The Kingmaker's Crown

Regulus uses the uniform to gain access to the palace. It’s probably alarming how easy it was, honestly. With nothing in his hands, he navigates through the High King’s palace with ease. When he finds Prince Tom’s office he knocks softly and waits to be granted entrance. Regulus didn't expect it, the way Tom’s eyes don’t focus on him as he hardly glances up from his books, eyes looking no further than the uniform and human frame. 

“What?” he barks and Regulus’ heart sinks. The Wolf is leaning against the wall next to the prince and a flash of pity catches Regulus’ eye. He must control his face better.

“It’s Reggie, sire,” The Wolf pipes up with a cocky tone. Reggie, asshole. Regulus scowls and the Prince does a double take, leaning back in his chair with a scoff of disbelief. 

“Unbelievable.” Prince Tom shakes his head. “It’s like you're completely invisible, you haven't even had stealth training yet, boy.” 

He’s looking at Regulus like he’s valuable, but it doesn't quite soothe the burn. 

“Thank you, Sire,” he replies as he reaches into his pocket for the copy he made of the note in Lucius’ desk. He clears his throat as he approaches the Prince and hands him the paper. The Prince leans over it and Regulus watches the Wolf’s eyes drop to read the words. He goes stiff and averts his eyes, Regulus’ eyes narrow. 

“Mmm, so dearest Lucie has been blackmailing Queen Aurora,” Tom tells them. Marlene’s mother? Why would the Prince do that? 

“You think he will use it against you?” The Wolf asks and Tom hums. 

“Would be foolish of him,” The Prince chuckles and Regulus realises they must think Lucius is going to try and kill Prince Tom, try to poison him. Regulus is suddenly very glad of his growing tolerance. Tom suddenly looks back to Regulus. 

“Good work, boy.” Regulus grinds his teeth but Tom doesn't seem to notice. “The Wolf is going to take you to meet the others. I also want him to start teaching you some stealth skills in the evenings. He will arrange it with you.”

“Yes Sire, of course.” Regulus can feel the pride bubbling in his chest and he moves to follow the Wolf to the door, when the Prince speaks again.

“Regulus?” He turns again and the Prince is studying him. “Did you enjoy it?” 

Regulus swallows. It feels like a loaded question and he isn’t sure what the correct answer should be, so he tells the truth.

“It was thrilling. It made me feel powerful.” The Prince grins at him and a shiver passes down Regulus’ spine. Tom nods at them and the Wolf opens the door. 

The pair of them glide through the halls without issue. People see the Wolf as he passes, unlike how their eyes pass over Regulus like the furnishings, but they want to avert their eyes. 

“Is that a geas?” Regulus asks and the Wolf looks at him in question. “The way people won’t look at you for long? Did the prince cast an enchantment for you?” 

Regulus is earnest and the Wolf is looking at him like he's an idiot again.  

“No, Reggie.” 

“Don’t call me that.” 

“Look at my face, they don’t want to look.” Regulus studies him again. He is handsome, although not really Regulus’ type. His hair is a smooth, rich shade of bronze, the parts of his body Regulus can see are lithe and muscled, like a ballerina. His eyes are captivating and his teeth are… They’re hot, frankly. 

But Regulus knows what he means. The folk do not like scars, especially not on the high fae. Their bodies were so difficult to maim with their magic rich bodies. The Wolf’s slashed face likely made them uncomfortable. Especially as, even with his rounded ears, the Wolf was unquestionably fae. His animal features and the shape of his frame, below the muscle was a classic high fae body, tall and graceful. Ethereal. 

It isn't uncommon for the high fae to mate with humans, Alphard and Walburga had been a prime example of this. Due to the concentration of magic in them, they found it hard to reproduce with each other. A fairy child was a blessing in any form. Even with a human mother, the magic would become dominant in the child. The High King’s current consort was a human man. 

Some humans came to Fairy as servants, under deals and drugged throughout. Some came as guests, usually artists, musicians or poets. Although Regulus’ dad, Orion, had been brought to Fairy for his blacksmith skills. Orion had made many weapons for the folk and met his mother during that time. Once a human child reaches adulthood in fairy, they stop ageing. 

Much like the folk with their long magic infused lives, the magic of fairy sustains mortal lives. Should an adult return to the mortal realm, they would begin to age again.

Orion had lived in Fairy for many, many years before he met Walburga. The High King’s current consort, Xenophilius, was an eccentric poet, brought to Fairy many, many years ago. He still looked 25. He had all of Regulus’ life.

“The Folk are assholes,” Regulus tells him and the Wolf laughs. 

“Correct.” The Wolf is unable to lie, no one with a drop of magical blood can. 

He leads Regulus down an empty hallway and through a tapestry. Regulus follows him into a downward sloping tunnel. Eventually they reach the base and the Wolf hits the wall in a certain spot, the ground trembles and opens up. The Wolf leads him inside. 

It looks exactly the way Regulus would expect an underground spy headquarters inside a tree trunk to look like. The walls are a mix of compact dirt and twisting roots. There's wooden panelling on some of the walls, flickering candles on the tables. A room off to the left holds bunks and the one to the right seems to be a large office. The Wolf heads into the office, gesturing for Regulus to follow him. There's someone at the desk when Regulus enters. The male looks up at him and Regulus' breath catches in his throat. 

“You have vitiligo,” Regulus breathes. The male raises a brow at him;

“Is that what humans call it?” he asked dryly and Regulus wants to smash his face into a wall. 

“Sorry, I don’t know why I said that, you are obviously aware of that.” 

The Wolf is looking at him like he's stupid again. 

“Reggie, this is The Horticulturist,” The Wolf tells him, looking back at the other male with a smile. 

“You can call me Horti.” The Horticulturist stands, reaching his hand towards Regulus, who scrambles to shake. Horti’s skin is a splattered mix of colours, stark white bleeding out across darker skin. Not just his skin though, Horti’s hair rested in tight curls on his head, most of it an almost auburn colour, with pure white patches popping up throughout. As Regulus meets his eyes, he can see that Horti has one set of eyelashes completely white, one the same deep red. His eyes are a warm brown. 

“It’s okay to stare,” Horti tells him placidly. “I know it’s ugly.” 

“No, it isn’t,” Regulus frowns and the Wolf chuckles. 

“You forget, Horti. Reggie here has human beauty standards.” As he says it, the Wolf’s eyes drag over Regulus with distaste in them. The Horticulturist grins at him. 

“You would never stoop so low of course, Wolfie,” Horti agrees, lowering himself back into his seat and gesturing at one of the empty ones for Regulus, who grins and lowers into one. 

“Wolfie.” He smirks at the Wolf, who glares at him. 

“You can still be poisoned, you know, I can adjust the dose.” There's a giggle from the doorway and Regulus turns to see a fairy in the doorframe he recognises. 

“I know you,” he demands, an accusation as he jumps to his feet. It’s the green haired fairy from the ball. Up close Regulus can see his wholly black eyes, the thick calf lashes framing them adorably. The contrasting sharp cheekbones and manic grin. 

“I hate it when you’re right,” Hori says from behind him and Regulus turns to him. “Regulus, this is The Bandit, it was him who suggested for you to join our ranks.” 

Regulus whirls back to the male in the door. He shrugs.

“You saw me,” he tells Regulus, as though that explains anything. 

“People aren't usually that aware of their surroundings, they certainly don't tend to remember this long after,” Horti tells him. “Bandit told me you saw him. I did some research, some surveillance.” 

They’d been watching him? 

“Suggested you to the Prince. Here you are.” 

“Why?” Regulus asks and Horti watches him for a second. 

“You have potential. Desire, motivation and rage. That's what a horticulturist does. They cultivate and manage a garden.” Horti shrugs at him.

“You knew I was on your roof the other day,” The Wolf adds. “That's unusual. You seem to have natural skill. It’s not just the fact you can lie.” 

Regulus sits back down. 

“Horti is very good at it,” Bandit purrs, lounging over the back of Regulus’ chair. “He keeps us all under control and blooming.” 

Horti rolls his eyes as that, reaching for a stack of papers on his desk and rifling through them before pulling something out and passing it to Bandit who leaps up to take it. 

“On that note, Tom wants me to train Reggie in stealth,” The Wolf tells them. Bandit stuffs his paper into his pocket with a yawn. 

Horti snorts. “Unsurprising, I heard him from the second he entered the tunnel.” 

Regulus frowns, all the fae have heightened hearing, even the lesser fae, like the Horticulturist and the Bandit. Horti pulls a schedule towards him and begins to make notes.

“Is that what you do?” Regulus asks. “Manage the rest of us?” 

Horti chuckles. “I try, I am not exactly unnoticeable like the others. I don’t blend in. I’m good at plotting and breaking into things. I leave the finer things to my colleagues.” 

“And you?” Regulus asks Bandit, who’s now fiddling with a dagger. 

“I like to steal stuff. And stab people. And blow stuff up.” Those wide black eyes are somewhat disconcerting but he smiles warmly at Regulus. “I can teach you.” 

“You think I'll have to stab someone?” Regulus asks him and Bandit tilts his head to the side. 

“Don’t you wanna?” Regulus doesn't reply for a second and Bandit grins. “Exactly.” 

“Reggie didn't even have a dagger till yesterday,” the Wolf pipes up and Bandit bolts upright in shock. 

“You do now, right?” Regulus nods and Bandit exhales dramatically. 

“I’m very good with a sword,” Regulus defends himself and Horti looks up. 

“I know, but you don't usually end up in sword fights as a spy.” The reminder of his failure hits Regulus like a brick and he looks away. “I have another mission for you and the Wolf in a few days. Is your father taking you to the coronation next week, or do we need to get you in there?”

“No, he’s taking us,” Regulus replies and Horti nods. 

“Perfect. I’ll brief you if we need you in advance but… Just be on hand. I doubt you’ll be needed. We have things covered but just in case.” Horti sounds distracted, but Regulus just nods. 

“Do you have school today, Reggie?” Bandit asks him and Regulus shrugs. He hasn't been for a while. 

“You should keep up appearances,” Horti tells him. “Bandit will walk you out.” 

Dismissed, Regulus rises. He hesitates in the doorway as he follows Bandit out the room.

“Thank you,” he tells them. The Horticulturist smirks at him.

“Don’t thank me yet.” 

The Bandit walks him through the castle. This time they take darker routes, passages between the main halls, where they don't pass anyone. 

“Did you know there’s a secret passage between most rooms in this palace?” Bandit tells him and Regulus shakes his head.

“Is that how you disappeared at the ball?” 

Bandit giggles. “It was thrilling to know you were watching me. I love an audience.” 

“Seems odd for a spy,” Regulus says and Bandit’s face falls.

“We fell into it,” he tells Regulus. So had he. 

“You and the Wolf?” Regulus asks and the Bandit scowls. 

“No, me and E- Horti.” The slip is almost minute and Bandit winces. Regulus lets it pass. 

“You’ve known each other for a long time?” Bandit grins again.

“30 years now.” 

Regulus exhales quickly and Bandit giggles. 

“You feel young, huh?” Regulus nods. “You should.”  

“It's in the pillar behind the statue of Aphrodite. If you knock on the panelling, the bottom part swings in. It comes out here.” Bandit tells him as they pass a wooden chest. Regulus makes a note to try it out at the next ball, although that will probably be the coronation. 

Eventually the Bandit shows Regulus a candelabra that when pulled, swings a bookcase forwards to a tunnel out of the palace walls. 

“You know all the passages?” Regulus asks and the Bandit laughs. 

“I doubt it. Have a good day at school, Reggie!” Then he vanishes behind a different painting before Regulus can tell him not to call him that. 

Regulus avoids everyone to the best of his abilities. He’s exhausted and not inclined to speak to any of them. The Duke tries to catch his eye but Regulus ignores him. Sirius doesn’t attempt it, but he also sits next to Regulus like always. The only person he can’t help his eyes straying to, is James. Regulus can’t get the mental echo of the leather landing on James’ back out of his head. James is usually ignoring him anyway, but their eyes met briefly. James held Regulus’ gaze for a second before, very deliberately, dropping down to Regulus’ exposed ankle. When he follows with his own eyes, Regulus’ heart sinks. James is looking at the cuts the peacock left on Regulus’ skin. He hurriedly yanks his socks up, hoping no one else notices. He can feel the heat of James’ eye on him for a long time after, but he’s too scared to meet them again. 

Regulus doesn’t mean for it to happen, he would never, but he still isn't as well as he’d like to be. So his exhaustion drags him down and he falls asleep at his desk. He jerks awake to an eerie silence. No one is at their desks in front of him. No teacher at the front. 

“You really are weak, aren't you?” 

Regulus jumps, slamming his thighs into the wood of his desk painfully. He stumbles his throbbing legs out of the thing, whirling around on his feet to find the male hovering behind him. Lord Peter. He lunges at Regulus who feels frozen in place. Pete grabs the charms from around Regulus’ neck and yanks, hard enough for the string to break, the rowan berries tumble to the floor like a ricochet of blood. Regulus gasps, clutching at his throat with as much power to stop what's coming as he would stemming the flow of a cut throat. 

“You’re mine now.” Regulus can feel the strap of the Wolf’s dagger digging into the skin of his arm, inches from his hand. “I command you, climb up onto the window and call down. Tell James you surrender.” 

Pete takes a step closer to Regulus who is shaking. “Then throw yourself out of it. Become what you have always been, rot.”

Rage burns away the ice in his veins and Regulus jerks, freeing his dagger and plunging his body towards Peter. 

“You first,” he breathes at the Lord, as the blade of the dagger slides smoothly between that fae flesh. Peter gasps and Regulus yanks the knife back, wiping it hurriedly on his shirt as he backs away from the male. Regulus bolts from the room, running down the staircase and bursting out into the gardens. His classmates all turn to him. They had all abandoned him, alone, with Peter. 

Regulus’ eyes land on Sirius. His brother is watching him wide eyed, his hand grasped firmly on the Duke’s arm. When their gazes lock, Sirius bolts for him, cutting across the grass as though hell itself is on his heels. Sirius’ hands collide with Regulus, grappling with his arms. 

“You’re bleeding,” Sirius gasps, frantic. 

“Sirius,” Regulus hisses, uncomfortable with the interaction. “It’s not my blood.” 

His brother goes wholly still now, the flush draining from his face abruptly. 

“You’ve made a mess,” James drawls from in front of him, Regulus drags his eyes from Sirius to meet the vile Prince’s.

“Sorry that your plan failed, Sire,” Regulus spits. James’ face seems cocky, almost normal. But there’s something in his eyes Regulus does not recognise, he actually looks… concerned. James jerks towards him, as though to grab Regulus, but he’s still holding his blade which he yanks up again to brandish at James. 

“What are you doing?” James hisses, he doesn't look cocky anymore. He looks wild. 

“Regulus,” Sirius cautions, still holding Regulus’ arm. 

James turns on him. “This is your fault, don’t act so concerned now, mutt.” 

Sirius recoils as though slapped and Regulus frowns. 

“He’s my brother, I never want to see him hurt,” Sirius fires back, with more attitude than Regulus has seen from him in years. Dumbfounded, he watches Sirius but his brother holds his glare with the Prince.

James chuckles. “How good of you to remember that now.” 

Sirius stamps his foot and storms off towards The Duke. 

“Oh good,” James drawls, he seems more grounded now, although his eyes seem to be glued to the blood stain on his shirt again. “Here comes Sir Charming.”

That makes Regulus frown too. How does James know who Prince Charming is? Sure enough, The Duke is swaggering towards them with a grin that makes Regulus’ tummy swoop. James scoffs and Regulus finds him watching him. 

“You don’t think I deserve him?” Regulus asks, smugly. 

James scoffs as the Duke levels with them. “He is nowhere near close to what you deserve.” 

“Don't pout Jamie, we play fair,” the Duke coos.

“Not everything is a game,” The Prince drawls as he turns away, bored of them. Regulus watches him, it's a direct opposition to what James had said the night before. Such a skilled wordsmith the Prince is, to be able to get so close to lies. 

“Can I walk you home?” The Duke asks and Regulus obliges. Sirius is walking next to him stiffly the entire time, clearly furious with him again. Regulus and the Duke stop by the lake on their way home. Sirius refuses to stay with them, leaving to walk home. The lake water is fresh and exhilarating as they swim together, laughing and playing in the sunlight. Regulus feels rejuvenated and young again. The Duke helps him forget the world for a while as they dry, naked, on the lake bank. Far enough from others that their cries aren’t overheard. 

When Regulus finally drags himself into his room, he finds the Wolf lounging on his bed. 

“Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in. A wee little slut.” The Wolf has his head dangling off Regulus’ foot board, his scars all the more prominent with the rush of red to his face. 

Regulus splutters. “I fail to see how fooling around with one guy makes me a slut, unless you’re a eunuch?” 

He throws a look at the Wolf who grins and rolls into a sitting position. Regulus moves across to start taking his shirt off and change into his work out wear. 

“Wouldn’t you like to k-” The Wolf cuts off mid sentence and when Regulus looks up, he’s vanished. Before he can ask where he’s gone, Regulus’ bedroom door bursts open. Regulus turns, shirtless, to find Sirius, looming in the doorway.

“Who are you talking to, Regulus?” he demands. Regulus scowls.

“No one,” he shoots back and Sirius scoffs, storming towards him, eyes full of wrath. 

“Did you bring him into our home?” A scathing whisper. “It’s one thing to whore yourself out in the woods with the Duke, but don’t you dare bring him into my home .” 

“What the hell does it have to do with you?” he spits back. “I can’t exactly come home pregnant, Sirius, go yell at Andy.” 

“Where is he?” Sirius yells, foot stamping in such a childish way that Regulus scoffs. There’s a creak of wood and the twins both turn to find the Wolf leaning against the wardrobe. 

“Hey,” he purrs. He’s watching Sirius with a light in his eyes that makes Regulus’ nose wrinkle. 

“Oh,” Sirius utters. “Who are you?” 

His brother straightens himself out a bit and Regulus frowns. 

“You can call me Romulus.” Regulus rolls his eyes, what kind of arsehole has two fake names? This kind. The Wolf is pressing two of his fingers to his lips as he studies Sirius with hungry eyes. Regulus can hear Sirius’ breath catch in his chest. “I’m Reggie’s friend.” 

“Don’t call him that,” Sirius frowns, seeming to realise himself a bit more. 

“His friend?” he asks and the Wolf nods, biting his lip to keep a smile down. Sirius begins backing to the door, Regulus follows him, eager to see the back of his brother. 

“Bye, Sirius.” Regulus shuts the door on his brother and whirls on the Wolf, pointing an accusing finger. 

“Bad dog,” he hisses. 

The Wolf laughs heartily. “He’s adorable Regulus, you kept him a secret.” 

“He’s my twin, we’re literally identical,” Regulus huffs and the Wolf wrinkles his nose. 

“Not in any important way.” Ouch. Asshole. 

“He’s engaged anyway, or about to be,” Regulus mumbles, resuming changing and the Wolf hums.

“I enjoy a challenge.” Regulus throws his britches at the Wolf and pulls his leggings on. Thankfully, the folk aren't up to date with human fashion, so Regulus’ skin tight workout clothes just look practical. 

“Are those lululemons?” The Wolf asks from his position on the bed again. Regulus doesn't even look at him as he pulls his crewneck on. 

“They were a gift from my sister for Christmas.” They are, in fact, lululemon leggings. They're also perfect for stretching and his sword workouts. 

“Why do I like all your siblings more than I like you?” The Wolf coos at him. 

Regulus sighs and flings open his balcony doors. 

“Everyone does,” he calls over his shoulder. “Come teach me how to be graceful then, Angelina Ballerina.” 

The Wolf pushes him off the balcony.