“But I can only hope that you’ll listen to me. You cannot trust him, Jazmine. The St. Tristan Dynasty is poison and every single member of it is a snake.”
I don’t excuse myself as I get up, shoving my chair back as I walk away. I can’t listen to another word from Magnus and I tell myself it’s because I trust Raph and nothing that Magnus says can ever change that.
33
Unlike the Fall Ball, the Winter Ball isn’t only for Regency Mount students. It’s for all of the Dynasties and nobles, so it’s a much grander affair.
Although it’s been a relatively mild winter so far, the Aspen estate is covered in a thick blanket of snow for the occasion and of course, the snow is real.
But it’s not just the snow covered landscape that steals my breath or the grand manor house, because at the center of the vast estate grounds, there is what looks like an actual ice castle, which appears to have been erected especially for the event.
Orbs of pale blue light float high above the rafters of the vast ballroom which is made of pure ice. When I walk into that ballroom, I feel like I’m walking right into a storybook painting.
“Impressed?” I turn to see Keller coming up behind me, looking awesome in her silver and white dress. Amidst the backdrop of the ice palace, she looks like the snow queen from those children’s stories herself. She’s totally in her element.
I remember thinking when I first met this girl that she was all attitude and cold as ice. But I was totally wrong, just like I’d been wrong about a lot of things when it came to Eden and to the Dynasty heirs.
I return her beaming smile with a wide grin of my own.
“Impressed is an understatement,” I reply.
“Did you do all of this yourself?”
“Of course not!”
“She had help from us.”
I blink once, twice. At first, I think I’m seeing things, because there’s a young boy now standing on each side of Keller, both of whom look identical. From their light brown hair to their deep grey eyes, so much like Keller’s, but with a spark of mischief entirely their own, and even down to their identical silver bow ties. Twins.
Keller rolls her eyes.
“Jazmine, meet Leo and Jael, my little brothers, a.k.a, the Aspen terrors.”
Leo and Jael each flash me a smile. Leo’s is slightly shy, whereas Jael’s is both mischievous and brazen. Both boys are handsome, even for their age but I can tell that Jael is the one to watch out for. He’ll be breaking hearts left, right and center when he grows up, no doubt.
“Hi, Jazmine,” Jael replies, with that daredevil smile.
“Wanna dance?”
My eyebrows shoot up as Keller claps her little brother around the back of his head.
“Aren’t you a little young?” I reply, with a grin.
“No. I’ll be eleven in a few months,” he says, with unwavering confidence.
“Quit being such a menace,” Keller groans.
“Okay, forget the dance. How about a date instead?”
This time, I can’t help but laugh in response, and Keller is equally amused.
“I’m sorry but I’m seeing someone right now,” I reply, once the laughter has subsided.
Jael looks genuinely disappointed.
“Speaking of which, where is your date?” Keller asks then, looking around for Raph, although she’s not going to find him because despite his many protests, I’d insisted that he should still go with Layla, like his father wanted.
It was probably a crazy decision on my part. But after Magnus’s less than glowing reaction to finding Raph and me together, I’m convinced more than ever that the big reveal about our relationship would definitely need to wait. Showing up together to a ball with all the Dynasties and nobles watching would be like breaking the news with a sledgehammer. I don’t know much about politics or Dynasty life, but breaking it to Raph’s father by making such a public statement definitely doesn’t seem like a good idea.
I don’t even mind that he’s going with Layla. I realized the other day, when Magnus challenged me about it, that I really do trust Raph. I know with every fiber in my being just how deep his feelings for me run and he’s made it clear to me, that no other girl even exists for him. He’s mine and for now, that’s enough. The public declarations and all of the consequences flowing from that, can wait.
“I sort of convinced him that we shouldn’t go together,” I reply casually.
Keller’s eyes widen in response.
“Why the hell did you do that?”
“Because I don’t think either of us is ready for that and … I trust him,” I reply evenly.
She seems to be thinking that over for a moment, then flashes me a smile.
“Good for you,” she replies finally, which reinforces my belief that I’ve done the right thing.
That feeling doesn’t last long, though, because a second later, Raph makes his entrance and right by his side is Layla.
All eyes turn to them as they walk through the ornate entrance carved entirely of ice. Raph looks devastatingly handsome in a white suit jacket and black tailored trousers. Layla is wearing a shimmering ice blue gown which makes my own black and silver dress look plain in comparison. Individually, they’re both undoubtedly model beautiful and stunning, but together they glow with an almost ethereal light. Any fool can see how perfect they look together and suddenly I’m not feeling so good about my decision. But I remind myself that I could have stopped this from happening, if I had only said the word.
I’m comforted somewhat by the clear look of displeasure on Raph’s face as he enters the ballroom and by how his eyes search for me, softening instantly when they find me.
“Speak of the devil,” Keller says.
Jael’s eyes follow Keller’s and my gazes to the entrance and his mouth drops open.
“Wait—is Raph your boyfriend?” he asks.
I hadn’t really thought of us in terms of labels, but …
“Yeah, I guess he is,” I reply with a faint smile.
Jael frowns then.
“That can’t be right because—”
He breaks off mid-sentence, and I notice Leo cutting him a warning look.
Keller and I eye the twins curiously.
“But you remember what we heard mom and dad saying …” Jael says.
“Have you two been eavesdropping on mom and dad’s conversations again?” Keller demands, looking annoyed.
Leo grabs Jael’s arm suddenly.
“Gotta go,” he blurts, turning to make a run for it and making sure to drag Jael with him.
“Wait—” I call out, but they’re out of earshot in a split second. Damn, those two are fast.
“What the hell was that?” I ask, as I turn back to Keller. She only shrugs dismissively, probably used to her little brothers’ antics. But I’m not and Jael’s words have left me feeling more than just a little curious.
“There’s been a flurry of Dynasty sessions and advisory meetings lately. Something’s going on in the Dynasty chambers, I guess, but who knows? They keep most things strictly confidential behind those doors—well except for when my little brothers happen to eavesdrop on my mom’s meetings in her study or when they go snooping through her papers.”