The other girl lets out a low chuckle and when my eyes shift to her, I find myself looking at possibly the most stunning girl I have ever seen. Her bright blonde hair, cascading in a silky curtain down her back and her emerald green eyes belong to a model. As does her tall, slim figure. The rose-colored dress with the gold accents is possibly the most beautiful dress that I’ve ever seen or maybe it’s just the way this girl wears it that makes me think that. Everything about this girl screams perfection. But what’s also clear, is that this girl sure as hell knows it. The scathing look that she gives me is harsh enough to shred rainbows, and I instinctively return the look with a merciless one of my own. I don’t know this girl, but I sure as hell won’t let her give me the look of death without returning the favor.
I notice then that there’s an empty spot next to the girl. I eye the empty spot curiously, but not for long, because the curiosity is replaced with utter shock when my gaze lands on the tall figure walking in from the wings.
My brain processes the scene at a frustratingly slow pace.
That golden blond hair, the uncanny blue eyes and that impossibly beautiful face. Handsome is too weak a word. That tall and powerfully muscled frame looked good in faded jeans and a white t-shirt, but in a dark tux, he is utterly devastating. The way that he carries himself, makes it seem like the tux was tailor made for him. It probably was. He moves with such elegance, that it’s difficult not to watch him.
The guy from the beach, who also happens to be the most beautiful guy I think I’ve ever seen, looks back at me, those vivid blue eyes locking onto mine. His expression is cool, assessing, and just like on the beach, I can feel my skin burn under that gaze. But other than that, his face is as closed off as when I saw it last.
He stops when he reaches the empty spot beside the model-perfect blonde girl and stands beside her. I don’t miss the way she loops her arm around his, although I’m not sure why I’m surprised or why I care. Of course. The laws of science and of the universe itself dictate that these two perfect specimens would be drawn to each other. Nothing would make sense otherwise.
I snap to attention as Magnus begins calling up each heir to the platform.
The girl with the short black hair is first and Magnus announces her as Keller Aspen, heir to the Aspen Dynasty. Next is the heir to the Aldebran Dynasty, Baron Aldebran, who is the dark haired guy with the aquamarine eyes. The second guy with the reddish brown hair is Lance Oaknorth, heir to the Oaknorth Dynasty. The girl with the light brown waves and impeccable make-up is Ivy Hemlock, heir to the Hemlock Dynasty.
I suffer through it all with a smile which is as rehearsed as the one I paint on for the patrons of Rodeo Ricky’s but far, far more difficult to maintain. Because although each heir dutifully bows in greeting, they each make it subtly clear that I’m not welcome. Not here on this planet, not here in their royal world of riches and privilege. I didn’t expect them to go as far as rolling out the welcome wagon, but their clear disapproval is surprising. Not least because I don’t even know these people, and they sure as hell don’t know me.
The perfect blonde is the most scathing of them all. I didn’t think it was even possible to smile courteously at someone and make them feel like you want to scratch out their eyes at the same time. But Layla Delphine, heir to the Delphine Dynasty, manages it perfectly.
The guy from the beach is as courteous as the rest, when it’s his turn to greet me, but those vivid blue eyes are like glaciers as they regard me. Much like the rest of his icy demeanor. When Magnus announces his name, I think it’s ironic that the heir to the sovereign Dynasty that lords over the sun and daylight, is in fact, colder than the harshest winter night. Raphael St. Tristan, heir to the sovereign St. Tristan Dynasty, and if Magnus was correct earlier, next in line to the throne of Eden.
I’m grateful when it’s all over, although not so grateful when Magnus carts me around to meet countless other ‘nobles,’ as he calls them, during the evening reception which follows the ceremony.
“The Dynasties have always kept our houses small in order to preserve the potency of our bloodlines,” Magus explains to me as he maneuvers around the groups of nobles littered throughout the vast hall.
“There is only ever one heir of each Dynasty in each generation, this is to prevent infighting within a Dynasty and it is why the heirs to each Dynasty are so important.”
I roll my eyes at that. No wonder those over privileged brats act like they’re so damn special. Any doubt left in me as to whether I should get the hell out of this place as soon as I possibly can, is obliterated by the thought that these spoiled pricks will one day rule this entire goddamn planet. No, this is not the place for me. Not at all.
“Within the Evenstar Dynasty, as I said before, you are the last and only heir. My wife, your grandmother, died in childbirth and your father was my only child. You do have distant relatives within the Evenstar Dynasty, though.”
With that, he proceeds to introduce me to some of those distant relatives. It feels so alien to me—going from having no family whatsoever, to being introduced to a whole host of supposed distant relatives, who seem to know all about me, although I have no idea who the hell they are.
He moves on to introduce me to other nobles outside the Evenstar Dynasty and I can’t keep up with all of the names and faces. But I don’t miss the way that they all look at me—like I’m a new species of insect that’s just been discovered. Interesting, but beneath them all the same.
A few people express their condolences at the death of my father, which I find bizarre, because they must all know that I didn’t even know him. I also get the feeling that although the words seem sincere enough, they are not entirely genuine. There’s a hint of something like disgrace hidden in the words, because although I’ve only just walked into this world, even I can gather that a king who commits suicide must be a pretty scandalous thing. For about the hundredth time since I was hauled onto this planet, I wonder what the hell I’ve gotten myself into.
I manage to slip away when Magnus gets called over by one of the other Dynasty heads who I recognize from the ceremony as the head of the Aspen Dynasty. I can see where the scowling girl gets her looks from, because her mother is equally striking.
My steps are hurried and I keep my head down, as I make my way to the nearest exit, until I find myself standing on one of the large balconies which flank the vast hall. I tilt my face up to the night sky for a moment. The blanket of starlight twinkles against the midnight blue sky and the crescent moon reflects off the equally dark waters. I’m grateful for the cool night air, and the stillness of the night. As always, it has a calming effect on me.