"Prince Ma'at, I did not give you leave to call me by my name. And if you mention my status I will find a way to hex you."

"I wasn't going to! Why would I?"

Green eyes glared into blue. "Because you are an arrogant little prince."

"I'm not little!"

"You certainly act as though you were."

"Why can't we be friends?"

"Because annoying beta's like you think alpha's like me to be monsters, slaves, or pawns. Many of my brethren have been rendered eunuchs thanks to your family."

He cringed. That did sound horrid. But he wasn't a beta. How no one had realized the truth as yet was a mystery to him.

Bruce, who was but an invisible witness inside the consciousness of Prince Ma'at Yarğanat Batlar had no idea what they were talking about. Alphas and Beta's? If he could have shaken his head, or even been able to ask what they spoke of he would have.

Ma'at crossed his arms. "I haven't done that to anyone. I would never do so."

"But you haven't stopped that uncle of yours, have you? And what of your late father, or mother for that matter?"

He blinked. "How am I supposed to stop them? I am but one man and I were too young to do anything during my parent's reign. I... I can't believe they'd do that."

"I wasn't here when they were. But from what I hear they were no better than your uncle. I don't see how your rule when you take the crown will differ."

"Because you'll be my counselor!" He glanced down at the ground when he said that, once he'd realized his outburst. Holding one of his arms in the hand of the other he whispered, "That is... if you will."

The older man scoffed. "A lowly slave such as I being given so high a position? All the world would laugh and it would be your downfall as the other kingdoms would see you naught but weak." He chuckled, "Though the idea does amuse me."

Ma'at lifted his head to watch Isfet. "Already you speak words of wisdom. It's not fair that I can't offer you the position of counselor without it being seen as wrong, or weak."

"Why are you trying to get into my good graces Prince Ma'at?"

"Can't I just want to be your friend Isfet Khaba Joktar?"

He frowned at him. "No. Not when your kind has destroyed so many lives. Not just of your own, but that of Alpha's. Worse that of Omega's."

"What do you mean?"

"I told you before. Beta's think that they can tame an Alpha. If they find they cannot they castrate them or kill them. As for the Omega's they sell them into slavery or own brothels where they can make money off of them. While others kill them just to break an Alpha."

Eyes wide he asked, "A-are you t-telling the truth?" He hoped his uncle never found out the truth about him. He wasn't a beta after all. He'd been told by his own mother what he'd one day present as. And he'd also given him a concoction and the recipe thereof that she told him to take every day.

"Why would I lie? What good would it do me? I'd still be a slave. And have to toe the line so that those in charge don't slaughter me, or turn me into a eunuch."

"How can I stop it? I can't take the crown for another three years."

"Would you stop it? What of all your precious beta subjects. They outnumber the Alpha population five to two and the Omega population ten to one. And that's before the murdering that goes on."

Bruce, still unable to escape the consciousness of Ma'at – which he thought was a dream and not what it really was inwardly winced. He couldn't believe a man that looked so much like the Joker minus the green hair, pale skin, ruby lips, and cut face was acting so... so righteous. Bizarre .

"Of course I would!" He almost shouted that he was an Omega himself. But he didn't. He didn't want that to be what changed the man's view of him. Nor did he want any ears that might be listening in on their conversation to get back to those who did view anyone but beta's as less than human.

"Then try taking the crown, now."

He blinked. "What?"

"You're eighteen. You could have taken the crown when you were fifteen."

"How?"

"Because you're the rightful heir. Your uncle lied to you about the age you could ascend the throne. Did no one ever tell you differently?"

He shook his head. "No. But then... everyone disappeared who..." his brows furrowed.

"They were either sold or killed so they wouldn't be in the way."

His heart thudded painfully against his chest. "No... no that... that can't be it." But then again his uncle was definitely ambitious. Yet the man hadn't killed him.

"Do you really think even an individual of your own blood and flesh incapable of such action?"

Glancing down at the ground again his frown deepened. "Why hasn't he killed me if what you're saying about him is true?"

"The people."

He glanced back up.

"As long as you're alive they're content to follow him. There are his loyalists, but you are the rightful heir to the kingdom. Your claim to it holds more weight than his ever could. After all, he is only the brother of the late Queen's husband and husband himself to her sister."

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"Maybe I want to believe you, that you wouldn't be like those who came before you. Or to show you just how pathetic you sound."

"I'm not pathetic."

"Then prove it. Go to your uncle right now while he has so many guests in attendance and tell him you're taking over."

He gulped. "What if he tries to kill me?"

"You have those on your side that will protect you at any cost. Trust in them."

With a nod and his lips in a determined purse, he turned on his heel and headed toward the building his uncle was in.

Before he could walk in, three men halted him. His uncle walked around the corner, each step he took slow, deliberate, his hands behind his back and a scowl upon his countenance.


A/N: Thank you for reading! I do hope this has been enjoyable thus far. Do feel free to make suggestions or point something out. I appreciate any and all reviews!