Non-Heir: The Black Mage Prequel Novella by Rachel E. Carter

Author:Rachel E. Carter [Carter, Rachel E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rachel E. Carter

“I don’t know why you are complaining.” Blayne gave Darren a raised brow. Months had passed since his new sparring partner had been announced. “Priscilla all but throws herself at you. She’s miles above that knight’s daughter you were always practicing with. If Father wasn’t so set on the Langli girl for you, I’d bed her myself.”

The younger prince didn’t reply. Darren didn’t share in his brother’s conquests. As a prince of Jerar, he was presented with more than enough opportunity—women twice his age, girls fresh from the convent, it made no difference. All they wanted were favors, and false flattery did not impress him. Darren cared about making a name for himself as a knight, and the only girl he could even stand to be near preferred the same gender as herself.

He wasn’t upset that Eve had another she preferred to kiss. Darren had never once been compelled to try; she merely felt like an extension of himself, and one that he missed. Even if he had, Eve might have been born highborn, but her father was not, and that was another well-established rule: a prince could only enter into relationships with those of standing, old blood, and prestige… girls like Priscilla.

And while Darren might find girls like Priscilla attractive, it wasn’t enough to compel him to courtship. Well, he had kissed her once—because it was expected after months in her company, and partly because of Blayne’s endless mockery—but that had been a mistake. It had only encouraged her.

Anyone else might have compelled him to feel shame, but Darren knew the girl secretly shared his same sentiment. There was more than one occasion where he had lashed out at her endless string of compliments only to see a flash of irritation in return. She quelled it better than he ever could, but it was there. Disinterest too. Her words were rehearsed, and her gestures too overt.

Once the prince saw anger, but that was directed at the baron when he prompted her to steal Darren for another dance during the last feast. He had caught the way her eyes lingered on another young man. Priscilla resented their situation just as much as he, only she seemed determined to serve out her father’s wish, even if it went against her own.

The longer they kept company, the easier their show for court became. Priscilla had long since dismissed Eve as a threat, but any other female in close proximity, and the girl would attack. Perhaps Darren should have stopped her, but one girl was far preferable to the masses. And there was no one worth fighting for.

“Our definition,” Darren said, finally returning to his brother’s earlier comment, “of ‘miles above’ is miles apart. Eve is worth twice what Priscilla would ever be.” Eve told the truth, and she didn’t fake attraction to garner his favor.

“You are a lowborn sympathizer.” Disgust dripped from the older boy’s tone.

“Eve isn’t lowborn.” Darren’s hands fisted at his sides. “Sir Audric earned his new status when he was knighted.

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