Page 1 of Distant Heart

Prologue:

There was something to be said about traditions.

Mostly that they were outdated and a complete and total waste of time.

Illya couldn’t keep the scowl off his face as he stood at the railing overlooking the foyer of Sacrum Cor University, irritation only growing with each and every student that passed through the open double doors.

“What a joke,” Devyn grunted, glaring at the masses along with him.

“Couldn’t agree more.” Illya hated these types of events. Hated the fact that he was lumped in with the rest of the student body even more. Attendance on Cor Night was mandatory, even for the Black Harts.

“Just pick someone and get it over with,” Ryker, who was standing on Illya’s opposite side, stated.

“Easy for you to say, Golden boy,” Devyn leaned over the banister to set that annoyed look on their mutual friend. “Not all of our daddies were nice enough to welcome a fuck toy into our homes.”

Illya grimaced and pinched the bridge of his nose, waiting for the fallout. Just like how they were forced to be here despite their social status, certain things were considered out of bounds,and talking about Ryker’s new stepbrother? That made thetop of the list.

“Say that again.” Ryker moved in a flash, shoving Devyn away.

From the corner of his eye, Illya watched Ares and Zar step up to separate thembut didn’t bother to intervene himself. Typically, they never fought, but Cor Night did something strange to all of them. That was the case every year, so why would he expect this one to be any different?

Usurn was a planet in the Seastea galaxy, rooted in history and custom. Continuing legacies and rights of passage were big deals, especially for families deeply rooted in the founding of their culture's rich heritage. From an outside perspective, the Black Harts might seem above it all, but realistically, they had it the worst of them all.

Sons and daughters of founding family members had no choice but to attend Sacrum Cor University, for one. Considered the most prestigious school on the planet, that was a givenand something Illya could probably even look past, considering he enjoyed his studies here. But the rest of it…

Once a year, Cor Night was held on campus, a massive party that lasted from night until morning. It was promoted as a night of romance and celebration of love and friendship, but in actuality, it was more like an invitation to partake in debauchery and sin.

Illya reached up and adjusted the small black heart pin on the left lapel of his crimson blazer. The uniform jacket was worn by every student, even during events like this one, though they were allowed to wear whatever they liked beneath it for Cor Night. In the center of the tiny heart, a red light glowed, the illumination matching the bright specks on all the others.

Black Harts were the only ones whose pin were obsidian, however. Everyone else, including professors in attendance,wore red ones with a light inside that shined just a little bit brighter. That was by design, since the true meaning of the night revolved around those pins and their ability to be spotted.

“Excited for Praeda?” Ares suddenly occupied the spot where Devyn had been standing before his argument with Ryker. As per usual, he was too busy staring down at the screen of his multi-slate to bother noting Illya’s expression well enough to understand his mood.

The asshole hadn’t even bothered to mute his device, the sound of explosions and gunfire coming from the speakers.

“Are you seriously playing that here?” Illya asked, though why he bothered was beyond him. His friend since childhood had been obsessed with this stupid game for over a year now, with no signs of the obsession letting up.

“Yeah.” His fingers danced across the screen as he continued his in game battle. “I’d try to get you to download it again, but I’ve decided I don’t want to share any of my men with you.”

Illya snorted. “They’re not real, you do remember that, right?”

Ares won the fight and a victory chime sounded, followed closely by the image on the screen changing to a rendered male with blondish-white hair. The game character sounded off a line of praise that had Ares practically preening.

“Good Light.” Illya needed to find his friend some serious help. “What about you? Areyouexcited for Praeda? Plan on sticking your dick in a real man for once?” Actually, that wasn’t a bad idea. Maybe that could help snap Ares out of this weird infatuation.

“I would,” Ares surprised him by saying, “but I already plan on targeting Brighton Greatly.”

“Who?”

“He’s in our physics class,” he said, as though that was any help at all. “I caught him playing Vanity last week. Figured we could do some role playing. Or,” he shrugged halfheartedly, “if I’m not in the mood, maybe just sit in the same room and play the game together.”

Illya blinked at him. “…You’re going to use Praeda to make someone play video games with you? We aren’t juveniles anymore, you know. We’re twenty-one. At least use the night as it was meant.”

Ares scrunched up his nose and finally tore his gaze off his multi-slate. “What was that? Did the perpetually sulky Illya Carmine just try to tell me I should follow tradition?” He planted a hand over his chest and mock gasped.

“Fuck off.” He turned back to the foyer, where students were still spilling in. The Black Harts were meant to wait on the center landing of the massive stairwell, where the best vantage of the entrance was. The goal was to be seen, but also to see. Praeda was all about the hunt, and taking your pick from the horde of prey was another rite of passage—though, admittedly, not one Illya typically lifted his nose at.

A recognizable face stepped through the entryway, securing a red heart pin to his lapel. He didn’t appear to be any more pleased about being here than Illya was, but that wasn’t what caught Illya’s attention.

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