Page 40 of Heir of Darkness

A tear fell onto the paper, smearing the ink slightly, but it didn’t matter. Her father’s lawyer took the papers the moment the pen lifted from the page.

“I will get these filed and sent to both parties,” the lawyer said.

“We need a copy,” Blair said.

He nodded reluctantly, walking away from the group. Reece looked at Valerio once again. He didn’t say anything before he was stomping out of the door. Her mother followed after him, not saying a single word to Luna on her way out. It should have hurt, but her mother choosing her father never surprised her anymore.

“Be my date to the gala next week,” Valerio said, pulling her out of her own thoughts.

She could only nod her head. It gave her time to think and to reflect.

“Then it’s a date,” he said, leaning down to press a kiss to her lips, ignoring her look of surprise.

Luna’s signature was on the page now, officially.

Forever, until death did them part.

SEVENTEEN

LUNA

Every year,the University hosted a party to honor the families that donated all the millions of dollars that funded the school and paid their incomes.

For the past two years, Luna and Finn attended the party alone because their father and mother were never able to make it due to other business requirements. Really, they didn’t want to make the trip down. They threw a check at the Dean and didn’t care about anything else as long as their children remained out of headlines.

Not that it mattered anymore since her parents refused to speak to Luna after what happened at the engagement party. In Reece Kingsley’s eyes, her reputation was tainted and destroyed. He couldn’t care less what happened to her. Her mother also made that abundantly clear when she followed her husband out of the party without so much of another glance at Luna. She couldn’t tell if their silence was a good thing or a bad thing.

The girls attended the party as well, but their parents actually showed up. Well, those that weren’t absolutely horrible. Gianna’s and Allister’s father mingled and talked business with some of the others in the room but not before giving Gianna a kiss on the cheek and Allister a slap on the shoulder. Blair’smother stood beside her, looking elegant in their matching emerald dresses. Her mother’s skin was slightly tanner than hers, but otherwise they were so similar with their caramel colored hair and deep brown eyes. Her father, on the other hand, never showed up to anything unless it had to do with Blair being recognized for something specifically. Even then, the excuses came too often.

Cecilia’s parents had walked in with her, but now they talked with Augustus’ parents at the bar. Friends since the two were born, the two parental couples were close, which made Cecilia’s life hell when she tried to stay away from Augustus himself.

It was embarrassing not having parents there, but nevertheless, Luna and Finn walked in together. The navy silk of her dress dragged on the floor behind her as she walked down the stairs. She didn’t pick this dress; her mother sent it before she stopped speaking to her. Considering she had no time to prepare otherwise, the dress was the best option. The halter top neckline wrapped around her like a noose and it was purposefully tight on her body until it flowed out at her knees. The back was open, so she wore her hair up. The dress was beautiful, she had to admit.

She didn’t like wearing the color blue though, especially not when it resembled a pair of eyes she was becoming too familiar with, and especially when they darkened like they did now. Valerio stood by the bar talking to Dante, but the moment he saw her, his gaze skimmed her body. She turned away, forcing herself to keep her composure. She knew people would be watching them—they were all the talk lately. Especially after the spectacle at the engagement party.

Everyone latched onto Valerio walking over to her looking undeniably handsome in his all-black tux. She held her breath, her body tensing.

“Luna,” he said, grabbing her hand and placing a kiss on the back of it as if he were some kind of gentleman. “You look beautiful.”

“Thanks.” She pulled her hand away, pretending to fix his tux instead. Her voice got quiet. “I know what I agreed to in that forest, but this doesn’t mean I’m suddenly okay with everything.”

His eyes darkened dangerously. “I never said you had to.”

She went to open her mouth, to call for Finn, but he was already long gone. Valerio wrapped an arm around her waist pulling her along to the bar. “Where are your parents? I saw you only brought that little rat with you.”

“My parents never come,” she told him, ignoring his jab at Finn. “Where’s your father?”

“Who fucking knows,” he muttered. “He’s never attended a school event in his life and he won’t start now.”

“Great future ahead for any children we’ll have.”

He looked over at her with a small smile on his face. “Was that a joke?”

“I think it’s more of a foreshadowing.”

“At least you’re acknowledging a future between us.” He leaned against the bar, motioning for the bartender to come over to them. “I would say that’s considerable progress in our relationship.”

“I think you’re missing the point completely. And this isn’t a relationship,” she muttered. Valerio ignored her, ordering drinks for them. She looked around the room, her eyes catching on Gianna who was walking over to them.

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