Sneak Peek #1 [Blood Legacies]

"It's a risky plan," you said.

Hayden snaps his/she fingers. "And also the most fun. I can just imagine the gossip, they'll be talking about this for months." He/She grinned as if he/she could already savor the conversations. "But we're counting on the fact that my father will listen to yours, Cel," Hayden replies, leaning back on the bed.

"He will," Cecília affirms, but even you notice the slight hesitation that permeates her response.

"So that's it? We hope the king hands the sword over to Hayden without hesitation?" you ask.

Hayden laughed, the sound ringing a bit too loudly in the silence of the room, and all eyes, including yours, go to him/her. Waiting, until he/she calms down and says, breathlessly, "Ah... this is going to be fun."

"He'll have to behave," Caio says, surprising you. He had been very quiet throughout everything, but decided to make his voice heard now. "Hayden, I mean. He/She'll have to please the king."

Hayden makes a face. "Ah... that wasn't part of the plan, you know?"

"It is now," Caio replies simply, his gaze serious. "The king won't hand over the sword if he thinks you might do something idiotic, which he undoubtedly will think you'll do throughout the entire party. That's why you need to act as he would like, so that he has the minimum of hope in your behavior."

Hayden laughs once more, now genuinely amused. "The minimum of hope in my behavior? That's funny, Caio. Seriously, hilarious." Hayden sits up. "I think it's easier for the Black Forest to bloom flowers than for my father to believe in me. You know, my father would probably leave me locked in my room for the rest of my life until my wedding if it weren't for the fact that this could bring rumors that would disturb the perfect reputation of House Elkar. And you really think he'll give me the sword and have the minimum of hope in me? Wow, that's going to go so... so well."

"Don't be pessimistic," Cecilia frowns.

"Oh, I'm not being pessimistic, but realistic. If we want my daddy to hand me the sword, this needs to be done another way."

"What way?" you ask, looking at him/her. Hayden bites his/her lower lip, his/her gaze on the ceiling as he/she seems to think of alternatives. A few moments passed, and you narrow your eyebrows. "Hayden?"

"Hmm...." Hayden hums, and his/her blue gaze lowers to you, with an intensity that made you go on alert for several reasons, the biting of his/she lip wasn't helping.