HEIRS OF TIME (CASTE BOOK 2) SAMPLE CHAPTERS

Chapter 7

A week after the ball, the castle was empty of almost all its guests, and I didn’t mind that. I had managed to avoid Connor Burton Race all this time and saw that evening as only a lamentable error of judgment. I promised myself that in the future, I would think a little before seizing every opportunity to have fun, as my pride had taken a hit during this dreadful misstep. So my only outings were to Elias and Wassim, whom I met regularly at Mortain’s vineyards through a hidden door in the north wing. My mother also came to visit me in my suite but didn’t seem to mind my forced isolation. She probably thought that I wanted to familiarize myself little by little with castle life, as my life had been so different before I arrived in this place. I had, all the same, made a little escapade to the library to take there an incalculable number of books, which had already occupied me for a long time. When I received a letter from Estelle, my desire for solitude shattered.

Belle, my darling,

You are invited to a family evening in our apartments in the west wing, on the top floor. Be there at 8 p.m.

Mom

Reading these lines, I was first annoyed by this cursed nickname that she had stubbornly given me since childhood, and then I wondered what she meant by family. Was it my uncles Ethan and Thomas? It seemed difficult to me that the latter consented to an evening with my mother under the eyes of his wife, Leticia. As for Ethan, I understood that he had returned to London. But since I hadn’t set foot in the rest of the castle for a week, he might still be there. As I read those words, I couldn’t help but think of my father, and my heart sank; never again would he take his place at a family dinner. The sadness that descended on me squeezed my chest. I went to get a picture of the three of us, the one I had displayed on the console near the window. For several minutes, my eyes lingered on my father’s face before I put the frame down. My gaze returned to the outside view above the treetops while heavy loneliness seized me. A family dinner, I thought laconically.

Not being able to guess what my mother now meant by the word family, I dressed appropriately and opted for a straight petrol blue skirt which I completed with red pumps and a thin white shirt. Once wearing an elegant bun and lightly made up, it was time to go to this famous dinner.

There was no living soul when I crossed the garden courtyard to go to the west wing. A dull fear suddenly crept into my mind as I climbed the stairs leading to the top floor. My life had taken a turn which I hadn’t been aware of until then. My parents had moved many times when we lived in the United States, and this was because of my mother’s eternal youth and later mine. But the change had never been greater. I had never lived in a community, and even less with castes, except for my parents, who rarely flaunt their powers since the life they chose didn’t require using them. They had only agreed to use them for training their people. My mother had taught me the techniques of combat and the blade, as well as the telekinetic method of protecting myself and defeating my attackers, while my father worked on my power and speed. By listening to my mother’s past through the stories of the castle inhabitants, I understood how powerful she was. So I was rather proud to have heard her say to me one day: “Your telekinesis is formidable. You must take after me!”. The display of devotion noticed during the ball confirmed the respect that everyone had for her. I admired my mother’s accomplishments during her youth, but I still wondered what my role was and if I even wanted to have one.

I finally knocked on the heavy door and didn’t wait long before Edward, Estelle’s son, greeted me with a friendly smile. He led me through a series of rooms, each more charming than the next. I entered the dining room, and surprise must have been read on my face when I discovered who was seated there. At the end of the table, each on their side, Carmichael and my mother sat enthroned in front of their guests, those whom she, therefore, considered our family. My uncle Ethan was part of the picture, with Thomas and Leticia, but the surprises were far from done. A man in his forties stood up, and I let out a gasp of delight when I recognized the features of my cousin, Guillaume. Thomas’ son stood there, a piercing smile on his lips. His resemblance to his father struck me, as it did every time I had the opportunity to meet him. He opened his arms, and I threw myself into them, sincerely happy to see him again.

“Izzy, you are divine!” he said, spreading my arms to examine my outfit further.

“It’s not bad!” said Johnny, who came up behind me, followed by Alonso. “Let me look… Hmm…”

After a thorough inspection of the redoubtable Johnny, followed by an approving pout, I was able to greet my mother, and finally, Carmichael, who invited me to take my place with a wave of the hand, on the queen’s right. I hadn’t yet put my butt in my chair when I heard peals of laughter and the deep voice of Elvis asking his sons to calm down a bit. A rush of happiness encircled my heart when they appeared at the entrance. Soraya, Elvis’ wife, had left her curly brown hair loose on her shoulders. I was still surprised she was about sixty years old, as she seemed so young. She sent me a smile and came to kiss me while keeping an eye on her two sons taking their places. Elvis imitated him and went to see my mother, embracing her with his gigantic arms. My uncle Ethan, seated to his sister’s left facing me, stretched his lips in welcome. There were still two empty chairs, and I then guessed the identity of the last guests and what had become of “the family” in my mother’s eyes.

Prisca Burton Race entered with her graceful gait. Her blond hair, tied in a long braid, barred her chest, enclosed in an elegant parma-violet shirt. Her tight jeans were just as chic. Her heels clicked on the hardwood floor until she sat beside her brother.

“Good evening, everyone,” she said in her crystal clear voice.

Everyone greeted her while Carmichael stared at the entrance to the dining room, wondering no doubt what his brother was doing. It was barely 8:05 p.m., and I was surprised at his impatience. I had no desire to see Connor again, even if there was no longer any doubt that he would be the last guest. Five minutes later, I had confirmation. He entered, indicating his deference with a nod and an enigmatic smile to the attention of the whole assembly. I must have been the only one who failed to answer him, but since he hadn’t looked at me, it wasn’t hard for me to ignore him. He walked around the table, and I couldn’t suppress a sigh as I watched him. He wore a black shirt, the collar of which went up the back of his neck. Handsome as hell, with his tousled hair, he fixed his gaze on me when he sat down next to his brother. I immediately looked away in my uncle’s direction, trying to hide the effect of his clear eyes on me. Ethan raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment. I appreciated this character trait in him. In these circumstances, he wasn’t talkative, which served my interests well.

Estelle entered the room and rolled up a trolley containing the appetizer everyone welcomed with enthusiasm. When her son Edward finished putting everything on the table, Estelle poured the cocktail into each guest’s glass and then put a hand on Carmichael’s shoulder. The king seized it, thanking her for her formidable services. Then he got up, imitated by my mother. It was time for a toast.

I couldn’t help but glance back at Connor and caught him watching me. He raised his glass, gesturing towards me. I didn’t react to this solicitation and raised mine like all the others, waiting for the words of our sovereigns.

“Everliegh and I,” Carmichael began, “wanted to bring you together here, in the presence of what we consider our family. You all know how happy it is for me to have found my loving wife.”

“Romantic!” exclaimed Johnny with a giggle, quickly followed by Elvis, who tried to contain his.

My mother used her powers, and Johnny’s glass nearly spilt on his shirt while Carmichael resumed his speech.

“Romantic is perhaps not the right word,” he added, amused. “Anyway, we’re both delighted to welcome you this evening and hope you’ll have a pleasant evening.”

“Just like Mike…” my mother continued.

“Mike?!” Elvis said, surprised.

“Yes. What?!” my mother protested, giving him wide eyes. “Mike…Carmichael!”

The assembly had to purse their lips not to smile. My mother had never been very good at speeches. Only she was the one who rallied the castes to her cause during the War of the Six, had marked the spirits and convinced many of her fellows to join them. I had trouble believing it despite several testimonies, including the undeniable one from my father.

“Anyway, thank you all for being here!” she said, raising her glass and then downing it in one gulp.

“Damn, but you’re still zero for displays of affection, my poor Eve,” Johnny laughed. “I’ll drink to that!”

And everyone had their commentary. We weren’t about to forget Carmichael’s nickname anytime soon! The dinner continued in this relaxed atmosphere. Even Leticia seemed relaxed, although I caught my uncle Thomas’ gaze regularly twisting in the direction of my mother. Her effect on him hadn’t waned, and I suspected her famous gift of attraction to be the cause. It wasn’t useless to have humans at the table, especially since I could feel the voluptuous waves coming from Carmichael. Connor was silent but wrapped in the warmth of my stepfather’s powerful gift. It was difficult to contain certain emotions towards the one who had lacerated my pride. However, it’s enough to remind myself of his murderous remarks to correct me.

“You’re very quiet, my dear cousin,” Guillaume said on my right.

“I’m still unaccustomed to these places. That must be it.”

“We get used to it quickly, you’ll see. I spent my whole childhood here, and I’m happy each time I return. Besides, I’m coming to settle here permanently at the end of the month.”

“Oh?” I asked, surprised. “But I thought you were about to get married?”

“I broke off the engagement,” he said in a gloomy voice.

“Oh! I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to be,” he said, putting his hand on mine. “How could you know?”

“What happened?”

“The ball sounded the end of our relationship.”

“For what reason?”

“My ex-future wife has never attended a party in the presence of her sovereigns. You have to believe that she lost her mind since I discovered her in the arms of another man that evening.”

I bit my lip, stunned by his revelation. Decidedly, the presence of my mother and Carmichael could cause a lot of damage. And thinking back to my mistake, my gaze fell on Connor. He was still staring at me with his inflamed pupils and clenched jaw.

“Is there any chance you’ll forgive her?” I asked Guillaume without taking my eyes off Connor.

“None,” he replied firmly. “I’m even relieved that this ball took place. It will have brought to light her feelings towards me. And they weren’t enough if I believe what I saw.”

“Sometimes we make regrettable mistakes,” I muttered, thinking of my own. “I also didn’t know what to expect that night. Carmichael and my mum drove a lot of people crazy!”

“I found the castes rather happy and delighted by this atmosphere,” Guillaume said and laughed. “This would also have been my case if I hadn’t discovered what went on. Besides, I didn’t see you there. You slipped away as soon as passions flared, didn’t you?”

“Yes, absolutely,” I said quickly after clearing my throat.

My cousin broadened a smile but didn’t add anything. I was about to release a “phew” of relief when Alonso suddenly joined in the conversation.

“It’s funny; I thought I saw you leave in good company,” he quipped, turning his head to the left, in the direction of Connor, who didn’t miss a beat.

“I went to bed!” I exclaimed, glaring at him.

“I must say,” Johnny said, “it couldn’t have been easy for her to see her mother dancing indecently with Carmichael.”

“Shut up, Johnny!” replied my mother, rolling her eyes. “We danced twice and remained decent. The same cannot be said for Alonso and you if I believe what I saw.”

Johnny stuck his tongue out, and my mother burst out laughing.

“It’s true, sister, you’ve been good,” Ethan told her before turning his gaze in my direction. “It’s just that the castes are animals and respond to their primal instincts whenever they get the chance.”

“Here we go again!” sighed my mother.

“Besides, Ethan,” Johnny said, “it might not hurt you to respond to your primal instincts with the fairer sex.”

My uncle gave him an icy stare, which didn’t affect Johnny. My mother felt compelled to defend her brother and put a hand on his, and this tender gesture prompted him to send her a smile. Ethan stood gazing at her for a moment, and the strength of his look at that moment made me smile. I felt more and more at ease and launched into a long conversation about stock market bonds with Thomas, of which I didn’t understand a single word. He was still in charge of caste affairs, even if he hadn’t lived in the castle for ages. Prisca joined in the discussion, and I realized then how indispensable my uncle had become. I learned at the same time that he was extending his stay in Mortain to train his son, Guillaume, who would take over once Thomas had decided to take a well-deserved retirement.

“And you, Connor?” asked my mother. “How’s business in your territory?”

Surprised to be solicited on this subject and forced to come out of his silence, he squirmed a little in his chair, clearing his throat. I pursed my lips not to laugh, knowing he was too busy trying to get my attention to follow any conversation.

“Like Prisca,” he said, fixing his gaze on my mother, “I owe a lot to Thomas for his interventions in the territory’s accounts. Business has never been better.”

So he had listened, I thought. This man had a knack for contradicting my beliefs about him. A smile appeared on his lips, and I could have sworn it was addressed to me as if he had been able to read my darkest thoughts. I hated him even more for that!

“Are you planning to return home soon?” my mother continued.

“Not yet. I’ll take a pleasure trip before that.”

“Really?” Carmichael said, visibly surprised by this.

“Yes, really,” Connor confirmed, resting an arm on the table and meeting his brother’s gaze. “Besides, I suggest that Stella replace me at the head of the Western Territory during my absence. I think she deserves a promotion.”

A silence settled between them, quickly cut by the exclamations which accompanied the arrival of the dessert. Afterwards, our hosts invited us to go to the adjacent lounge. Carmichael was delighted at the idea of offering us a Cognac whose merits were no longer to be justified in his eyes. Once he had served each of the guests, he walked over to me, two glasses in hand, his emerald eyes lighting up his face, his magnetic gift insinuating itself into each of my limbs. I lowered my head, still unaccustomed to experiencing these sensations which, it had to be said, weren’t appropriate since it was my mother’s husband! I struggled to suppress my feelings and looked up at his manly beauty.

“I’m sorry,” he said immediately in his deep voice.

“Uh... What?”

I couldn’t think of anything else to say. It was so hard for me to keep my attention.

“I’m talking about how you feel because of my unique… presence.”

“Uh, yes, it’s a bit embarrassing,” I replied, the fire in my cheeks.

“I understand.”

He cracked a crooked smile. I almost told him that he was making things worse but held back, not wanting to elaborate on his tremendous power of attraction.

“But I wanted to tell you that I’m happy that you’re with us, Isabelle,” he continued, “and I want to thank you.”

“Why?”

“Everliegh told me you helped her make her decision, and I can’t imagine what it must have cost you.”

“She was unhappy.”

“I know,” he said as a sad glint crossed the jade of his eyes.

“Take care of her. That’s all I care about.”

“I promise you.”

“And if you could control this attraction thing you’re doing in my presence, that would suit me,” I told him, turning an index finger in his direction.

“That’s going to be difficult,” he said, amused.

“s**t then. Well, we’ll go with it, I guess.”

“I have the impression that it will be necessary, yes.”

He said this with his lips pursed, and I giggled. He handed me a glass of Cognac, which I politely declined, then returned to my mother. The way he looked at her, I understood all the love he had for her. His gaze was inhabited only by his queen.

“The situation must seem very strange to you,” Prisca called out to me while I watched the guests, all laughing at a joke that Johnny had made.

“What situation are you talking about?” I asked her, intrigued.

“Can we talk to each other?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Well,” she continued, “I’m talking about seeing your mother with my brother.”

“It’s indeed a bit strange.”

Her azure eyes, so close to her brother Connor’s colour, fell on the guests. A smile appeared on her lips.

“If someone had told me that one day I would feel so comfortable in the company of humans,” she said after a silence, “sharing a family dinner which had until then been limited only to my brothers, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

“My mother told me you were immortal, just like your brothers. Have you ever known anything comparable?”

“It’s sad to say, but no. My tyrannical father raised my brothers and me, and his love for us was limited to our hold on the various caste territories.”

“I’ve been told. I heard he had even murdered Carmichael during the War of the Six. I can only imagine what it’s like to be raised by such a father.”

“I knew yours well,” she said. “Eric was a remarkable man. I regret that he left us so soon.”

“Really?!” I wondered. “I thought you didn’t like him. After all, my mother ran away with him, abandoning all her responsibilities.”

“Certainly, but we are immortal, and my brother could never have known his happiness today with Everliegh if he had not let her go. She was madly in love with Eric even before she met my brother. Carmichael knew that. We all knew that. I wish I had the same luck as her.”

“What do you mean?”

She looked down for a moment and pursed her lips. The sad look I read on her face stirred my empathy.

“I had a love, too,” she said, looking up. “Salomon.”

“My mother told me about him. He was one of her dearest friends.”

“He left us too soon, just like Eric,” she said in a voice still shaken by his memory. “But unlike your father, he never wanted us to live together.”

“For what reason?”

“He didn’t want to grow old by my side, knowing I would remain young forever.”

“I have already overheard conversations with my parents on this subject. My father was afraid of being physically dependent on my mother. I would even say that it terrified him.”

“At least he dared to try the adventure despite everything. Sometimes I resent Salomon because I would have enjoyed every minute in his company, whereas now I only live with regrets.”

Her revelations sincerely touched me, and I almost had to hold back tears at Prisca’s sadness. I then understood better the choice my mother had made. My gaze returned to her. She was laughing out loud alongside Elvis and Johnny. Carmichael approached her and put an arm over her shoulders.

“I suppose you will have difficulty in love,” Prisca said with a sigh. “You’re also an immortal. If you experience death one day, you’ll not age. So, you’ll undoubtedly have difficult choices unless you come across an eternal being madly in love with you!”

“Uh… maybe, but right now, I don’t care,” I stammered as my eyes sought out Connor.

Prisca smiled at me and offered me another drink, which I declined. She left to help herself, and the moment she left me, Connor’s voice reached my eardrums. I jumped in surprise.

“Can we talk?”

Despite the desire to ask him to leave, and thinking back to this painful discussion with Prisca, I couldn’t hold back this answer:

“Yes.”