Xyla and I turned our heads to the commotion a few seats away from us. Syn was fuming as he towered over Queen and she was looking at him questioningly. Poor girl...I tried to offer her an out, but she was too stupid to take it.

A slap on my thigh took my attention away from the pair and my eyes fell on Xyla's. "Stop staring," she hissed.

I scoffed at her and picked up my glass of wine and chugged it all. I didn't know why she was still sitting here. I wasn't speaking to her, and Mia wasn't here. I would've thought she'd be busying herself with yelling at staff instead of doing something so insignificant such as sitting-as she'd say.

When I broke up with her, I didn't figure I'd be seeing her more than when we were actually together. I tried to avoid her at all costs since I ended things, but unfortunately for me, she seemed to find me everywhere I went.

Queen grabbed the hand Syn was holding out for her and he led her out, making me roll my eyes in disgust. What could Syn give her that I couldn't beside a broken heart and nose?
I knew a lot of women were into the bad boy type, but Queen was taking it to the extreme. The Son of Satan...hah!

"We need to talk," Xyla said. I nodded at her words but didn't bother giving her a reply. "Why did you break up with me?" She asked in a sad voice. "We've been together for years, I deserve more of an explanation than 'I met someone', don't I?"

I let out a sigh of frustration and leaned my head against the chair. I was so tired of her that it overpowered any respect I should have shown her. I shrugged at her words and tilted my head towards her. "I just don't want to be with you."

"Because you want to be with Queen?" She asked as she crossed her arms. I shook my head and groaned. I would've broken up with Xyla anyway-she was becoming a pain, Queen was just more of an incentive to do so quickly.

I looked back at the woman who I used to be in love with and mentally slapped myself. She was a beautiful girl and I was smitten from the moment I met her, but over time that wasn't enough. When we first got together she wasn't as polished as she was now. She wasn't as stuck up or selfish either. She used to be generous and kind, but being here and being spoiled with all the luxuries she could want changed her.

She was no longer satisfied with regular dates to the beach or movies. Everything needed to be high class because she felt as though it was what a future Queen deserved. I used to want to marry her one day, to have kids even, but I couldn't imagine myself spending an eternity with the person she was now.

"What is it?" She snapped when she noticed I was looking at her for a long time.

"You've changed, Xyla. That is why I no longer want to be with you."

She pulled out her pocket-sized mirror and held it up to examine her face. I scoffed when I realized she thought I meant a physical change.

Of course, she did.

"I look the same to me," she said as she continued poking at random areas on her face. Finally satisfied with her features she shut the mirror and looked back at me.

"I didn't mean your face or body, Xyla. I meant inside."

She scowled at me and glared. "You didn't mind my insides a few days ago!"

At that moment I wanted to bang my head against the table. Having a conversation with her was always so draining. She never understood what I was saying and when she did understand she pretended she didn't just so she could have an excuse to be upset with me.

"I didn't mean that either," I groaned.

"Then what the fuck do you mean?" She hissed.

I sat up and turned my entire body towards her. "I mean, you! You are no longer the same woman I fell in love with, Xyla!"

Her features softened as she searched my eyes. "I don't understand..."

"You used to be sweet, kind, and gentle. You used to support me, but now all you do is put me down." I said.

She blinked a few times as if she still didn't understand. "I'm still all of those things."

"You are not," I said with a huff of laughter. If she thought she was the things I listed then I could add crazy to the list as well.

She moved towards me and laid her hand on mine. "I can be." She said softly. "I can be that again."I searched her eyes and she seemed sincere, but I could never be sure when it came to her. She was an amazing liar when she wanted to be.

I ignored the way my heart beat faster at her touch and removed my hand from hers.

"I don't think you can," I said as I looked down at the shiny mahogany table.

"Let me prove it to you," she pleaded, laying her hand on my arm. "I can't lose you, Felix," she whispered. I glanced at her, knowing those words were hard for her to say and I nodded.

"Okay," I said. "Prove it."

She nodded, a smile spreading across her lips as she kissed my cheek. "Come to my room in five minutes. I need to tell you something."

"What is it?"

"You want to be King?" She asked, standing up and looking down at me.

"You know I do."

"Then I'll be seeing you in my room." I watched as she strode out of the dining room leaving me dumbfounded with my curiosity piqued. Being King was the most important thing to me. If she could somehow get me the throne, I wouldn't pester her to change.

A few servants walked into the area to clean up, but I remained firmly planted in my seat thinking about what Xyla could be up to.

"Who does this belong to?" Matilda asked as she held up the gift Sebastian gave Queen. I cringed at her decaying figure and shook my head. Our family insisted on turning her into a vampire a few years ago, but she was set on living the rest of her insignificant life as a weak human.

"It belongs to Queen," I responded.

"I will take it to her," she said as she made steps to leave.

I nodded as I set my hand on my lap and felt the square box burning a hole in my pocket. I took out the black box and held it up. Queen had refused my engagement, and I had no doubt that it was because of Syn. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't still a bit angry at her rejection. I almost lost my cool with her yesterday after having too much to drink, but luckily I came to my senses.

The girl that I used to eat breakfast with when she first arrived and the girl I proposed to last night, were two completely different people. I was sure Syn was the reason for that, but Queen couldn't be reasoned with. Not when the demons were whispering sweet nothings into her ears. Even if her and I weren't going to be together, the righteous thing for me to do was to save her soul from eternal damnation.

And that meant getting her away from him.

I looked down at the expensive ring in my hand and held it in my fist. Queen needed a brutal wake-up call to get herself together and get as far away from him as possible. I thought about Syn, and how his anger seemed to be the most unmanageable thing for him. That was what I had to use. I recalled how he barely held it together when Sebastian was simply speaking to Queen, and I knew exactly what I had to do. With that mission in mind, I stood up and caught up with Matilda in the hall.

"Matilda!" I called and she turned to face me.

"Yes sir?"

"Here," I said as I held out the velvet box. "This is a gift to her as well. Just put it in the bag with whatever else is in there."

She eyed me with uncertainty but remained quiet as she hesitantly took the box from me. "Shall I inform her that this is from you?" She asked as she moved the decorative filler paper in the bag and placed the box inside.

"No need. She'll know it is from me," I said. "She is staying in Syn's room, so take it there." Her eyes widened as she heard Syn's name. If I was in her position and not his brother I would be afraid too. "You will be fine Matilda. Even if he kills you, you've already lived a long life."

Her wrinkly face scrunched up and I realized she didn't find what I said funny. I scoffed at her expression and shook my head. "I have given you an order Matilda. Take care of it." She nodded, her grey hair moving swiftly with her movements as she turned around slowly and began making the long trip to Syn's room.

For a moment I felt bad for her having to walk that far. I wasn't sure how her frail bones would handle it, but there was no other alternative. I didn't know what Syn would do to me if I brought it to him. Besides I was way too young to die. The ninety-year-old woman would be fine regardless-she and Syn were better acquainted than him and I.

Glancing at my watch, I realized that it had been a couple of minutes since Xyla had left and I made my way to her bedroom. By the time I got there, five minutes should have passed. After the short and lackadaisical walk, I knocked on her door.

I looked down the halls, expecting to have to wait for her to open the door, but it opened almost immediately and she pulled me inside. The door slammed behind us and I looked down at her in confusion as she ushered me into her bathroom. Once we were inside, she closed the door and locked it.

"What's going on, Xyla?" She held a finger over her lips to silence me and walked to her shower, turning it on. She moved to the large bathtub in the middle of the bathroom and twisted it on as well. She flushed the toilet and walked towards me, slightly moving me aside so she could turn the faucets on.

I looked at her still confused as to what was going on as the noise in the restroom ensued and she stepped directly in front of me. She waved for me to bend down to her level, and I sighed, giving in. If this is what it took to be King, I'd deal with it.

She cupped her hand to my ear and whispered, "If you want to be King, Syn needs to die...permanently."

I pulled away, furrowing my brows as I shook my head. "That's impossible."

"What if I told you there was a way?"

I looked into her eyes. "Then I'd tell you to tell me it."