Secret Heir (Dynasty #1)(21)

I don’t miss the way that they command the room—girls flock around them and guys greet them enthusiastically as they pass. I also don’t miss the way they seem to be above class rules—talking in class and openly hitting on girls without so much as a warning from the teacher. This place is insane.

“I’m not really a fan of the cafeteria scene,” I say to Dani, as she leads me towards the large glass double doors leading into the dining hall.

I was hoping to be able to avoid the cafeteria for the whole year. I always found somewhere else to eat in my previous high schools—either out in one of the sports fields or in an empty classroom.

“You can’t do that here—rules are pretty strict. Students are only allowed to eat in the cafeteria,” Dani replies.

I consider foregoing lunch altogether, but the grumbling in my stomach demands food. Letting out a sigh, I follow Dani through the glass doors.

The scene that greets me is like no other cafeteria I’ve ever seen before. Marble floors and a glass ceiling with finely made tapestries hanging on the walls, makes this place look more like a high class restaurant, than a high school cafeteria. The food is also nothing like normal cafeteria food either. There’s lobster and caviar on the menu, for god’s sake.

We find a table near the large French doors leading out to the patio, which is a little quieter than the rest of the large room. I can feel eyes on me as I walk past, this time accompanied by whispers. No doubt about the earlier show down with Layla. I sit with my back to the room, but I still feel the eyes on me.

“So, tell me about Earth,” Dani says, as we settle into our seats. “That’s where you’ve been living, right?”

She’s whispering, as if talking about Earth isn’t something that people usually do in good company.

“You’ve never been? And also why are you whispering?”

“Of course, I’ve never been. It’s forbidden for the Seraph to visit Earth, unless it’s for a mission or the heads of all seven Dynasties give special permission.”

“It’s … okay, I guess,” I reply with a shrug. I let out a long sigh.

“Truthfully, my life there kind of sucked. I’ve lived in a different foster home each year since I was seven.” I’m not usually one to spill my guts to someone I barely know, but there’s something about this girl that makes me feel automatically at ease, or maybe I’m just tired of being alone.

Dani looks stunned.

“God, I had no idea. I’m sorry,” she says.

“This may be a really forward question—but word is that you were a, you know, um … some kind of stripper waitress back on Earth.”

I choke on my food.

“What the hell?”

Dani looks sheepish then. “Yeah, I mean, no judgment if you were. I think it’s kind of cool.”

“Firstly, there was no stripping involved—just hot pants and a bra,” I say, although I don’t think it’s really any better. “Secondly …”

I let out a long sigh.

“There was nothing cool about it. I needed the money because I was saving up for art school. It was good money and I needed to do what I had to do.”

Dani nods, then sensing that I don’t feel comfortable talking about it anymore, she changes the subject.

“They say that Earth is like a mirror of Eden, only humans are … lesser beings.”

I think her words over before replying.

“I’ve only been on Eden for two days, but from what I can see so far, the part about it being a mirror is probably right—Eden looks like paradise, but it also looks like the same drama and bullshit exists here as on Earth.

“And for that very same reason, I don’t agree that humans are lesser beings at all.”

Dani looks thoughtful, but says nothing.

I can see from her expression that she wants to say something else, but is hesitant. I look at her expectantly, although I’m not sure I want to hear.

“I—I just wanted to say that what happened with you father … he was a good king. The people loved him, most thought he was one of the best kings that Eden has ever had.

“What happened was a tragedy—the biggest tragedy that Eden has known for centuries.”

I was right to not want to hear. Because although this man was a stranger to me, hearing about what a great king he was, and how he committed suicide, makes my insides squeeze painfully.

I have no response and Dani senses that it’s not something I’m ready to talk about.

So, we eat in silence for a little while, and I’ve had two spoonfuls of the gourmet pasta, when Dani’s eyes dart towards the patio.

“Oh my god. There’s Raph St. Tristan.”

The name makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, but my eyes follow Dani’s gaze to where that asshole is standing, or leaning against the patio railing, to be precise.

He’s wearing a white shirt and black trousers like all of the other male students, but I don’t think anyone here pulls it off the way he does. The dark grey Regency Mount blazer makes his broad shoulders look even broader and his black tie hangs loose around his neck. He looks like he’s just walked off a GQ photoshoot. The midday sun encases him with a golden glow, but I know that there’s nothing angelic about that perfection. This guy is sexy as hell. He’s an asshole. I remind myself. The biggest asshole I’ve ever met. It shouldn’t matter how beautiful he is, because he’s thoroughly ugly on the inside.