Secret Heir (Dynasty #1)(106)
I’m glad that it keeps me distracted from having to look at Raph and Layla all night, though. I hadn’t thought about how difficult it would be for me to actually see them together like this—entertaining the courtiers, totally in their element. Whenever I catch a glimpse of Raph, there’s not a hint of his earlier displeasure, so it’s either gone entirely or just very well hidden. I tell myself it’s because he’s been trained since birth to play this part. It reminds me that this is his life; he’s made for these grand balls and the opulent ceremonies that go with them. Layla hangs dutifully on his arm, like any good queen would, and it makes me wonder what in the hell I’ve gotten myself into. Because just as Raph was born for this, so was Layla. I wasn’t. And although Raph had told me once before that I do belong here and that I belong with him, doubt still gnaws at the back of my mind.
It’s nearing the end of the night, when a strikingly beautiful woman who I recognize from that first ceremony, and from my Eden politics book, introduces herself. She shares so many of Keller’s features, that I know who she is, even before she says her name.
“It’s an honor to finally meet you properly, Jazmine,” she says and unlike disingenuous words and barely veiled looks of disapproval that have been directed my way from some of the other nobles, she seems entirely genuine.
“Vega Aspen, head of the Aspen Dynasty.” She holds out a hand to me, which I take willingly.
“I believe you’ve become quite good friends with my daughter, Keller.”
“Yeah, Keller’s great,” I reply with a smile.
“I’m glad to see it—our two Dynasties have always been close allies. Your father and I were good friends. He was like a brother to me.”
Her expression grows sad at those last words, and again I’m uncomfortable at the mention of my father.
“You have his eyes,” she says, after a moment. “It’s like I can almost see him looking out through them.”
“Magnus told me the same thing,” I manage to say.
“Your father was a great king, Jazmine. One of the best kings to ever sit on the throne of Eden,” she says.
“One day, I hope that you’ll be able to follow in his footsteps.”
I don’t think I hear those last words correctly. Because they make no sense.
“Raph’s next in line to the throne,” I finally manage to reply. I never did give it any thought as to how the whole sovereign Dynasty thing works. Magnus told me that the rule of Eden always falls to one of the sovereign Dynasties. My father had been the last king, but Raph is next in line to the throne. I’m guessing that the crown probably alternates from one sovereign Dynasty to another. That the St. Tristan Dynasty and the Evenstar Dynasty take turns at taking the throne. It’s the most logical explanation. But something about Vega’s expression makes me think there might be more to it than just that.
My mind starts racing then and I get an image of a thousand jigsaw pieces laying before me. Fragments, suspicions, words. But I can’t make sense of it, I can’t put the pieces together and every fiber in my being is screaming at me not to.
I realize that I’m just staring at Vega in utter confusion, as her expression grows even more troubled. My stomach churns as my discomfort levels soar to new heights, and I can feel my heartbeat pounding painfully in my chest, making it difficult to breathe.
“Magnus hasn’t told you?” she asks finally.
“Told me what?” I demand, any vestige of politeness out the window.
Vega shakes her head.
“It’s not common knowledge yet, but I would’ve thought that Magnus might have at least mentioned it to you by now.”
“Please, can you just tell me what the hell you’re talking about? Because Magnus sure as hell hasn’t said anything to me. But that’s no surprise because keeping me in the dark seems to be his favorite past time.” I’m fully aware that I’m being rude now, and that this woman doesn’t deserve to be on the receiving end. But I’m too confused and alarmed to care. A bad combination.
“It’s not my place to tell you,” she replies regretfully, and I think I’m going to scream in frustration.
“You should speak to Magnus,” she adds, then walks away before I can say anything else.
Damn right I’m going to speak to Magnus.
I look around the ballroom which is already emptying. Jethro’s icy gaze lands on me as I cross the ballroom, but Raph is nowhere in sight and neither is Layla. But that’s not who I’m looking for just then.
I find Magnus across the ballroom and when I march over to him, I can see that he’s either been watching the entire exchange between me and Vega, or my face is just that pissed.
“We need to talk. Now,” I say bluntly.
Magnus doesn’t say anything because he already knows. He searches my face for what seems like an eternity and I meet his gaze with a merciless one of my own.
“Okay,” he says finally.
“Let’s go back to the palace. There is something you need to know.”
I should be glad to hear those words, but they have a ring of finality to them that only deepens the sickening feeling of dread in my gut. As I walk out of the ice palace into the dark night, the chill in my bones only grows colder and I’m certain at this point that I don’t want to hear whatever it is that Magnus is about to tell me.