with his hand over hers to keep it there. He knew she would try to get away quickly otherwise. "I am here as a guest. Enjoy the wonderful party the Torren family have prepared."
Kore whispered, "I forget about this shit."
"Do your people not bow?" He asked.
"They do," She said, "But only at formal events or if they had never met me. Usually, a fist over the heart is enough, or a light bow even."
The man bowed a couple of inches at the waist. "Hello, Prince Markus. This must be the Witch you spoke of. Richard Lee has already introduced the other three and everyone has been informed to be on their best behaviour."
"Thank you for the invitation," Kore nodded her head an inch in a mock bow. "I promise my cousins, Ruel, and I will be on our best behaviours also."
"I'm glad to hear, Princess Greylight," Mr Torren said with a smile that was a perfect replication of his son's. "While I have met other Witches before, I have not had the honour of meeting a member of the ruling royals."
Kore inclined her head instead of commenting on it.
"Thank you for the invitation, Mr Torren," Markus started as he sensed that Kore wasn't going to continue it by the way her eyes gazed away for a second. "It is nice to attend one of your parties."
"Please, do not worry. If I may impose on both of you for a moment," Mr Torren said. "I do know that both of you already know my children."
Kore already knew where this was going. Another attempt at a marriage arrangement.
Kore contained her anger at Mr Torren, suddenly feeling angrier than she should but she hid it. She knew it was part of being a royal but it always pissed her off. Her hand tightened on Markus's arm, he gazed down at her and was surprised to see the best fake smile he had ever seen on her. He could feel the displeasure roll off of her.
"I believe you, Prince Markus, and my daughter, Annaliese, would make an excellent match, as would my son and yourself, Princess Greylight."
This time Kore grinned mischievously, matching the energy of her Familiar who sat by her feet. "What do you say, Silas? Ever thought this would happen?"
Silas blushed as she batted her eyelashes at him with a pout before he shook his head. "I, uh, I can't say—"
"As much as I would be honoured, Mr Torren," She turned back to him, the slyness of her fox Familiar in her smile. "I have my eye set on someone else already."
Mr Torren's soft smile didn't falter. "If it does not work out, keep my son in the front of your mind. The offer stands. I apologise for what is to happen."
A dozen other Arcanes and their daughters suddenly appeared behind them, almost forming a large crowd as they called for Markus to look on their daughters favourably.
She felt Markus's hand tighten on hers, almost asking her to stay there but she just gave him a soft look before excusing herself reluctantly.
Kore felt sorry for Markus as he spent the next hour being tormented by the parents of daughters who wanted his hand. She spent the hour talking to her cousins and other classmates until she was approached by a female Arcane in a dark dress.
She inclined her head in greeting as her cousins quietened, Ruel quickly finding his way to her.
"Megumi Tani," the woman introduced herself.
"Kore Greylight,"
"We all know." She smiled dryly. "We know of your status and such things. Well, I was wondering if we could arrange a marriage between your cousin and my son. We have vast lands and money, and a title."
"I can only speak for myself, my cousin will speak for herself and that will be my answer too," Kore turned her chin towards her. "Cera?"
"I'm not interested in marriage, sorry," she said sheepishly, wanting to hide from the Tani woman's power-hungry gaze.
Megumi Tani didn't look happy at that. "Her opinion doesn't really matter. You are the head. I have to insist on the marriage."
"And so the answer is still no."
She turned to Cera with a calculating glare. "My son is an excellent academic and will achieve great things, why would you not want him as a husband? What could other men give you that he cannot?"
"Maybe a chance to get to know a person?" Cera scowled. "I'm only seventeen. I'm not really thinking of marriage at the moment."
"The answer is no,"
Megumi Tani turned on her heels and stalked away, disappearing into the crowd with ease.
They returned to their conversation within seconds and were once again interrupted by a hand suddenly clasping Kore's right shoulder. She shivered, the chills going down her back as the feeling of the hand was unfamiliar and unwelcome. Something told her it was dangerous but less deadly than actually being dangerous.
She turned her head to the new person, Megumi Tani standing behind a boy no older than her.
"Remove your hand," she looked at the offending appendage. "Or I will remove it for you."
"Feisty," He said as she shrugged his hand off of her shoulder. "I like them with bite."
Kore ignored him, turning back to her conversation with her cousins. He stepped until he was standing before her, his mother right next to him as Ruel passed Kore a glass of ice water so her hands had something to hold and wouldn't twitch to hit the offender.
"And I don't like to be touched," Kore sipped at her drink, taking a moment to contain her sudden disgust in being touched. "Who are you?"
"Lord Ko Tani of the Tani family," He grinned, brown hair falling into his eyes as he bowed an inch. "Dryad."
It was not a good bow by Japanese standards, not for who she was. He should have bowed completely by the waist because of the difference in their status, regardless of their different kingdoms. Kore didn't like to flaunt her status a lot but she did it when needed.
Kore put her diplomatic facade on.
"Princess Kore Greylight," She introduced herself before her cousins. "Archduchess Cera Sallow, and Archdukes Bereket and Usher Sallow. And finally my personal assistant, Lord Ruel Michaelis."
Ko grinned. "I've never met a princess before..."
"And you have now. Was there something you wanted from us?" The because you're interrupting our conversation? was left out but hung in the air.
"Well," He began, a boyish charmful smile on his face. "My mother proposed a marriage between me and someone of your line, and, get this, you supposedly refuse?" He laughed. "She must be mistaken so I'm here to rectify the situation."
Cera rolled her eyes, hiding her disgusted little look behind her hand as she stepped closer to Kore, slightly behind Ruel as he stood to Kore's left shoulder.
"There's been no mistake," she said firmly, her eyes glancing down at his suit. He reminded her of a mixture between Silas and Wylan, boyish charm with a scruffiness that was charming.
His smile faltered into confusion. "What do you mean?"
"We've rejected the proposal,"
"Why?" He laughed with uncertainty. "I'm a great catch."
"If you say so." Kore's gaze was cold with the heat of a concealed monster, the type where anger was only fuel and insults food. "I will not force my cousin or anyone into a marriage if they do not. I back their answers."
Ko ran a hand down his face, cupping his chin for a second. His smile became bright and smug. "Why don't you marry me then?"
"Why would I?"
"Since you said you won't force anyone to get married, right?" Ko inquired.
Ruel shifted behind her.
"I did,"
Ko brightened. "Why don't you marry me then?"
Kore froze from the question, Ruel stiffening behind her as Cera sniggered. Kore just sent Cera an amused seething glare before shaking it off with a slight laugh.
"No, thank you," Kore smiled with teeth, finishing her ice water and putting the glass on the nearby table.
"What do you mean?"
"No."
"Uh, why?"
"Because I don't want to be married. If you'll excuse me, I'm getting peckish. I'm going to get food, does anyone else want some?" Kore asked her cousin and Ruel, both shaking their heads before Cera excused herself to go dance with some people.
She turned on her heels to strut away but a hand at her wrist stopped her. It was tight with the use of Dryad's strength, much stronger than a human, and it just made her angry. She could feel the Magic pulse through his skin, trying to use his gift of manipulation. His touch felt bad, wrong, unfamiliar and unnatural. She hated his touch.
Kore snatched her wrist out of Ko's hand, pointing one flame-covered finger at his face as the blue and purple fire danced on the tip. "Touch me again and I will disintegrate your goddamn hand!"
"You're the one who isn't listen—"
"Shut up!" His lips shut together by force as Kore's eyes glowed silver. She sighed. "Now you've decided to grace us with your presence, Markus."
"You are Ko Tani, aren't you?" He asked but Ko couldn't speak. Markus gave Kore a look which said for her to stop the spell.
Ko gasped out, dropping into a crouched bow. "I am Ko Tani, Prince Markus."
Kore flicked her hands up in disbelief. "And now he's respectful!"
"Prince Markus, I did not mean to cause disrespect towards you! I am sorry!"
"Towards him?" Kore seethed. "You used your gift against a Witch. You used it against an Heir of a ruling clan. I could have you stripped of your Magic with a simple glance for the act but I'll refrain from making you an example."
"You should not be apologising to me, Sir Tani, but rather to the Princess," Markus calmly stated, a tone of anger hidden in it that Kore saw straight through. It was pure rage that had to be contained rather than shown because of the damage it could do.
"She's not my princess! She's just a foreign bitc—"
Markus flexed his hand, suddenly stopping Ko's air supply and letting him go without it for a solid minute. He choked, clutching at his throat as his mother pleaded for his release but Markus persisted for another thirty seconds before releasing him.
The whole room went silent.
Kore stood tall in her heels and didn't waver in the face of violence, not like how her cousins seemed to flinch at the sight of a choking man. Tsar jumped, almost seeming to shrink to a tiny kit as he landed on her shoulder and just sat upright, his tail curled to be around her neck a little.
"Watch the tone you use and remember who you are speaking to," Markus's voice was ice cold and deadly serious, his eyes darkening to red. "She is not equal to you so speak with the respect a royal is due, or at the very least, the respect a guest of mine is due. You've had your first and final warning."
"Must you threaten him, darling?" a new voice said, appearing as three figures came down the staircase.
All of the Arcanes dropped to their knees, kneeling deeply as the Witches and Ruel didn't. Even Markus bowed his head deeply at the appearance of his parents and a guest.
His mother was a beautiful woman with rich, dark hair and a familiar smile. She wore a dark crimson dress, stitched to perfection with gold detailing while her husband wore the same but in the form of a suit. Markus was a spitting image of his mother, but his eyes were from his father.
"Mama," He greeted. "Father."
"Let us see you," his mother said and Markus walked over to them. Everyone was still bowing, save for the Witches. "You look healthy. That school has been good for you. And... who's this that isn't kneeling? I heard about the Witches that now attend the Institute. Who's who?"
"Mama, Father, this is Princess Kore Greylight of the Order of the Witches," he introduced. Kore slowly walked over, bowing her head only an inch at his parents.
"Ah, Printsessa Kore," his father said, shifting his language to Russian for her name and title. "Or is it, Corona Greylight? I've heard about you through the grapevine. There's been a little bit of chaos in your society."
"I'm still a princess for another few weeks. Since the death of my mother, it hasn't been easy but I've been managing," she said. "Lord Dimitri, Lady Isabella, it is a pleasure to finally meet you both. I understand you were civil with my mother before and I hope I gain your support also."
"Polite and manipulative," Lady Isabella smiled. "Markus knows how to choose well. How have you been fairing in the Institute?"
"Well, besides for the attack on my person by the Knott family's orders," she said. "They thought the rightful death of their daughter was a good enough reason to have GUardians attack me during school."
The Vampire tutted, "Pity. Say, did you ever meet Sloane Walters? She said she had met you a few times before."
Sloane Walters came down the stairs as the rest did, wearing a flowy baby blue dress that suited her honey eyes.
"Yes," Kore inclined her head at the young Vampire in front of her. "I last saw her at my mother's funeral."
"It was a sad time," Sloane said. "The funeral was beautifully done."
"Thanks,"
"Oh, so you do know each other?" Lord Dimitri asked.
"Yes, her parents used to work with my mother before their untimely demise a few years ago," Kore said, barely giving Markus a look. "You know how it is."
Lord and Lady Alastair expressions told Kore everything she needed to know.
Sloane Walters and her parents used to work with her mother, meaning that she was on Ceres Greylight's side. She was using Black Magic to her advantage, trying to disrupt the Order and probably the Chamber before finally Orion.
"Ever since you started attending school, Markus," Sloane began, sighing sadly as Markus kissed her knuckles. "I have hardly ever seen you anymore. I'm sad that is happening."
That comment sent a flurry of disgust through Kore, disgust and slight jealousy but that diminished quickly. Kore liked the fact Markus dropped Sloane's hand like it burned him when she said that.
"Everyone, return to what you were doing," Lady Isabella said. "No need to stay so formal right now."
Everyone did as told, leaving them to their quiet discussion.
"Darling, take Printsessa Kore to get some beverages for us," Lady Isabella said to her husband. "I wish to speak with Markus."
"Of course," Lord Dimitri offered an arm for her to take. "May I, Printsessa Kore?"
She inclined her head and took the arm.
"We've heard about the turmoil within the Order," he said as they slowly ventured towards the open bar, taking their time. "And apparently about the new Blood Witch. Is it true?"
"I do not know. I'm going back to England soon to help sort out the situation and have the Trial readied for her to take to determine it," Kore said. "I do doubt the fact she's a Blood Witch. There are none left after the Massacre of the Redwaters. If she is, I will be pleasantly surprised."
"A Blood Witch in this day and age would be something, wouldn't it?"
"We will have to see,"
"That we will," He said. "And we will see how long you last."
She faked a confused smile, "What do you mean?"
"Well, Printsessa, we can see you have begun to waste away already," He smiled down at her. It wasn't quite predatory nor concerned for her well-being. He had alternative motives for caring. "A Mage, especially one with your ability, does not last long as Crown Greylight, not when the curse is stronger for one that has powerful Magic."
"I don't understand."
She knew exactly what he was insinuating. How he knew, Kore had no clue. It was supposed to be kept a secret. Rarely did a Greylight use their Magic enough to start the Curse, let alone begin to wilt with it.
"Your mother tried to stop the Curse," he mentioned. "Why do you think you became so gravely ill during Yule?"
So her poisoning had been her mother trying to stop it. But because she tried to stop it, she was dead.
Kore just hummed in acknowledgement.
"My wife and I hope you last longer than your predecessors had,"
"I am not them," she stated. "I will last longer than any before me."
He smiled, grabbing a flute of alcohol and handing it to her. He grabbed another two, one for him and another for his wife.
"We will see,"