Back to Atlantis by Bar Sagi (best book reader txt) 📗

she could help it. “We were talking about the orphanage in town. Violet said she feels bad the orphanage couldn’t come to the last ball. She would have loved to give them makeup.”

Violet’s gaze slid to her, and changed from ‘idiotically in love’ to a ‘what the hell’ glare on Yasmin.

Yasmin could basically feel Violet asking ‘Would I do something so stupid?’

David still looked suspicious. “You know about the orphanage, Yasmin?” He stared at her carefully, trying to figure out if she was lying.

“Duh!” Yasmin said. “I visit them every weekend. Did you know your mother cut part of their funding?” She glared at him, every hurt feeling she had ever felt against him, plus every good one coming to the surface.

She had to use all her willpower to fight back tears. But one or two still escaped. “Now go away, David.” She turned her back on him, not wanting David to see her crying.

“Violet?” David asked. “Is this true?”

Yasmin could hear Violet’s answer. “Of course! I feel horrible that us nobles get everything while the poor orphans get nothing! We should invite them personally to the next ball!” Violet fluttered her lashes, adding, “Please?”

Yasmin turned around. Was there going to be another ball? How many did this kingdom have? “How many balls does your kingdom have?” she asked, crossing her arms in anger. She refused to be anything but angry around David. “One every week?”

“No, Yasmin,” he said, lecturing her as if she was his student. “We had one for my birthday, as is custom to have a ball on a royal relative’s birthday every year. So every year on the 27 of February. But the ball Violet is talking about is the spring Equinox ball, and it happens on the spring Equinox. Which this year, is March 20. So, not that far away.”

Yasmin wanted really badly to stick her tongue out at David, but restrained herself. “So, basically, you want to invite orphans from all over the country to the ball?” It seemed like a terrible idea. No way could all those orphans fit in one room, even if the ballroom was over seventy feet wide.

“No, silly!” Violet giggled, her noble façade dripping over her like a second skin. She clung to David’s arm, leaning against him. David leaned slightly away from her, ever so subtly.

“Only those from town. And of course we’ll provide them with clothes. If they barely have food, how could they afford ball gowns?” Her eyes glimmered with amusement.

What was her game?

“Oh, that reminds me.” Yasmin said, changing the subject. “Do you know why the beast wouldn’t be attacking me, David?” She couldn’t believe what she was saying. Why would she ever ask David for input?!

David raised an eyebrow, detangling himself from Violet as politely as possible. “The only possible way for the beast not to be trying to invade you with an easy path open is if something was holding him back. And since your magical power is limited thanks to your necklace…” He pointed at the opal necklace that Yasmin had wanted to take off for months. “I must assume is another power at work here. Is there someone else with a pathway into your mind?”

Yasmin locked gazes with Violet. Abby! They thought. But her expression didn’t betray the slightest bit of indifference.

“Whatever, David.” She shrugged. “I don’t need your help.”

David’s eyes crinkled, as if he was hurt, but his expression smoothed over in a millisecond. “I was just thinking, Violet,” he said, turning to face his fiancée, who lit up under his attention. “That is a really good idea. We should make it come true. All commoners are not as lucky as us,” he said, with a hint of distain.

Yasmin flinched. He hadn’t been very subtle in hiding his disgust.

She turned away and left, unable to bring herself to be near David anymore. It hurt so much. Every time she was anywhere near him, her broken heart turned into a rubber band, wound up tight. It hurt so much, it physically hurt, that it was all Yasmin could do not to fall to the ground and clutch her heart. But no. She had decided to stay away from David to let her heart heal. To try and get over him.

But would she ever be able to? It had been three months, and she still felt her knees lock into place whenever he slid his gaze on her. She might put all these walls around her, but he took them down with one look from those light blue eyes.

Shaking her head, she closed he eyes and tried to think of something else. A face popped into her head immediately.

One with a head of messy, white blond hair, and gorgeous green eyes. Lucas. He could always make her feel better.

Maybe he could help her at the next ball, if she had to go. Maybe he could help her get over David.

A friend was something she needed right now.

Chapter 14

A visit home

“Digdig!” she cried, barreling past the open arms of her father into the comforting paws of her cat. He meowed in protest, but didn’t move as she hugged him and kissed his head. Finally, he squirmed out of her grasp and ran away. Yasmin straightened with a laugh and looked around.

The house was just like she remembered it, with the smell of rice filling the house. Lunch time was near, and because it was Saturday, her family had nothing to do. No work, nothing.

“Hey, Bar,” Dror said.

Yasmin started, unused to hearing her name being spoken in Hebrew. Everyone in Atlantis spoke in English, so she spoke that language too, most of the time. “Your last test results are in. Eighty-five. Good job.”

Yasmin jumped and clapped her hands. Because she had to go to Atlantis, but still had to go to school, the royal family had devised a compromise. So basically, she was tutored in the royal palace, and the schoolwork there was the same level as in her old school. Her tutor