by Nora Cobb
“He wanted you here so that he could flaunt the fact that you survived, and my son did not!”
The outburst filled the room and I reared back as if she had hit me. Was that what she thought? “Why would he do something like that?”
Isauros let out a harsh laugh. “You know nothing of your father, Miss Komita. Nothing.”
“But he wanted me here,” I stated, remembering my father’s will. He had named my mother specifically, as if he cared about me, about her.
“He wanted you here for a reason,” she said. “If nothing more than to torture me.”
So, she had already said. I swallowed, wishing I hadn’t come in here.
“Besides,” the headmistress continued, her voice low. “You may know the hurt of losing your parents, but you cannot understand the pain of losing your only child, Miss Komita. I held him in my arms and watched him take his last breath. I lived through months of torture, wondering what I had done wrong to deserve my heart being ripped out of my chest, and received no answers. Your father never would forgive me for losing his son, his heir, up until the day he died.” She then rose from her chair, her eyes glittering with anger. “The one thing he could never take from me was the way that little body felt in my arms, the precious moments I had with my son until his life ended. Your father could never take away the feeling of my son moving around in my belly, the life growing inside of me.”
Her words were torture, but I knew they were straight from the heart. I could feel the pain in those words. “I’m sorry.”
She waved a hand at me. “Do not apologize to me. I do not want your pity, nor do I care to hear anything from you. You, Miss Komita, do not belong here.”
That, we could both agree on. I didn’t belong here. No matter how hard I tried, or who my parents were, I would never fit in amongst these royals.
Amongst the kings. “Why don’t you just get rid of me?” I asked, curious.
Her eyes became narrowed slits. “I would love to get rid of you, Miss Komita, but you have made some powerful alliances by fucking the kings. I have to bide my time and wait for the right moment.”
So, she still wanted me gone. There was no surprise there. “Will you not tell me something of my father or mother?” I asked lightly, knowing my time was growing short in her presence.
The headmistress laughed, reclining in her chair. “You truly wish to know about your father? Your father was a tyrant. He took what he wanted, when he wanted, and gave no apologies. He cared for no one save himself and least of all a bastard child from one of his whores.”
“My mother was not a whore,” I shot back, hating the word.
Isauros eyed me. “You do not know who your mother was so don’t try to pretend otherwise, Miss Komita. You have this elaborate past already figured out, don’t you? Well, I am here to tell you that nothing you have figured out thus far is true.”
I wanted to rail at her, to tell her she was mistaken, but how could I? I didn’t know anything about my mother and less about my father.
“Besides,” the woman continued, pressing her hands into the wood on her desk. “If you knew half the things your father was capable of, you would have already gathered that your mother is dead, and he is responsible for her death.”
**
I didn’t even remember how I got back to my dorm or how I pressed my face into my pillow, sobbing as the truth had come to life.
My mother was dead.
I had known it deep down since the moment I had passed the threshold and learned the truth about my past, but hearing those words from someone who likely knew the truth did not soften the blow.
I found myself walking to the library shortly after my cryfest in the dorm, wrapping my arms around myself to ward off the sudden chill that filled my body. I was truly alone. My mother was dead and so was my father. There was no one that was going to come for me, no one that cared about me or my well-being.
Sure, I had the fortune my father had bequeathed me, but it wasn’t going to wrap itself around me and hug me close. It wasn’t going to call me on my birthday and wish me well or provide comfort when I was sad.
What it would do was buy friends who could not care less about me, only caring about their status.
Even the kings couldn’t deny the allure of the money and what it could do. It would open doors, political ones, that they had only dreamed about. My time with Arthur had clearly defined his need to have that money, and the road I was walking down with Royce was likely not going to be any different. He could talk about how he wanted me for me, but he was one of the three that had made that pact in the beginning, before I had come to the academy.
I couldn’t trust him any more than I could trust the other two.
Deciding that the library wasn’t in me today, I bypassed it and walked outside, where a light snow was falling. It reminded me of my time with Royce, and how innocent our time together had been, if only for a little while.
Had I enjoyed my time with Royce? Absolutely.
Was I going to do it again? That, I didn’t know for sure. One time with a king was enough if I wanted to keep my heart intact.
Which I was finding harder to do.
**
Royce
I lunged my sword toward my opponent, satisfied when I heard the grunt as my sword made connection with his already-sore ribs. A drop of blood appeared, and I stepped back, hearing the cheers of those around the ring.
I had drawn first blood. I was the winner.
After giving my wide-arching bow to the crowd gathered, I sauntered out of the ring, handing off my sword and grabbing my towel. Tonight, the ring was packed, many vying to watch the first round of the annual tournament that I enjoyed putting on. It provided entertainment and a fat pocket, though I always made myself ineligible to receive. The money that was flowing through the illegal club was enough for me.
Plus, it gave others a chance to be on top for once.
Wiping my face, I threw the towel in my bag and walked through the crowd, pushing past them so that I could reach the door. While the tournament was usually foremost on my mind, there was something, or rather someone else pressing more.
Damn, pauper.
She had been on my mind since the morning she had exited my home, refusing to take a ride back to the school in case someone saw us. Hell, they didn’t have to see us together. All they had to do was put me in the same room as her and they would see it written all over my face.
I had slept with Anna.
It wasn’t for any other reason other than that I wanted to. I hadn’t lied to her. I could give two shits about the money or the pact right now. She had infiltrated my mind with her quiet smile and laughter that warmed me like no other.
Damn, she had gotten to me, just like I hope she wouldn’t.
Shaking my head, I walked to my car, briefly considering going to look for her and invite her back over. She could stay, for all I cared, but I knew she wouldn’t.
I was still the enemy, no matter how much I told her otherwise.
Growling, I threw my bag into my car and climbed in, resting my head on the headrest. One thing was for sure. I had done things, seen a side of Anna that good old Art had not. He might have had her first, but I had the best part of her.
I had seen the laughter on her face as we spent time together. I had been there when she had found her father’s will.
I was the one who had contacts out everywhere trying to track down the whereabouts on her mother so that she could learn more about her.
Most of all, I was actually helping her. I was the only one helping her, not hindering her.
Yet she saw me as what I was; a king.
“Bloody hell,” I whispered, hitting my palm on the steering wheel. There was nothing I could do about that. I was who I was, and I couldn’t change it.
Even though Anna made me think I could be someone else whenever I was around her.
Chapter 14
Anna
I saw the first k
ing the next day after my confrontation with Isauros. Arthur caught up with me as I was leaving one of my classes, his hand briefly touching my arm. “Hey, Anna.”
I stopped and stared at him, knowing that he could see the lack of sleep in my eyes, the withdrawn look on my face. “Arthur. What can I do for you?”
He eyed me. “Are you all right?”
“No, not really,” I answered, pushing my hair out of my face. “But it doesn’t matter. Did you need something?”
His eyes filled with concern. “Something’s not right. What’s going on?”
“I had a run-in with Isauros, all right?” I forced out. “And I learned nothing from her! Do you know how that feels? Do you know how much I want to know who I am? And every time I turn around, I get nothing!”
“Anna, please,” Arthur said, pulling me close. “Tell me what I can do to help.”
I shook out of his touch, not really wanting any of the kings to help right now. “Nothing, Arthur. You can’t do anything all right? Just leave me alone.”
He didn’t try to stop me as I walked away, moving from class to class without even comprehending what they were saying.
It wasn’t until the end of the day that I encountered my second king. Royce pulled me into one of the alcoves as I walked down the hall, his hand on my arm immediately doing things to my stomach. I hadn’t seen him since I walked out of his door that morning after our sexcapade, wishing that I could just turn right back into his arms. “Royce.”
“Pauper,” he answered, reaching out to touch my face before pulling back. “It’s good to see you.”
“What do you want?” I asked tiredly, really just wanting to curl up in my bed and take a long nap.
“That’s no way to greet me, pauper,” he said softly, his eyes searching mine. “What’s wrong?”
“Why does everyone think something’s wrong with me?”
“Because I can see it all over your damn face,” he answered roughly. “What’s going on, Anna?”
I didn’t really want to explain myself again to another king who really didn’t give a shit. “Nothing. I just had that talk with Isauros, that’s all.”
“And?” he prodded, looking worried now. “What did she say? Dammit, Anna, talk to me!”
I bit my lower lip, forcing back the tears. “I really can’t talk about this right now, Royce.”
He swore and pulled me against him, his arms oddly comforting. I breathed in his scent, wanting to hold onto him and never let go. “Tell me, Anna,” he whispered, his breath hot in my ear. “I can help.”
I forced myself to pull out of his arms, knowing that no good could come from that. “There’s nothing you can do, Royce. Nothing. I really have to go.”
His hand shot out and stopped me. “Anna, I’m not your enemy.”
I looked back at his devastatingly handsome face. “But you are, Royce. You’ve always been.”
His mouth tightened and I pulled away, walking out before I did something stupid.
Again.
The third king found me as the sun was setting. I was curled up in one of the window seats at the back of the academy, one that allowed me to look out over the lake. It was my favorite time of the day, watching the sun set over the water and thinking about home.
Not this home, but the home where I was just Anna Komita, a recent high school graduate on her way to UCLA, the school she had always dreamed of attending.
Now that dream seemed like a distant memory.
“Anna.”
I growled as I heard that voice, turning to see the third king standing not too far away from me, his hands in his pockets. “Max. Let me guess, you want to know what’s wrong with me too?”
He chuckled. “Not so much. I figured if you wanted me to know, you would tell me.”
True. “Everyone seems to want to know so I thought you would as well.”
“I’m not everyone,” he stated, gesturing to the other side of the window seat. “Can I sit?”
I shrugged. “Sure, why not.”
He hopped up and sat, drawing one knee up to rest his forearm on it. “So, I hear you confronted the headmistress.”
Of course he knew about that. “So?”
“That was dangerous, Anna,” he said in a low voice. “She has connections that could have you in the lake and buried in a matter of an hour.”
“So what?” I countered. “If she does, it’s not like anyone would miss me.”
“I’m sure the other kings would,” he shrugged, his eyes gleaming with interest. “I hear you have quite the relationships with Arthur and Royce now.”
I rubbed a hand over my face. “I really don’t want to play these games, Max. Say what you came to say and be done with it.” I knew what I had done and what I had enjoyed.
He leaned forward. “You see, you have to play the game, Anna. You can’t just go around telling other people to give you what you want without knowing what you are up against.”
“Why not?” I asked. “I should be able to find out my answers however I see fit. I am royalty, aren’t I?”
Max shook his head. “You might be on the verge of royalty, Anna, but it doesn’t mean that they won’t come after you. You have something unique with the headmistress and she is not likely to forget that you have everything she has worked hard for in the palm of your hand.”
I snorted. I had nothing to hold over her head or anyone else’s. Heck, I couldn’t even figure out who I was, much less understand the secrets that were floating around pertaining to my birth. Besides, she had told me one thing.
I was nothing. “See that is where you are wrong,” I told Max, giving him a sad smile. “I have no power. I’m not a king. I’m not royalty. I’m nobody.”
Max stared at me for a moment. “Just because I am king doesn’t mean I don’t have my own fucking issues. My family is disgraced. You’ve heard the rumors. I have nothing save a name that doesn’t mean shit in polite circles.”
I had heard the rumors of how Max’s family was disgraced and struggling to remain pertinent in the political world.
But at least he had a family name, a family he knew he was derived from. I didn’t have anything of the sort, only a father that I didn’t understand and a mother who was just a mystery.
“I hope you don’t trust any of us,” Max added after a moment.
I cocked my head to the side. “What do you mean by that?”
“I know you have been with Arthur,” he started, his jaw clenching. “But I hope you remember that Arthur is out to elevate his status by taking your birthright.”
“That’s old news,” I answered softly.
“And Royce,” he continued. “He’s the master manipulator. He’s telling you about what Arthur needs, what I need, but has he told you what he needs? He needs for you to turn your back on all of us save him so that he can leave this school with a win.” He then chuckled. “Because he sure as hell isn’t going to do it with his grades.”
“I’m well aware all of you need me,” I countered. “What’s your story, Max?”
He thought for a moment. “I’m not going to lie to you, Anna. I don’t play games. Yeah, aligning myself with you would provide my family with much more than we have had in the past. It would bring us to the forefront of the European monarchy and restore us to our rightful place.”
Well, he certainly hadn’t lied to me. A piece of me felt upset that he hadn’t sugarcoated anything, but the bigger piece of me was grateful that he had told me the truth. “Thanks, I think.”
Max hopped down from the window seat and his hair fell across his forehead, making him appear younger. “You’re welcome. If there is one thing that I won’t do to you, Anna, it’s lie to you. I can promise you that.”
He then turned back to look at me. “Think about us kings, Anna. Think of what we are telling you and why we might be telling you. There is always a story between the lines, and we are no different from those rules. Keep your guard up and know that no one, not even I, is your f
riend right now.”
He strode off before I could say anything else and I pulled my knees up to my chest, resting my forehead on them. As much as I wanted to not believe Max about what he had told me, I knew it was the truth. All three kings had a reason to want to be close to me and I hated it. I hated the fact that I was this pawn in their game and no matter what they told me; I couldn’t trust any of them.
