Secret Heir (Dynasty #1)(13)
But I remind myself that there is nothing normal about these people. They are the heirs to the six Seraph Dynasties. Royalty. Gods. The air of entitlement surrounding them, tells me that each one of them is very much aware of this status, too. If Magnus is expecting me to be anything like these brats, then he’s going to be sorely disappointed—I’m about as different from these people as the trailer, which was foster home number ten, is from this grand palace.
My gaze travels from one face to the next. The girl standing closest to me has dark hair like mine, but it’s cropped short in a sharp angled bob cut and there are blue streaks throughout. Her face is pixie-like, much like the rest of her petite frame, but the scowl that mars her pretty face, tells me that this girl is anything but delicate. Her grey eyes look back at me in a mixture of boredom and annoyance. I feel myself bristling in response.
The next face belongs to a guy with dark brown hair and bright aquamarine eyes, who can only really be described as utterly gorgeous. The eye color is so strange, that it takes me a moment to peg down the shade. He’s tall, and even in his tux, I can see that he’s well built. I narrow my eyes as I notice the not so subtle way that those eyes sweep over my body. He makes a point of letting his gaze linger on my chest before flashing me a cocky grin. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that this guy is a Grade A creep. But that handsome face probably means that girls around here still fall all over themselves to get a piece of this jerk.
The guy next to him is equally handsome. His hair is also brown but my artist’s eye sees the threads of deep red and burgundy mixed in with the dark mahogany. He’s also tall, but his build is leaner, although no less toned. His vibrant amber eyes are just as bored as the first girl’s, but they turn thoughtful for a moment as they look back at me before reverting back to disinterest.
In keeping with the theme, the next girl is also startlingly gorgeous. Her light brown hair is set in perfect waves and her make up is immaculate, although I can see that she would be equally beautiful without it. Clearly, she doesn’t think very much of me, though, because the disapproval is clear in those light hazel eyes as they regard me. She turns her nose up and whispers something to the girl beside her, which I’m certain is not a compliment. I feel my cheeks flaming, but I don’t allow myself to drop my gaze.
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.