**3rd Person POV**
“I wonder what becomes of the man that dares to climb into Hades' bed,” Prince Aegan looked into Derek's face, his tone had been threatening. The message was very clear. It crossed Sir Derek's mind briefly to dare Prince Aegan into revealing that he had an affair with one of Hades’ numerous concubines but he quickly discarded that thought. It was not the thought of ceasing to exist that scared Derek but the gruelling punishments that would follow if he were to be revealed.
“I will do my best but I cannot promise you anything,” returned Sir Derek.
Sir Derek left Prince Aegan's quarters with his mind determined to reveal Prince Aegan's intentions to his mother. He felt greatly insulted that the Prince would go as far as to threaten him. He had never been so insulted before. It was only out of respect for Princess Eris' effort that he would not destroy Aegan's ambition. The Prince seemed to have forgotten that while he could ruin him by making his affair public, Derek had a lot of dirt on the Prince.
****
“It would appear that you do not value our friendship any longer,” George said as Princess Eris stepped into her bed chamber. She looked alarmed before turning her attention to the man who stood in the centre of her room.
“What are you doing here? You cannot…”
“I cannot be here? Is that what you were going to say? How about you ought to have told me about the request of the horns of hell?” demanded George.
“George. You need not worry about…”
“I need not worry? If Prince Aegan delivers Regina to the horns of hell, it will destroy my plans. I believe this is where we part ways seeing as our missions are different now,” George's eyes were red. He hated that he had been played for a fool. He could see in Eris' eyes that she had no intention of telling him.
“It is unfortunate but we have to call it quits. You must understand that I cannot give up my son's throne for your cause,” returned Princess Eris. She now held a stern expression on her face. Beneath her calm face, however, she was very angry. How could Aegan have bypassed her instructions? She had explained to him that he must not breathe a word about his mission to anyone. He was a big fool, now it was not only Lucian they had to worry about but power-drunk George.
“You must think that you are untouchable because of your mortality. I know things Eris… things that…” With a flick of her finger, George began to scream in pain. He cursed underneath his breath and when the pain became unbearable he begged her to stop.
“Know your place, George. The fact that you have exchanged souls to become untouchable up there does not mean that you are untouchable here. I will not end your life now for old times sake but if you become a hindrance to me or my son, I will ensure you have a very painful ending in life,” Princess Eris said with rage burning on her lips. If she did not allow herself to be insulted by her equals here, she was not going to allow a mere mortal to insult her.
George said nothing and left the place quietly. Princess collapsed on her bed wondering how George had entered her room in the first place. She did not dwell long on it when she heard a knock on the door. When she had confirmed that the person on the other end was her son she allowed him to enter her room.
She was on her feet when he made his entrance. Her first instinct was to yell at him but she had to rein in her anger. Aegan could very well be the next Hades and she would not want the first thing he did become extinguishing her soul or baring her to Belzaaba.
“Who did you tell?” she demanded in the calmest tone she could manage.
“Tell? Tell what mother? I do not…”
“Do not play silly games with me, Aegan. Who did you tell?” demanded Princess Eris, she was gradually losing her cool.
“Mother, you must believe me. I have not spoken to anyone about… in fact, I am here to inquire of your progress on…”
“AEGAN!” she screamed to let him know that she was serious. If she knew who he had divulged the information to and how much he had told the person she would know how to do damage control.
“YOU WILL NOT RAISE YOUR VOICE AT ME,” Prince Aegan shouted back. He was tired of his mother always telling him what to do. He almost regretted standing up against his grandfather the other day. Perhaps, things would run more smoothly without her being here. He had observed the relationship between the Fae Queen and Lucian and had seen that an understanding between them existed that he envied. He wished his own mother would understand that he was a grown man capable of making decisions for himself.
“Son, I am only trying to help but if you keep jeopardising my efforts… what do you want me to do son?”
“Nothing… for once just do nothing,” replied Prince Aegan.
“Do you even care to know how I found out? Someone was here to threaten me,” Princess Eris was trying to appeal to her son's sense of reason. She was usually the only one who could do so but lately she had been failing at even that.
“Derek, that snake. I knew he could not be trusted,” Prince Aegan spat but Princess Eris was relieved she had got her answer.
“It was not Derek but you must tell me if you have done something to aggravate him?” asked Princess Eris. She hoped not but one could never tell with Aegan.
“What does it matter? He is a mere servant who can do us no harm,” returned Prince Aegan.