VenatIO (Book I Of The IO Series)

I

AN OFFICIAL INTRODUCTION TO ROYALTY

1600 HOURS

LOCATION- URANUS

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Birthright. The penance of birthright had clutched me in its deep spiral wings. The path of my life that I had thought was, was no longer. I knew who I was and who I was going to be two weeks ago. My previous birthright having paved the way, indirectly influencing all my choices and opportunities.

Now, I no longer recognised myself or my soul. Now I no longer owned a path that was certain. Now I was forced, due to a recent discovery, to live the truth of my birthright. One that I have never wished to have. One that I feel burdened to have.

The birthright of the crown.

The crown of Neptune.

The lights flashed on and a sudden sharp applause flitted across the room. The lights were blinding, meant so that I couldn't see anything beyond the platform I was to stand on. The Queen of Neptune, my mother, walked to the platform. A picture of magnificence and power. The face of peace and royalty of the present galaxy. From her side profile, I saw her smile but then as she started to speak, her words made no sense. They floated around my ears and I couldn't absorb them. Couldn't understand what she was saying.

"My daughter," she said, the only word that seemed to seep into my head. Suddenly, the heels under my feet began to hurt and the dress felt heavy.

"We have had the greatest pleasure in finally finding the princess of Neptune and the future heir to our throne. My daughter Sapphire Zaiden Cole West," I was expected to walk toward her, but I couldn't. It was not that I was shy, but the weight of the crown threatened to drown me. I knew that if I walked on to the stage, reality would soak into me and I would be forced to accept it.

But I walked anyway, towards the Queen, my head lifted high, I offered no emotion to the guests. My eye remained on the jewelled crown atop her head. It was magnificent yet it portrayed all the things she hadn't done with her position of power.

The guests, consisting of the regional ministers of Neptune and the highest royals of the other planets, smiled and clapped politely. I did not miss the tension in the air.

The Queen's eyes flashed in warning. Smile, they said. But I just stared back, my chin jutting out daring her to force me. She looked away and began to speak. I looked into the crowd for my two friends.

Fate was like a stabbing witch and I could not begin to share my hatred for it, for the words she spoke clenched so deep into my soul. Ironically, it was not only I who had the cursed miracle of my birthright changing overnight.

I spotted one of my best friends in the crowd and I felt like spitting my anger. She smiled back at me, uncomfortable in her heavy dress. Jaz was mine to protect, mine to keep safe and I had failed her. She glanced back at her newly acquired family before turning back to me and offering me a wider smile. It was just for show.

I looked away from her, searching for Tyler amongst the Jupiterian Royalty. He wasn't there. I clenched my teeth and unclenched it again.

'Ty,' I said into my head. Our mind connection stretched as the message left me. I tried to access his thoughts, but he responded before I could.

'Bathroom,' he replied. I released the breath I was holding but then as I caught onto the crowd again, the tension came back.

'What a crowd,' he laughed as he caught onto my tense shoulders.