Prologue

Turning 18 should be the greatest day of a teenager's life. If you were a regular human being, turning 18 comes with a lot of perks. You're finally old enough to pay taxes, go to federal prison, and live on your own. Sounds like adulting is so much fun. *Note the sarcasm*

For me, turning 18 is only one step closer to becoming Queen. A role that has always felt overwhelming since the day I began training for it. It's what I was born to be. I've been groomed to be a leader. To have confidence. To be a role model to my kingdom. Even when I don't want to be.

If someone asked me where I see myself in the world, the first answer I would give is that I'm just an average living thing on this miserable planet just like them. Although this may not be completely true, it's the answer I wish were. I just so happen, by coincidence, of course, to be the heir to a kingdom of Casters. To some, that may sound like a role with an abundance of perks and benefits. I'm not going to lie, there are many that I wouldn't trade for the world. The negative part of the princess thing is that I have no social life. With so much to prepare for before I turn 21 and take the throne, doing anything but studying and practicing would push me off course. According to my mother.

Most people see me as uptight even though hardly any of them have ever gotten the chance to know me outside of political meetings and school. Town magazines, news reports, tabloids, or anything else that involves gossip will never miss the chance to discuss any slip of my life that they "happen" to find. School especially isn't an exception to this. It's not uncommon for me to hear, "Why does she always have a stick up her ass?" or, "Here comes Ms. I'm too good for everyone else," when I walk down the hallways. It's all talk though. No one would ever dare to say it to my face. I've grown up around fake smiles and people my entire life. Most of the girls I called friends only hung out with me in hope that I'd let them into my extravagant life. Being close to a royal practically makes you one yourself.

When I started my second year of upper classes I realized all of their bullshit. I caught my closest friend Thea in the bathroom exposing my secrets to Scarlet, the head bitch around school. I was 15 at the time and had a silly crush on a boy from a noble family that attended our school. It wasn't that huge of a secret, but I was still livid. It also turns out that she'd been spilling the other personal things I'd told her

I didn't give Thea a reason for ending our friendship, so she told everybody that I said she was too poor to hang out with me. Instead of explaining myself, I let the rumors spread. Eventually, more rumors spread like wildfire. There was no reason to defend myself if I knew it wasn't true, so I let people believe what they wanted. That's how I got the reputation of a cold, uptight bitch.

For an entire year, I continued life alone until I met Clarke. My only friend. Friends aren't something my parents encouraged. Both my mother and father always preach that I can't let people see my weaknesses. It's a bad representation of the crown. But Clarke was different. She understood and listened to me; I could trust her with my life.

I might've been alone at school, but not at home. I have 2 younger siblings. Ulysses, who is a year younger than me, and Esmeralda, who just turned 15. They were a pain in my ass. Even though I always told my siblings they were the most annoying creatures on this planet, I would do anything for them.

Life outside of school and home was never perfect. There was always a war threat between kingdoms. The vampires didn't like mermaids for whatever reason and the shifters hated us, witches. Which was mutual. The only thing that stopped each kingdom from waging war on the other was The United Peace treaty. An agreement that was signed 100 years ago to prevent conflict between supernatural creatures. That very treaty expired at the end of the month, so it was only a matter of time before the Grand Council proposed another one. Hopefully.