Adrian stood there, eyes narrowed, mind spinning. His sisters had always been crafty, but this time? They caught him slipping. They played him like a rookie. He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the gold chains on his chest—his own crown of sorts, but it felt too heavy now. The maids—no, his bots—stood by, silent as ever. No one could be trusted, not even his own blood, except for his father.

But Pops? Kaelen was busy spoiling the girls, doting like they were untouchable. That’s why Adrian had to go public with this, blow the lid off the family secrets, put their business in the streets. He thought he had everything locked down, drones in the skies, eyes on every move they made. Yet here they were, outsmarting his surveillance, tracking him down by the white noise his own tech leaked. A damn rookie mistake.

Xyra, the oldest of his little sisters, dragged him out like he was nothing, then slapped him. Not hard, though. Not like she meant to hurt him physically. Nah, this slap was something else. It stung his pride more than his face, and that was dangerous. Adrian rubbed his cheek, looking at her sideways. “You just declare war, Xyra?” His voice had that sharp edge, like a blade barely hidden under velvet.

Xyra’s eyes gleamed—green, like emeralds with secrets buried deep. She crossed her arms, calm, unbothered. “I’m telling Father on you, but I’m sure he already knows. You’re making a fool of yourself, Adrian. Mind your own business. If Dad doesn’t stop us, you should stay out of it. Tinker with your little toy dolls.”

Adrian felt the jab. Xyra had never come at him like this before, but the slight in her tone was cold-blooded. And the fact she slapped him at all? That was a message, coded deep. He knew it wasn’t about the slap. It was about respect—or lack thereof. But Adrian wasn’t about to back down. He puffed out his chest, trying to reclaim the ground he’d lost. “War it is then. I’ll stream you live, Xyra. I’ll show everyone who you really are.”

Xyra’s lips curled into a small smile, the kind that said, you really think you’re ready for this? “Go ahead, Adrian. Stream me. But don’t forget who my mother is—Alyssa. She’s not just any lawyer; she knows the law inside out. What you’re doing? It’s defamation. Besmirching our names. She’s suing you for your little toys already. Keep it up, and you’ll be neck-deep in lawsuits.”

Adrian scoffed, but there was unease in his heart. He couldn’t let them see it though. Not Xyra, not Celesse or Selene, and certainly not the world. “I’ll just build more. What’s a lawsuit to me? I got endless supplies.”

Xyra clicked her tongue, a soft tsk that cut deeper than any insult. “Keep recording us without permission, Adrian. You’ll catch yourself a domestic lawsuit faster than you can build another one of your knockoff maids.” Her voice had that razor-sharp edge now, warning him, daring him to step out of line.

Adrian swallowed, feeling the weight of his own words pressing down on him. He had been sloppy, too caught up in his own game to realize his sisters were playing at a whole different level. He was out here broadcasting, thinking he had the upper hand, but now? Now, he was the one slipping, sliding into something deeper than family beef.

Xyra turned on her heel, her white hair catching the light as she walked off like a queen leaving her court. “Tell Father whatever you want, Adrian. But he already knows who’s winning.”

Adrian’s blood boiled. His icy-blue eyes, cold like the void, burned with a silent rage. She had him boxed in, cornered, and she knew it. But this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. He’d regroup, rebuild, and come at them harder than ever.

But first? He had to figure out where he slipped. No more games.

Xyra, eyes narrowed as she watched her brother fly off in his sleek hovercar, the hum of its engines slowly fading into the distance. The car itself was polished black, a futuristic piece of tech that hovered smoothly over the driveway before ascending into the sky. His robot maids—those eerie, lifelike high elves with their flowing blonde hair and flawless, porcelain skin—stood on either side of the car as it disappeared into the clouds. They gave her the creeps. The fact that they looked so real, yet moved with machine precision, only deepened her unease. Adrian was obsessed with his creations, those creepy "companions." He was trying too hard to be something more, to be something perfect.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“Dork,” she muttered, her lips twisting in disdain. She brushed her silver hair behind her ear, feeling the cool breeze Adrian’s departure left behind. He may have had his hovercar, his gadgets, and his perfect order, but Xyra knew something he didn’t. Power wasn’t just in technology. It was in control, and she had that in spades.

She glanced down at the small silver bracelet around her wrist, a simple-looking piece of jewelry but much more than it appeared. It was enchanted, a tool she used to enhance her glamour and, more importantly, to lay down her geas on people. Adrian was the oldest by a month—a fact that always annoyed her—but age didn’t matter when you could bend others to your will. He had no idea how much sway she really had over their sisters, Celesse and Selene.

Sure, Adrian played the part of the eldest, trying to lead, to guide them all like he was their self-appointed moral compass. But Xyra didn’t care for his so-called "wisdom." He was always preaching about being better, acting better, as if they had some great responsibility. And what was that supposed to mean anyway? Be like him? No thank you.

She caught her reflection in the tall glass windows of the news studio as she walked by, her black leather jacket glinting in the sunlight. Her eyes, green and sharp, stared back at her with a mischievous glint. She’d show him what real power was soon enough.

Today, though, she had to focus on keeping appearances. After all, her and her sisters' involvement with the morning news was all part of the larger plan. It wasn’t glamorous or thrilling, but it was necessary. A distraction. People in Ravetham needed to think that the Drakov family was just like any other influential family in the city, not a brood of power-hungry children vying for control.

Inside the studio, everything was abuzz. Producers hustled back and forth, cameras were being adjusted, and the faint chatter of morning anchors filled the air. Celesse, already on set, was glowing under the studio lights. Her white hair shimmered as she smiled at the camera, casually gesturing to the weather map like she was born for it.

“And it looks like we’re in for some sunshine this weekend!” Celesse beamed, her voice sugary sweet, eyes flickering toward the teleprompter. “Perfect weather for a trip to the park or... maybe the reptile zoo!” She winked, planting a subtle seed.

Xyra smirked. Celesse might seem innocent, but she knew the game. The reptile zoo—one of their father’s business wasn’t just a place for family fun. It was a key part of their control in Ravetham.

On another set, Selene was wrapping up her segment about local events. Her bubbly energy bounced off the walls as she chirped about upcoming festivals and local gossip. “Oh, and don’t miss the free entry to the zoo this week!” she giggled. “And speaking of rumors… people are starting to question Don Cappo’s intentions. Can you imagine?” Her grin widened, but her eyes told a different story. Selene was a master of subtly stirring the pot.

Xyra’s eyes flicked to the screen as Selene transitioned to the next topic, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. “And what about Aeliseth? Sixty years in the White House. Some people are starting to wonder if she’s even a high elf anymore.” A little giggle escaped her, but Xyra could see the glint of mischief in her sister’s eyes. Selene was planting seeds of doubt, just as planned.

As the show wrapped up, Xyra leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. Her sisters were doing well—just as she expected. Their roles in the news were meant to seem innocent, but Xyra was weaving her own web. Each of her sisters was under her geas, not that they knew it. They simply felt the need to do what Xyra wanted, to follow her lead.

“Nice work,” Xyra said as she strolled into the break room, casually flicking a strand of her silver hair over her shoulder. She dropped into a chair, kicking her boots up on the table, her green eyes gleaming. “They have no idea what we’re really up to.”

Celesse and Selene joined her, both smiling brightly. To anyone else, they’d seem like any normal, happy family. But Xyra knew better. Beneath those sweet smiles, they were all playing the game. And Xyra? She was winning.

Adrian might think he was the responsible one, the leader, but Xyra had the real power. And soon enough, he’d fall in line like everyone else. He just didn’t know it yet.