Page 14 of Wicked Heirs

~Xavier~

All eyes were on her.

And I was no exception.

Alena Rose was certainly a true beauty.

Beyond the startling effect that the stark pink hair created—a lot like Talon with his neon-orange shock of hair—there was a soft allure to her that she seemed to try to hold at bay from those around her, not wanting a response or an advance as a result. I could hear her pulse pounding even as she put on a bright smile. It was almost convincing. But I was very adept at dipping below the surface with people and reading the true meaning and intention of even the slightest tells and actions.

She was wearing an off-the-shoulder floral long sleeve dress with earthy tones that brought out that shock of pink all the more. There was also some bright pink on her finger in the form of a crystal ring in the shape of an orchid.

Although I’d let Orpheus believe he was the one who knew all, specifically in this case when it came to Alena, I was aware of more than I’d let on.

For instance, I knew her late father had gifted her that ring.Myfather had told me all about it, because Abigail had beenupset that day as Francis Rose had stipulated that it be given to her on her sixteenth birthday, long after he’d died, and it had brought back a lot of fresh grief for Abigail, wherein my father had been there to comfort her. Because they were so close, I was aware of a lot of things when it came to Alena Rose.

It was why I’d excused myself from Orpheus and Talon’s intent to target her.

In fact, I was planning to run interference discreetly without their knowledge.

I didn’t want her hurt. She really didn’t deserve it, especially not to pay for the perceived sins of her mother. Normally, Orpheus wouldn’t allow it either, because as sadistic as he could be, he was never unjust. But this was wrapped up in a whole lot of personal issues, so he couldn’t see the way through this time. And as for Tal, it was beyond even that for him. He absolutely would not see reason when it came to this.

I shook my head to myself.

Not a great start to our senior year. Well, mine and Ore’s. Tal was a year behind us.

It was just freshman year for Alena. Although she was technically my age of twenty-one, she’d been out on her own and missed years of Academy training and education as a result.

Alena’s deep blue eyes were darting all around, taking everything in.

Curiosity sparked in them as she noticed one of the witches sitting with her two friends pouring milk into her cereal through levitating her small milk jug. At one of the middle tables, a vampire called her talons forth and used them to open three sugar packets.

Then, over at the table I was headed to, Tal was using a fraction of his phoenix fire to toast his bread.

Her eyes sparkled, marveling in it, in the atmosphere.

“If you’re overwhelmed, we can just grab something and eat outside,”Isabella was whispering to her, her unicorn-colored hair bouncing in a high ponytail with her every movement. Despite her loud personality, she was small and petite, wearing one of her go-to pastel sundresses, this time a green one, along with a pair of jeweled sandals.“It’s just important that you at least dip your toe in before classes start.”

“It’s okay, I’m good. We can eat here.”

“Great. What are you in the mood for? There’s a massive selection. Wait—let me guess—something chocolate, right? Every time I looked in on you, that’s all the food I saw around you.”

“Hilarious. I’ll never pass up an offer of chocolate, but it’s not all I eat.”

The two of them chuckled, then headed over to the counter to get some breakfast.

I reached my table then and took a seat opposite Orpheus and Tal, noting the former’s hand on Tal’s thigh, as the two of them ate away peacefully.

Too peacefully for them.

“What’s going on?” I asked, cutting into my pancakes drizzled with a load of syrup, the way I liked them. Albeit, not the way I remembered them tasting before I was turned.

Orpheus looked up, stilling on eating a piece of his omelet readied on his fork. “Going on?” he asked, innocently.

I snorted.Innocent?Orpheus Hart? Absolutely not.

“You know very well. Alena just walked in here and the two of you didn’t so much as bat an eye.”

“We’re hungry,” Tal said through a mouthful of waffles.

---