UNWANTED

CHAPTER 2- G18.20 - LIZAVETA

The few steps it took to get me to the elevator felt like walking through quicksand. I've never felt so out of place in my own body. Then Ly's hand went to the small of my back and steadied me like he always did when I went off the rails. The gesture was so familiar I realized how many times I got volatile.

"It's going to be okay, Lesya."

"You were never good at lying to me." It wasn't going to be okay. I was going to be the queen.

I signaled Jazzy to go up to my room. She wouldn't like to be underground, and no one would like an agitated gigantic tiger there either.

My guard was reduced to five including Ly once we entered the elevator. I took off the jacket there and gave it back to him. "It's not my color." And he accepted without complaints.

Now the media had pictures of him in white shirt, and me with his coat. I'm sure they'll play into it instead of the death of Upapa. Young love is easier to swallow than possible war.

So much for trying to hide our friendship.

The elevator scanned our bodies, making sure of our identities before descending the entire three minutes it took to get to the bunker.

I turned at the end of the first minute to see my guards. Aside from Ly, two were a little older than me, and two were my age. "First names."

"Ji Su."

"James."

"Raza."

"Natasha"

"Ilyaas."

Four from four corners and one from home. I inherited the best from my grandfather. "I'm Lizaveta Snezhana Wanika Nadir. I'm going to be your queen... my grandfather was killed as you may know, and I wanted to thank you for your service to him." I bowed my head in respect. There was only silence.

"We will protect you, your majesty." A girl's voice. She sounded concerned. Good. A weak queen. How wonderful.

"We'll kill them for you." A man whispered.

I turned to look at him and I nodded. "I'll do it myself." I said.

They needed to die, if not for the other lives on that vehicle, then for Eurasian pride. The White Ravens were responsible for thousands of deaths and billions in damage for years now, but my grandfather thought they were harmless because they were far south. Obviously, he was wrong or else he would still be king.

Killing people was not an easy pill to swallow, but I reminded myself that the Ravens were barely people.

I've killed before too in the name of my country, so another few in the name of the king wouldn't weigh on me as much. I sighed at that self-lie. Of course, it would.

I fixed myself on the guard I called out seconds ago, reeling myself back into my body.

"You served my father. You're Raza, the spy master." I said, his name finally matching a face in my memory.

"Your majesty." Gray eyes that were almost white, and gray-blond hair. He worked for father for less than a year when he was eighteen, excellent at poisons, secrets and lies. Horrible at hand to hand. I didn't know he was a member of the guard.

"You're fired."

He seemed taken aback. "Your majesty, I've served for six years-"

"It's not a demotion."

Everyone looked at him. They were probably scared of losing their jobs as well except Ly. "When I reach the bunker, the ministers will be there." I swallowed. I didn't like those old people. "They'll tell me everything they think I should know about my grandfather's death and everything else going forward. I need you to know when they're lying, and I need you to tell me. I need to know everything about everyone I meet. You can't serve me if you're by my side, subject to law and the serum. Do you understand?"