The Blood Heir

Chapter Seven: The Animal Within

Dante twitched. He needed to leave soon. Nyla glanced at him and his hand found hers under the table. She smiled ever so slightly and he felt satisfied with himself. The King said something else and Dante switched his attention, "Will you repeat that, Your Majesty?" Dante asked, his mind reeling through a million things at once. "I asked what your plans for the wedding were." Desatarius said gruffly. Dante swallowed and looked across the table at Seraphine. She looked angelic sitting there. The sun was coming in through a window at her back and it illuminated her blonde hair, giving her a halo of light. She smiled at him and then turned to her father, "We were thinking of a wedding during the Summer father. Around the Serdonial Festival, maybe even during. What do you think?" Dante plastered a grin onto his face as Nyla pulled her hand from his. "I think that's a wonderful idea dear!" The queen said brightly, her hand resting on her stomach. "The Serdonial Festival is only six months away." Nyla said, "Is that enough time to get everything ready for a royal wedding?" The king cut her a nasty glare and she immediately closed her mouth. "Will that be enough time father?" Seraphine asked Desatarius. He nodded, "Of course my dear. I will personally oversee that it gets done, if a wedding during the Serdonial Festival is what you desire." A brilliant smile covered his soon-to-be-wife's face. His fists clenched underneath the table. Dante only had to keep up the charade for a little while longer. He searched for Nyla's hand again, but with no avail. He watched her hand come up from underneath the table and cover her mouth as she yawned. "Nyla, honey, why don't you head up to your rooms? You have seemed so tired all day today." The queen said and gave her daughter a loving look. Nyla nodded and stood, "Thank you mother. Goodnight everyone. I will see you tomorrow." Nyla gracefully curtsied and left the room. As soon as the door to the dining room closed, her father grunted and shook his head, "Always so nosey, that one is. All it does is get her in trouble." Dante felt sorry for Nyla in that moment, felt sorry that she knew her father favored her blonde haired, blue eyed sister. He looked at Seraphine from across the table and tried his hardest not to frown. She was everything a princess should be. Maybe he shouldn't meddle in Keylon's royal family business. Maybe he should just marry Seraphine and they could live happily enough, ruling over Cian together. Asilinn whispered something to her husband and he straightened in his seat, "Dante! I heard there was a small End of Spring festival over at the Dowsten Estate. They sent us an invitation with places for two people. You should go with Seraphine." Dante knew he wasn't being asked. He smiled and nodded to Seraphine, "Only if you would like to go, Your Highness." She grinned, showing her bright, white teeth, "It would be my pleasure Prince Dante." Dante forced himself to stand and make his way over to the princess. He bowed and took her hand, just lightly swiping his lips over her skin, "The pleasure is all mine."

Her breathing slowed. She knew her father hated her, but every time he said something like that, it still took her breath out of her lungs. He never referred to her as his daughter, or even as a person. It was always, 'that one'. She hated him too. Nyla leaned back against the wall, inhaling deeply through her nose. She had to get over it. Her mother still loved her. Seraphine still loved her. That's all that she could ask for. A face flashed through her thoughts and she smirked, but it was quickly replaced by a frown. Dante was going to marry her sister. She knew that now. Even after that day at Vivian's business, where he had confessed everything, he still hadn't told Seraphine he would not marry her. Or told Nyla he was sorry. She snorted. Maybe it was all a lie. She sighed. At least no one had mentioned the incident with her father being drugged, although, she wasn't so sure that he had told anybody. He was too proud. A whole lot of things seemed to be going decently lately, it was only fitting that something fall out of place and send her whole world crashing down again.

"Excuse me, Your Highness, I have to use the washroom before we go." Dante had invited Seraphine to his rooms so he could 'freshen up' before they left for the celebration at the Dowsten Estate. He closed the door behind him and rested for a second before he felt the shift underneath his skin.