The Cursed Heir

At odds

The rest of the lesson passed by with Lyra feigning interest in watching her classmates although her thoughts were elsewhere. She wondered now that Annabelle was of age if she and Nathan were truly mates. They had always had an affection for one another but neither had ever acted upon it. For Annabelle, as a relation to the Lord Lebonair it was expected she should be the epitome of their values. For Nathan, he was three years older and assigned to her cousin’s security detail from a young age, as the son of a high ranking family.

“Lady Lebonair, if I might have a word before you leave?” Nicholas interrupted her thoughts as the bell rang for lunch hour.

“Very well. Nathan perhaps we could dine outside today.” She dismissed him despite her earlier warning not to leave them alone together.

Nathan nodded before taking his leave, understanding from her tone she was comfortable with him leaving.

“I understand that you have been taught by the greatest of warriors, and that you are more advanced in your training than the other students. However, I must insist that when you attend my class that you participate or else why bother coming?” She c****d her head to one side at his blunt words.

“Why bother coming? My thoughts exactly. I’m sure it hasn’t escaped your attention that this is the first time I have attended your class just as it hasn’t escaped my attention that only after your claim to be my mate did the headmaster feel inclined to tell my father that I don’t attend classes. I haven’t attended thus far because I don’t see any utility in it, and I won’t be participating for that very same reason. There is no knowledge that you, or your fellow teachers could possibly impart upon me and the sooner you all realise that, the better. And lest you forget your place again, let me be the one to remind you, I am the Lady Lebonair and I answer to no one. So when I tell you that I prefer to observe understand this, it is not up for discussion. Are we clear?” With great difficulty Lyra forced herself to stare into his eyes, despite how hard she knew it was to drag her gaze away.

“Perhaps if you were honest with yourself about us, you would feel more at ease here. Why do you torture us both with this charade?” Nick’s eyes flickered to her pouty pink lips for a moment before falling again on her blazing hazel eyes.

“There is nothing between us.” She hissed, before leaving the gym.

Lyra cursed herself, she knew better than to be alone with him but she had craved him just as much as he craved her. She had thought that she could be stronger but the mate bond was magnetic between them. He was right when he said she was torturing them both, when she had left the gym she felt physical pain as though every fibre of her being yearned to stay.

Once she was back with her guards she felt safe again, away from his gaze she could think clearly. Michael and Nathan spoke quietly about how the food at the school didn’t compare to what they were accustomed to back in the High Court. Lyra forced herself to think of anything else but Nicholas, trying to focus her mind on something.

“I want to ask Annabelle to enrol here.” She said, interrupting Michael’s complaining. She looked directly at Nathan as she said it, watching his usually stoic expression for any show of emotion but finding none save for surprise.

“Do you think that she will?” He asked after a moment.

“I can’t know for sure but I think she would be open to it.” She replied honestly, not wishing to get his hopes up.

“Don’t you have a hot cousin for me to bring here?” Michael joked, and both Nathan and Lyra shot him simultaneous glares.

“Anyway, I want to call her tonight and ask if she would consider it. Is that…okay with you Nathan, I don’t want to make any decisions that will make your job uncomfortable for you.” She watched him closely, studying his expression.

“I wouldn’t be uncomfortable with that; you should call her.” He said, offering her a brief smile which reassured her.

“Alright, now who wants to come to my double literature lesson?” She teased, knowing neither would enjoy such a class.

They exchanged a miserable glance, before being caught off guard by her laughter.

“Since it would be cruel to let either of you miss out, you can both accompany me.” She shrugged, smirking at their facial expressions.

The three of them made their way to the class a few minutes later, begrudgingly.

Later that afternoon, Lyra sat on a bench outside waiting for Annabelle to answer the phone. She knew how her cousin loved sunny Miami but she hoped she would consider coming to the school, if only for a few months. Perhaps she was meddling in their lives, but she wanted to see if the connection between Nathan and her cousin was an indication of their destinies. Just because she could not be happy did not mean that she could not surround herself with the love and joy of others.

“Am I dreaming, or is the Lady Lebonair calling me?” Annabelle teased, her cheerful voice immediately brightening up Lyra’s mood.

“Oh come on Annie, we speak most days.” She laughed.

“Yes because most days I call you.” That wasn’t untrue, but she her cousin wasn’t resentful.

“Stop your complaining, I’m calling you now aren’t I?” She heard a sigh on the other line.

“I’m glad you called Lyra, how are you?” Annabelle asked, her tone serious now.

“I’m…I called because I miss you.” She knew that wasn’t quite an answer but it was the best she could offer.

“I miss you too, heaven knows why the high Court sent you to Texas of all places.” She laughed at that.

“It could be worse, at least it’s warm.” Lyra shrugged, knowing that they could have sent her anywhere in the world.

“Thank the Goddess. Now tell me, what is the shopping like over there?” She shook her head a little.

“I wouldn’t know; I haven’t left campus yet.” Annabelle gasped aloud dramatically.

“What on earth have you been doing then?” She laughed at that.

“Literally nothing interesting.” Her cousin snorted at that.

“Yeah I can tell, Goddess what was your dad thinking?” She sounded positively scandalised.

“You should ask him that yourself, he seems entirely set on telling me it’s for my own good.” Lyra’s tone was sarcastic.

“Well I’ve not seen you since the trial, how about I come visit and we can discover the Southern charm together huh?” Annie suggested, leading her to the real reason she called.

“About that, how would you feel about staying here with me?” She asked, wishfully.

“You mean permanently?” Her tone was cautious, not giving much away.

“Annie I’m not in prison, I just have to stick around long enough to show the council that I can play by their rules.” It wasn’t a lie per se, but she didn’t want to tell her cousin that she had no idea how long she would be at the school.

“So it would just be a few months?” That didn’t sound so bad, the girls had always been close and Annie worried about Lyra’s mental state alone in an unfamiliar place.

“Exactly, and we can go out for brunch and shopping on the weekends. It’ll be nice having some girl time, Nathan and Michael are starting to drive me insane.” She laughed, nonchalantly bringing up what she knew would sway her cousin.

“Alright, well I’ll talk to my mom today and let you know when I can make it.” That was all she could really ask for.

“I love you Annie.” Lyra said sincerely.

“Of course you do!” She laughed down the line before hanging up.