Secret Heir (Dynasty #1)(14)
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.
The calm doesn’t last long though, as I sense someone approach. I turn away from the peaceful night scene and find myself face to face with the guy who can only be described as the personification of daylight. Even in the darkness, he glows with some ethereal light. As if he carries the sun with him wherever he goes.
I realize that I had been hoping that the image of perfection that I’d seen on the beach would turn out to be too good to be true. That up close, I’d see that he isn’t, in fact, the most beautiful person I’ve ever laid my eyes on. But I’m sorely disappointed, because this guy is just as beautiful up close as he was from afar, even more so. He’s the kind of guy that could break hearts with just one look. I notice the little details that make his perfect face even more devastating—the sexy indent on his top lip, the even sexier dimple on his chin and his impossibly long golden lashes, so thick, that it’s sinful. I find myself thinking again that he looks exactly like an angel might.
But when he opens his mouth to speak, that image is quickly banished.
“You don’t belong here.” His harsh tone is as cutting as his words.
My initial surprise quickly fades and I return his icy glare with one of my own.
“Oh, yeah? Says who?” I say, although in the back of my mind, I’m sure that I agree with him. I don’t belong here. I knew it from the first moment I stepped foot on this planet and the less than welcoming ceremony only reinforced that fact.
“Says me.”
I didn’t pick up on his arrogance earlier, but I don’t know how I could’ve missed it now. Everything about him screams privilege and wealth and the way he carries himself makes it clear that he is well aware of it. This guy has an entire world at his feet, and when he speaks, it’s with the authority of a crown that’s his by birthright.
Because I know it’ll infuriate an arrogant prick like him, I say, “And sorry, who are you again?” I’m pleased with the cool disinterest in my tone.
Those sensuous lips twist in a mocking smile as he takes a step closer, disrupting the air around me.