｡･:*:･ﾟ☆"You must be Andreas' mate, Sky's mother."｡･:*:･ﾟ★,

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,"I think family can be our strongest ally,"｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

Octavia

The four of us stand in stunned silence as Carlisle moves past me to the door where his mate is waiting. Riven hasn't moved a muscle, barely even reacting to his grandfather's- to the bastard's words.

He suddenly turns and strides after them, I share a worried glance with Sky as I quickly follow. I freeze and look up to see Irene's mischievous grin. Oh, fuck yes.

Irene is standing in the open doorway, staring down the grandmother from hell as Stella edges away from the pair towards Bea's side.

"You must be Riven's grandparents." She greets cordially with a viscous grin.

"You must be Andreas' mate, Sky's mother." Regina drawls and I watch Irene's eyes light up with deadly intent as she merely hums.

"Close enough," She purrs, "I'm sure you must be busy getting to know your new political friends and learning the ropes."

Riven seems to come to his senses beside me as Silva stride past him, brushing his shoulder with his in some male form of comfort. Irene pauses her staring to give her mate a sultry smile as she touches his arm in greeting.

"Shall we go in?" Irene asks, "I'm curious to hear more about your transition to the new role. Unless you would like to catch up with Riven first."

"We are here to talk business," I hear the smirk in Regina's voice, "Unless you prefer to mix business with family."

There's a pointed edge to her tone.

"I think family can be our strongest ally," Irene states with a defiant look, "And I think they can bring about our downfall."

Did- did she just threaten them on Riven's behalf? Well, fuck.

I glance to my left, seeing Riven back in his guard role. I know Sky is flanking me on my right. Let's get this over with. I stride forward, listening to all three of our steps in sync. Regina and Carlisle enter the room, quickly out of our sight. Good. Because I was seconds away from smothering the bitch to death with those stupid ballroom skirts of hers.

We can hide her body if you want murder as a legitimate option in tonight's plans. Belial croons.

Silva and Irene share a glance, Irene smirking in triumph and Silva looking down at her with love and slight exasperation. It's clear he was expecting nothing less from her.

"There's a seating plan so we'll all be seated together," Stella states with a forced smile as she claps her hands together, "The meal will be in half an hour."

"C'mon," Bea mutters with a grin as she loops her arm through Stella's, "I want to get a few drinks before I have to play education minister."

Bea lets out a forced shudder as the pair giggle and enter the hall, Sky quickly leaves my side to chase after Stella. I grin at him, there's something rather amusing at the thought of him babysitting the drunk pair later tonight. I smile at Irene and Silva as I come to stand beside them at the entrance.

Irene glances between Riven and I, "If she keeps pissing you off I could always shift into her worst nightmare."

Riv scoffs a laugh and I breathe a sigh of relief at the sound.

"That woman doesn't fear anything." He states.

"Oh... I don't think that's quite true." Irene's eyes light up with malicious glee, "Everyone's afraid of something."

The courtyard had been transformed into a luxurious looking nightclub down below and a decadent male's club on the top floor. Typical. Though Terra promised me the meeting room was at least decadently beautiful as a forest, not this sleazy crap. Silva snorts at the whole thing, glaring down at his specialists on the dance floor below and Irene giggles at him like she's the school girl here. I smile at the sound until my gaze hits Regina Villarreal and it slides right off my face again. Fuck, I hate that woman.

You've known her for 7 minutes. Asmodeus states incredulously

Must be a new record. I answer

I think the last person you hated this quickly wasssss... beatrix. Darkling mocks

Irene stares between Regina and Carlisle with bloodthirsty glee that I usually see from Riven, but he's too wrapped up in family drama to enjoy the potential civil war about to break out right here.

Silva pulls out a chair for Dowling when she walks past him and mutters a few words, I tense as Irene's shoulders sag for a second. I rage even further when Regina's eyes catch the movement as well. Not good, not good at all. A viper like her will strike anywhere she can.

I turn away from the adults sitting at the meeting table, many of the ministers have younger girlfriends with them up here and I see a few girls from school flirting around them. The teachers were no doubt against that but there's not really a way to say no to these arseholes.

Descending down the stone steps is harder than I thought it would be.

"You look like you're a statue." Riv whispers in my ear from behind me, "loosen up."

I immediately tense but do as he says, walking towards a darkened corner of the rave-like festivities. Quickly pulling over the shadows to hide us and form a sound barrier I turn to face Riven.

"What do I need to know?" I demand, turning to face Riven who looks tired and withdrawn.

"Nothing-" he rolls his eyes and looks away with a sigh.

"They are politicians playing the game now, Riven." I plead, "I need to know what we're walking into."

"We?" He questions angrily.

"Yes 'we'!" I snap, "You are a part of this just as much as I am."

I turn quieter as my insecurities creep in. "You said so earlier."

He looks away from me, into the crowd. "Fuck. Yeah, I know alright."

Rive scrubs aggressively at his face, "They're just assholes, I don't really know them."

"They seem to know you." I state, you don't just randomly disown someone.

"They're on my mother's side and when she died they blamed my father and I so." he trails off, eyes watering slightly. "They wouldn't even tell me where Olivia was placed."

"Olivia?" I whisper, gripping his arm in comfort.

"My- My sister." He murmurs, "We lost her as well after mum."

Fucking bitch. They died, why couldn't they tell him.

"I didn't even get to say goodbye to her."

I don't know which 'her' he is talking about but I bring him into a hug nonetheless. We hold onto each other till we can both pretend he didn't cry.

"We can find her." I state, "After all this. I have connections and the royal name backing me."

Riven clears his throat and glances away from me before his eyes drift back. There's something warm and different about his gaze now, like he's seeing something different.

"What?" I whisper, stepping into his space.

"You're stunning, do you know that?" He states with a soft smile, his voice almost reverent as he brushes a lock of hair out my face.

I blush, "Riv." I warn.

"Don't," He shakes his head, eyes pleading, "not after them. Don't make me hide after them."

Don't make him hide how he feels. Don't make him put on an emotionless mask. I pause, thinking about how this is such a bad idea.

He leans down and delicately brushes his lips against mine, I'm barely breathing as I stare up at him. Riven repeats the action, again and again. Putting more force and heat into every kiss. I pull back, placing a hand on his chest. We can't do this here.

"We're in the middle of-" He cuts me off with a blistering kiss and I forget why I was even complaining in the first place.

One of his hands wraps around my throat so his thumb fits under my chin, tipping my head back to the angle he wants me at. It should not be a turn, especially with my previous experiences of being choked, but I fucking gush at his firm grip.

He walks me backwards till I'm pinned against the stone wall by his body. I lose myself in the kiss, only pausing to gasp for breath. Riven grins down at me, all sultry eyes and sharp grins as he grabs my hips and pushes me higher against the wall. I curse this stupid dress and it's restrictive mobility.

A laugh brushes against my lips and I pout up at Riven, who's staring down at me with lustful amusement.

"We should get going if you don't want to be late." He drawls, eyeing me like he couldn't care less about the meeting.

I sigh and lean my head back against the wall, taking some deep breaths to cool myself down. I nod and move to brush past him but Riven places one last bruising kiss on my lips.

"We're finishing this later."

Yes, we are.

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

Stella

"I didn't know you were coming here tonight." I grin up at Brandon, annoyingly aware of my ex boyfriend guarding me two paces away.

"Well," he drawls, and steps closer to me, "I couldn't pass up an opportunity to see you again."

I see Sky's eyes roll in the corner of my eye.

"But genuinely, my uncle is here on some private request of your sister."

I pause, request from Octavia? "I-"

"She didn't tell you?" He questions with a frown.

"Octavia has given me so many briefs today that I can't keep track."

He gives me a bemused expression but nods nonetheless. What did Octavia need Brandon's uncle for?

"Princess," Sky murmurs, stepping close to whisper in my ear. "The nymph traffickers, the General Attorney is here for the sentencing."

I nod in understanding, watching the way Brandon's eyes darken with jealousy at Sky's close proximity to me. I blush.

"Stella!" I hear a multitude of voices call.

My suitemates. For the first time I'm disappointed to have their attention on me. I've been working so hard to get them to like me to be involved in their little group. But I'm with Brandon now and it's not hard to be around him. I don't have to force myself to work for his company.

"We've been looking all over for you." Terra states in concern as she and the girls wander over.

"You look stunning." Bloom comments in shock and Sky shifts slightly behind me. "You look bored."

The fire-fairy giggles at Sky and I hear his light scoff of amusement. Aisha is looking between the pair in confused amusement while Musa stares with an odd expression at Bloom before snapping out of it.

"Sky here has been roped into guard duty." Musa answers Bloom's unasked question.

"Which I am very grateful for." I add on sincerely, turning to glance back at Sky who smiles in understanding.

"Who's this?" Aisha asks with a polite tone but there's a judgmental edge. Who's this boy you're flirting with? Why are you flirting at an important meeting? Why are you flirting in front of Sky? I swallow nervously, imagining what they must think of me.

"Brandon Archon," He smiles politely at the girls, dipping his head in greeting but not moving further towards them like he did when he met me, "My uncle is the General Attorney, I'm here as his advisor."

So that's his official role.

"Oh, wow." Aisha says astonishes, a different sort of interest taking over her face.

I don't know why she's so interested in all the well known Solaria. They're not that great. Most of them are all just vying for power. Vying for the throne. I hear Brandon chuckle at her expression.

"Are you not going to introduce me to your friends, Stella?" Brandon grins down at me, smiling at my blush of embarrassment when I realise I got distracted. Why must he delight in catching me out?

"Of course, this is Aisha, Musa, Terra and Bloom." I gesture to each girl who in turn give a polite smile or wave in Terra's case.

"Ah," Brandon smiles at Aisha, "Your parents run most of Solaria's fresh water supplies and filter and all related things."

"Ah, yes." Aisha ducks her head down in embarrassment. Her family have made a lot of money in their profession but they don't have much political power. Aisha, it seems, would like that political power. She wants to play the game.

"Bloom-?" Brandon questions, straightening up, "-Bloom Peters, I feel as though I know your name. Though I can't explain why."

I see Bloom frown and I look up at Brandon in confusion. Where is he going with this?

"Do I know your parents?" He asks.

"I-" Bloom swallows, ducking her head down before attempting to regain her confidence, "No, I doubt it. They are from the first-world."

"The first world?" He asks in shock. I don't blame him, I did the same. It's not everyday a fairy appears from the first world.

"Yeah, some long dormant fairy line apparently." Bloom shrugs nervously, glancing at Sky for help.

"Oh," Brandon straightens up as he reads the room, "My mistake, I thought you were connected to the powerful fire fairy rumours circulating the social classes."

I stiffen and Brandon notices, he shoots me a concerned look. Quickly offering me his arm to escort me away. He has no clue what he just stumble on-

"Bloom is powerful," Terra rushes out defensively, "Though I don't know what rumours the socials have been gossiping about, she's a very strong fairy and is doing well."

Oh, Terra. She rushes so quickly to Bloom's defence that she has no clue what load of rumours are about to be circulating the school when all these people listen in and start asking questions.

"I'm sure she is adapting fast," Brandon smiles cordially and looks at me apologetically.

He's worked it out. Worked out what most of us have but have been too polite to say. I glance back at Bloom before shaking my head at Brandon. Leave it, I tell him. It's not our place to say anything.

We move to step away, Sky following but Bloom steps forward.

"What? What was that?" She questions, eyes darting between the three of us. "What was that look?"

"Bloom, perhaps we should talk about this later-"

"No," She cuts be off, that fiery defiance beginning to glow in her eyes, "You know something. All of you seem to know something."

Looking to Musa for help, I plead with her to understand my desperation. To see that this is a bad idea. Terra is looking confused but I can tell she's noticed the small crowd forming around us. Bloom is about to escalate this and it's not going to go in her favour.

"Look, we should just get back to the party-"

"No-" Bloom shakes her head at the mind fairy, her eyes pleading, "Everyone here seems to know something about me that I don't."

"Oh helios," Aisha gasps, looking at Bloom in shock.

Fuck. Fuck no.

"Aisha," I warn, staring desperately at her.

"Why don't we all just carry on with the evening," Brandon interrupts, "This isn't the setting for this conversation-"

"What conversation?" Bloom snaps before turning to face Aisha, "Aisha? What conversation?"

"You're a changeling Bloom." The water fairy states in shock, something akin to disgust in her eyes. I hear the gasps from the crowd as whispers start forming. Fuck. This is not good. The is abso-fucking-lutely not good. We do not need changeling drama right now.

"What- what's a changeling," Bloom stutters.

"Bloom," Sky steps forward, glancing around at the crowds in concern. "This isn't the place."

Bloom glances around, seeing the way people have begun staring at her differently. The looks of disgust and fear warring with those of shock and curiosity. Her eyes begin to water and she storms away, the crowding quickly parting to allow her a path to the doors. Terra and Musa call after her in concern, Aisha and Terra quickly run after her but Musa hesitates. She's needed here.

Musa forces an apologetic smile but suddenly freezes and glances up at the balcony. She leans forward to whisper in my ear, "That one plans trouble."

Before I know it she is chasing after the three, shouting promises of returning in time for the meeting. I doubt it. Who did Musa mean? Sky steps back a few paces and I force a polite smile at Brandon. This was not how I imagined our evening. He's sweet and I want to talk to him, except-

"This party does not make for good conversation." He comments, looking around at the sweating bodies with slight disgust. I can't help but giggle at the expression and his eyes light up at the noise.

"I'm glad you find my suffering amusing." He jokes, grinning at me as he steps closer. "I'm sorry for what just happened. It was my fault."

I sigh, "It was going to happen eventually, I'm just sorry it happened like this."

We make our way through the crowd, moving towards the stairs at a leisurely pace.

"No one thought to tell her?"

"We did, but..." I trails off, "No one thought it was their place and it's such a taboo topic."

It's his turn to sigh in understanding. It's not like we were gossiping about her. Well I wasn't at least. I've got more important things going on than one fairy's tragic backstory. Besides, how are you supposed to start that conversation? And what proof could we give her? It's all just speculation. I'm sure others worked it out but weren't confident enough to say anything.

We quickly ascend the stairs, nodding at the guard preventing the students from wandering up. There's plenty of people up here, the ministers all mingling and socialising with their partners, mates and various family members. This is the cordial bit. Reaching the top of the steps I spy the General looking down at the partying students and I see Tavi talking to the general advocate for Eraklyon and the Eraklyon secretary of state. She's smiling and Riven is stood behind her impassively.

I wonder what all that stuff was about with his grandparents.

Though I suppose as long as it doesn't affect us negatively in a political sense what does it matter. Oh, who am I kidding. Of course it's going to affect us politically. Riven is placed as a trusted member of our court now, his grandparents can see that. Everyone can see that. I just hope no one forces them to prove their worth at this meeting. I snort quietly at the thought, smiling politely at the ministers and Brandon and I engage in conversation with a few key players and their mates. Knowing my sister she'll engineer a threat if one doesn't make itself known.

This is our first political meeting as actual players, not as potential players. The ministers will no doubt begin vying for our trust, for our power or they may seek a method of leverage against us. The curse of being an heir. Easiest way to gain power over us, have something to use against us in the media. Nothing extreme that would warrant their death. Photos of us in compromising positions, humiliating tales, anything the media would frown upon. Something to shame us with and lessen our power in the public's eye. Slowly chipping away at the media's view of us and therefore our people's trust. Except they have to get through our guards to do that.

Which means they need to fear Riven and Sky. I don't know what Tavi was thinking when she chose them. I trust them, yes, but they are students. That is all the ministers will see them as. Easily manipulates, conflicted children. Normally, we are given the weathered and aged warriors with the most experience and most public experience. Those who already have a reputation for- well, the reputation can be for many things so long as it wards people off.

But Sky and Riven?

No wonder Silva and Irene are sticking close. Someone might just decide to kill off the guards and be done with us all while we are vulnerable.

A/N: Thoughts on the changeling drama? Should I make it a big deal or tone it down, it can be included in the current political drama if people are interested to see how that would play out.