The Blood Heir

Chapter Eight: Revealed

     Nyla watched Seraphine float to the breakfast table and her jaw cramped from grinding her teeth together. She hadn't slept all night. "Good morning!" Seraphine basically sung, "How is everyone on this wonderful sunrise?!" Nyla looked up at her sister, her face was glowing and her golden hair was long and unbound at her back. Everyone at the table responded with a mixture of 'Fine' and 'Oh just lovely'. She picked up a chair and moved it next to her mother instead of her father. Her sister plopped down quite ungracefully and looked around. "Are we having no guests for breakfast Mother?" She asked innocently. Asilinn simply beamed as she nodded, "Yes, actually. Prince Dante and the Duke of Sarpenth are set to join us this morning," the queen glanced at the clock, " they should be arriving any minute now." As if right on queue, the doors to the smaller dining room opened. The prince strolled in with his hands in his pockets, his white hair almost blinding in the early morning sun. "Good morning all." He said as he took his place next to Nyla, where he had always sat while he was here. Seraphine's face fell a little and Nyla froze as a strong calloused hand caressed hers. His fingers interlocked with Nyla's. Seraphine seemed oblivious as she started to make small talk as they waited for the second guest to arrive. 

     Soon enough the doors opened again, Ren walked in hesitantly. His eyes immediately locked with Nyla's. She sighed through her nose and he sat down directly across from her. The king coughed and everyone adverted their attention to him. "Nyla, why don't you come sit next to me? So it's even on both sides." She just stared at him blankly, his words drowned out by the fact he had said her actual name. "Nyla, darling, do what your father asks." Asilinn gently told her daughter. Nyla just blinked before standing and moving to the other side of the table, next to the king. Ren's presence suddenly brought her back and she glanced at him from her seat, then her father. Both men were entranced in Seraphine's story of last nights End of Spring festival at the Dowsten Estate that Dante had taken her to, in place of the King and Queen. Both of her parents were entirely immersed in her story of the Dowsten's son trying to court every female at the party, including Seraphine. Nyla closed her eyes as she felt a headache coming on. "Nyla, my darling, are you okay?" Her mother's voice came from the other side of the king. She looked at Asilinn and nodded, "Just a headache mother." The queen smiled and looked away from her to Seraphine once again. Nyla's thoughts wandered to the box in her room, under her bed. She thought of Cullen and how he now knew her biggest secret. Hopefully he would keep it, otherwise she would have to hire herself to do some dirty work Ren caught her attention, his hand waving beneath the table. Nyla looked at him, tilting her head, "Yes?" He leaned in closer to her, whispering, "Have you thought about it?" He asked. She rolled her eyes a little and smirked, "Yes, I have." Nyla saw his eyes light up and he reminded her of a puppy in that exact moment. "I think we should stay as we are Duke. There's no use in going back." Ren nodded, his hair bouncing with his head. "I accept your terms in the hopes we become as good of friend we used to be, Your Highness." Nyla barely opened her mouth to respond to Ren before her father's booming voice sounded in her direction. "Nyla? Do you have something you'd like to say? Or are you just interrupting your sister for no reason?" The king asked angrily, his ears red on the tips. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, I just asked Princess Nyla a question." Ren answered. The King pounded his fist on the table, making the wood quake and the glasses rattle. "Duke! Do not answer for her! She has a mouth and can speak for herself!" He bellowed. The queen sighed and rested a hand on her growing belly, "Des, calm down. They weren't bothering anything." Nyla stood, her chair falling backwards, "Why does it matter what I have to say Father?!" Nyla slammed her own hands down onto the table, rocking it to one side, "You will only listen to Seraphine anyways! Because she is such a perfect daughter and I, I am just a disappointment!" Desatarius also stood, he eyes narrowed. Nyla bared her teeth in a challenge and stepped towards him, "I'm so tired of just being a worthless object to you!" Asilinn put her hand out, "Nyla Lucien! You will not speak to your father like that!" Nyla felt her cheeks heat at her mother's reprimand, but she held her ground. "You don't even care for me! Today was the first time I've ever heard you call me by my name and not, 'it' or 'that one'!" Seraphine, Dante, and Ren all just sat motionless, they're eyes flicking between Nyla and Desatarius as they spoke. "I'm not as incompetent as you chose to believe, daddy dearest." He recoiled at the venom in her tone. "I know that Seraphine is your favorite!" She let her voice rise even more, anger filling her tone, "I know that I'm just a bastard child and have no worth to you! I know that you never loved me!" Desatarious was frozen in his seat, his mouth slightly hung open. Her mother placed her hand her growing stomach, "Nyla-" Nyla glared at her mother, and for the first time, she hated her. Hated her for not standing up for her against the disposition her father had for her. Hated her for telling Nyla it was all in her head. She hated her. Period. "Don't 'Nyla' me..." And with that, Nyla stormed out of the dining room, leaving the door to slam behind her.