Chapter 4

• Bastian was thankful, Aliria was very intelligent, and he didn’t have to go over things more than once. It was a large amount of info to have dumped on you all at once, if he hadn’t lived most of it, he wouldn’t have believed it either.
• To find out that they’d been lied to for who knows how long, about the fact that they could multiply with someone outside the realm, hit her hard, Bastian didn’t blame her there, being a male, he wasn’t coveted like a cherished treasure because of having a uterus.
• He explained about the evil plot to take over the realms, that he’d been helping the other realms fight and she looked disappointed she’d missed out on it. Of course, for a female from their realm to take part in any sort of battle would be very much frowned upon. However, thanks to him, Liri was trained in hand-to-hand. He was sure he’d be banished, and his title removed, possibly a limb or two as well if anyone ever found out.
• Bastian almost regretted explaining that there were some of theirs involved that had to be found, then had to implore her to not carry her sword around with her in their realm and be taken to prison. Her only reply on that was it was a dusack, not just a sword. He had no idea what the distinction was, but she was quite offended by it.
• Glancing at his phone, he stood up. “I will get in touch with Princess Crissy and see how you can help.”
• Liri jumped up, “I want to go to Alterealm.”
• Bastian huffed out a breath, “our kind don’t take well to that realm, you’ll need to sit in a chamber for a while each trip.” He shrugged, “the time seems to get shorter with each crossing.”
• “I don’t care if I have to sit there for hours. I want to meet these kick-ass princesses and queens you’ve been talking about.”
• He grinned, “they’re something.”
• “And the one that has our mixed DNA? I can meet her?”
• Bastian nodded and grabbed his jacket, “yes, they function as a huge unit, so I’m sure you’ll meet them all.”
• “When?”
• He opened my mouth to tell her soon when his phone chimed, he looked at it. “Video call from your mother.”
• “I’m not here.” She darted into his bedroom.
• He hit answer and smiled at the phone. “Auntie, how lovely to hear from you.”
• “Bastian,” she grimaced, “I’m always shocked by your appearance.” She sighed, “I think I’ll get you a hairbrush for the next time of celebration.”
• Bastian smiled his best fake smile, “wonderful I can add it to my dusty collection of brushes.” He could have mentioned her beehive hairdo and told her it was an extinct style, but he wanted this call to be short.
• She didn’t look impressed. “I’m calling to see if you’ve seen Aliria, she’s avoiding my calls again.”
• He made a point of looking bored, “I was just going to call you—Liri is needed to help with some diplomacy,” he waved his hand around, “with a few of the realms.” He beamed a smile at her, “nothing more charming than my lovely cousin.”
• “Oh?” She frowned, “something is going on, I can’t reach your mother lately.”
• “Ah yes, that, her and father are taking a short sabbatical.” Until we find the traitors in our mix, he thought, but couldn’t tell her that.
• “I see.” She took a deep breath and then nodded, “well if you are in touch with her, please tell her I need her opinion on this year’s banquets décor.”
• It took all of his restraint to not roll his eyes. “I will do that for sure.”
• “Back to your cousin, I guess I’ll go to her quarters and talk…”
• “She’s not there.” He blurted out and then glanced to see the topic of discussion peaking around the corner leading to his room. “Her quarters are being painted, she is, uh, going to be staying at an undisclosed location for the duration of the diplomatic,” he waved a hand around, “meetings.”
• “Painted?”
• Bastian chuffed a ridiculous noise, that he had no idea he even knew how to make, “yes, redecorated. She can’t vet possible suitors with the current state of it, now can she?”
• “Oh, no. No, those dark colors are dreadful.”
• “Lovely to hear from you Auntie, I really must run, prince stuff to do.”
• “Yes, Bastian, I won’t keep you. Tell your cousin to call her mother as soon as she’s able please.”
• He nodded. “Absolutely. Bye-bye.” He hung up, then blew out a breath and dialed the phone.
• Liri came out, “who are you calling?”
• Bastian glanced at her, “someone to paint and redecorate your room.” he shrugged, “sorry, it was the first lie to pop in my head.”
• She grinned, “I don’t care if they paint it pink, I’m getting an actual break from all that.” She waved her arm in a circle.
• An answering machine cut in, “it’s Bastian, call me. I need painters and décor people?” He hung up. “Stay here, I’ll come to get you when things are arranged.”
• She nodded, “I’m just going to pop to my rooms and grab some things.”
• “Don’t get caught.”
• She gave me a bored look, “I never do.”
• Putting his jacket on, he headed toward the door.
• “Bastian?”
• He paused with his hand on the doorknob.
• “You don’t think they’ll really paint my room pink, do you?”
• He could only chuckle, “I’ll be sure to tell them girly colors are off the list.”
• She looked relieved as he closed the door.
• He’d probably just got her involved in things she shouldn’t be, but then again, he shouldn’t be involved in unraveling lies and secrets either. And he would unravel all of them—if it was the last thing he ever did.
• What he wanted right now, was to rush back over and look for her. The lovely one with that soul. Instead, he was stuck hunting down fathers that didn’t know they were, looking for traitors and helping save the world. This prince gig was exhausting.