The Heirs of Kalistar Starts Here
Chapter one of The Heirs of Kalistar and bonus content
Welcome back!
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it’s time — today, I’m sharing Chapter One of The Heirs of Kalistar, the novel I’ve been writing, rewriting, and dreaming about for the past three years. This chapter is the beginning of a much larger story — one about power, secrets, betrayal, and the kids at the center of it all.
I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I loved writing it.
It is a bit long, but I hope that doesn’t scare anyone. The next chapter is much shorter.
So grab your coffee, perform your reading ritual, and I’m going to to trust Tobias to hold the room like he always does.
Part One: The Ballad of The Past
600 years ago, on the coast of Kalistar, war had ceased.
A man stepped foot on Kalistarian soil, pitifully unaware of his destiny. It is a shame that this man would never fully discover the true power he held— that his dynasty would become the most dominant and influential in the world. That his name would be the reason betrayal and fire would rip through the streets even centuries later.
The word that would bring kings to their knees.
DENALI.
Chapter One— Reverberation
TOBIAS
I’ve always wondered what a soul actually is.
If it’s this thing inside us, the part of you that aches even when nothing is wrong. If its something we’re born with, or something we develop over time, choice by choice.
I know, theoretically, that our minds control our bodies and actions. Our minds are what give us conscience, the ability to tell right from wrong. The ability to feel.
All I know for sure is that we need souls.
Because the human mind, while thoroughly complex and capable of great emotion— is still the most terrifying thing in our world. It’s stronger than weapons. More clever and manipulative than technology. More creative than any other being.
It’s a lethal combination.
I have a feeling that a mind with no soul— no matter what a soul happens to be— would be only pure evil.
I adjust my grip on the steering wheel, glancing over as Cordelia flips open a pocket mirror. She adjusts her golden necklace to where it’s dangling dangerously close to her cleavage, then moves the mirror to her eye, inspecting it.
I glance at the rear view mirror, Cadmus’ headlights cutting through the night behind us. She pulls a tube of lip gloss out of her purse and runs the wand over her lips. It smells good. Bet it tastes good too.
“Can you turn the radio down?” She asks, rubbing her lips together.
“Why?”
She closes the lip gloss, “I just want a minute of quiet before we get there.”
She turns it down herself, quieting the song.
It’s a shame, really, but I’d like to have a good time tonight, and keeping her happy will ensure that. After all, there’s no reason to fight over stupid stuff.
I catch a piece of floating crimson hair and flick it at her. “You’re shedding.”
She ignores me. She’s looking out of her window, fingers absently running over her corsage when she says, “Tobias?”
“Mhm?”
“Are you getting drunk tonight?”
I adjust my grip on the wheel, “I don’t—”
“Oh, don’t be stupid. Are you planning on it, or not?”
“It depends on what happens.”
I hear the rustle of fabric as she crosses her arms. “I’m not letting you near Nora.”
“I never said anything about Nora.”
“Well, she’ll be there.”
I look over at her, unable to bite back a smile, “No shit.”
Every royal in the damn Gates is going to be there.
“Get that grin off your face.”
“I will drop your ass off on the side of the road and you can walk the rest of the way. You want that? Let’s see how far you make it in those heels.”
I’ve actually seen her sprint in larger ones, but I don’t mention it.
“Cadmus is right behind us.” She says matter-of-factly. “And don’t act like you’re not worried.”
“I thought the whole reason why you made a big fuss about me driving you was because you didn’t want to get in his car.”
She falters as I turn around the last bend and the gates of Third Castle loom into view.
The gates are a monumental entrance, crafted from rich, polished black marble. Each pillar flanking the gates is adorned with towering statues of majestic white marble lions. These lions boast fierce, yet noble expressions, their massive paws resting firmly on the ground while their manes ripple in the imagined breeze.
In the center of the dark metal gate, a massive golden crest of Third Castle gleams brightly, reflecting the gas light. As the car creeps closer, they automatically swing open, granting us entrance to the estate of Third Castle.
We drive through, passing the long line of cars waiting for valet, and the distant castle’s magnificence steals our attention.
“I think this one is my favorite,” Cordelia says quietly, “mainly because of all the white. Don’t you think?”
I shrug, “I like First.”
Third Castle is one of the smaller castles of Kalistar. Used mainly for entertainment purposes like banquets and balls. Around the back side of it, you can find golf courses and tennis courts. Even swimming pools.
In my opinion, its main use is to serve as a gathering place for the women of the Five Houses. It gives them somewhere to go while the men work.
The castle stands in stark contrast to the dark mountains and dense trees behind it, its pure white walls glowing brightly against the landscape. At the heart of the castle is a massive pointed arch, radiating a warm, golden light from within.
Cordelia laughs slightly, pointing out the window towards the pond up ahead. “Do you remember a few years back when Beaux tripped and fell in?”
I nod. “Yeah. I think you shoved him, but—”
“That’s not the point.” She says. “Minor detail, actually. Point is, he had to spend like, thirty minutes in the bathroom drying his suit with the air dryer. Funny as hell.”
I chuckle. She would have killed him if he had done the same to her.
The castle grows closer. Rising from the center of the middle arch, four graceful towers stretch upward, each curving gently to form sharp, elegant points.
The castle’s two sides are symmetrical, featuring long, rectangular halls crowned with triangular roofs. It’s beautiful, certainly, but unlike First Castle, it doesn’t hold that same intimidating, imposing presence.
First Castle is badass.
We continue up the winding drive towards the left side of Third. All the other guests have to wait for valet, but a select few important people get to park to the left of the castle. I stop the car near a tree.
“Do you know when our parents will be here?” I ask Cordelia as she gathers her things.
She glances at me. “No. How am I supposed to know?”
“I thought your mom plans these things.”
She rolls her eyes. “She does, but I don’t talk to her about it.”
I put my hands up, surrendering, “Okay.” I shove the keys in my pocket and straighten my tie.
I get out of the car and take a deep breath in. When I exhale, my breath clouds around me, illuminated by the moon. For some reason, these people always make me feel nervous- like I’m about to hyperventilate. But there’s nothing to worry about. I know all the people here. They know me.
Hell, I’m one of the stars of the show tonight.
I open Cordelia’s door and she takes my hand, swinging a heel out to strike the pavement. She stands and pulls up on her dress, fixing the black material. I try my best to look away, but I mean, damn.
Respectfully, of course.
She’s always been beautiful. But she has this way of doing her makeup that makes you forget what you were thinking. Her eyes just—grab you. Big, warm, brown. One of her legs is angled through the thigh high slit in her dress, like it just landed there by accident.
“Black suits you,” I say.
“That’s what Cadmus said.” She says, not looking me in the eyes.
Of course, Cadmus said that. The dude is practically a walking model. He has to look like the best one in the room no matter where he goes— the only thing is— Cordelia can give him a run for his money. It makes me think about his soul. If they happen to be made of anything— his soul is comprised of hundred dollar bills and diamonds. He’s the greatest found-brother I could ever ask for, but I know Cordelia doesn’t categorize Cadmus in her mind as a brother.
I raise an eyebrow, “You picked this dress because of Cadmus?” I ask.
“He said black is one of my colors.” She says defensively. The look in her eyes tells me not to push any further.
I smile.
Cordelia is iconic.
No, she’s an icon. She’s a babe. She has that kind of beauty that makes other girls want to vomit; The kind of body that makes other girls pull their own hair out.
She has it.
I’m not talking about expensive purses and flashy shit. I’m talking she walks into a room, and her presence is felt. You’re now in the grace of one of the most sought-after, high-valued women of the age.
Not to mention— she’s my best friend. Like, we used to share ice-pops when we were toddlers best friends. Talk about a damn power move.
I offer her my arm and she takes it with a gloved hand.
“Did you lock the car?” She asks.
“Yes, Cordelia, I locked the car.”
“I didn’t hear the horn sound.”
I take the key out of my pocket and press the button, making the horn go off. “Happy?”
She nods.
It’s worth over a million dollars, for God’ sake. Even at an event where there will definitely be no grand theft auto, I’m going to lock it. There’s little that I have a special connection to, but my cars are one of them.
The tapping sound of her heels is deafened as we meet the black carpet stretched out on the walkway. It leads all the way up to the doors of Third. The lights planted in the ground illuminate the flowers and plants decorated along the path.
It’s reflex to put on a vacant smile as we ascend the glass stairs. The waiters on either side of the doors smile in return. The man to our left slightly bows, extending the golden tray he holds. “Sir Dougherty,” he says. I take a glass off the tray, raising my eyebrows.
“Brut Champagne.” The waiter says.
I smile, take a swig, “My favorite.”
He offers one to Cordelia, but she shakes her hand in refusal.
The staff know that we are under twenty-one. However, on a night like this one, and under the influence of so much power and money, anything goes.
And I’m here for it. But Cordelia on the other hand— I don’t think she’s ever had a drink in her life. It’s just one of her things.
We proceed into the heart of Third Castle.
A giant, cream marble staircase starts in the center of the room, contracting to make a platform. A mahogany desk sits there, an elderly man taking names from behind it. From the platform, the stairs continue to curve to the left and right side of the room, connecting to the upper floor.
Symmetry. It’s all over this castle.
I look around at the people standing in groups, chatting mindlessly. There might be a thousand people in attendance tonight. The guest list would be fairly controllable if it was limited to the Five Houses and their close relatives- but it isn’t. Royals can invite anyone they want. And the list is extensive.
I recognize a few familiar faces. Octavian Ellington, House of Commons, currently advocating for more KSA posts around the Gates in Caspian. His wife recently divorced him and she was kicked out of Second. Big scandal. He supposedly cheated on her with another woman, who, out of respect, has been kept nameless. He hates Martis. Which means he inherently hates me. Fun times.
I look around some more and land my gaze on Henry Farah. Also House of Commons, also hates me. He actually tried to have my title revoked. It got shut down, of course. But ever since then, he’s tried to make me look like a fool every Thursday at eight in the morning.
Actually, to make things easier, I’m just going to assume that everyone in this room doesn’t like me. Whether it’s because of my father, Nora, my status, my money- it doesn’t really matter.
I just know that I’m going to try and be made an example of tonight. An example of what happens when you mess with the higher-ups. When you try and climb your way to the top. Most people know that they are looking at their future Prime Minister when they look at me, and they don’t like it. It makes me nervous. There’s not a lot on the line tonight. This is just a glorified party for the rich— but it’s still an opportunity to be flayed alive in front of everyone who matters.
I pray that Martis doesn’t ask me to speak tonight. He told me he wouldn’t, so I didn’t prepare anything. However, it wouldn’t be the first time he’s thrown me in the deep end just to prove I could swim.
I escape my thoughts and release a shaky breath. Reach for Cordelia’s hand. “Shall we?”
She looks over her shoulder, brown eyes scanning the room. Her hand feels cold in mine.“Where are Cadmus and Beaux?”
I shrug, “I haven’t the slightest.”
“Well,” she says, beginning to walk towards the stairs, “we might as well get to the tables and claim seats.”
“Your mom doesn’t have reserved ones?”
She gives me a look, “I don’t know. I don’t know any more about tonight than you do. I don’t know about the food, or the seating arrangements, or what color the damn tablecloths are.”
Her voice carries a slight edge to it, not quite sharp enough to draw blood, but enough to leave a scratch.
She starts again, “I’m not the one in charge of this stuff. Do you know how many people asked me where to add to the guest list?”
I shake my head. Best not to say anything.
“At least three a day for the past two weeks. Do I look like Naomi?”
We start to ascend the stairs and she looks up at me. I look towards the desk, not meeting her eyes, but biting back a grin.
“Don’t answer that.” She mutters. Cordelia looks like the spitting image of her mother. Wild, curly red hair, big brown eyes, full lips, and a slight tan all year round. We pass a group of girls on the stairs, and I watch as their eyes hang on Cordelia, lingering on her. She doesn’t seem to notice, or if she does, it’s not apparent.
We stop at the line forming in front of the desk.
I pull a hand through my hair as I inspect the people in front of us. Most of them are probably mid-forties, dressed accordingly. Not too flashy, but definitely not casual. The young people are easy to pick out— we flash around designer brands openly, while the elderly like to be more discrete. Once, Martis was wearing a two thousand-dollar hat and I had no idea. Hidden wealth becomes more attractive as people age, or so it seems.
The desk clerk is in a golden suit, with a black top hat and black gloves. I’ve never seen him before. I’m used to a guy with slicked-back brown hair, but wispy grays are poking out from this mans hat. His wrinkles suggest that he’s around sixty or so, and a smile appears on his face when he catches a glimpse of Cordelia and I.
No doubt he already knows our names.
“Sir Dougherty and Miss Arien. What a delight,” He says as he checks our names off the list he has in front of him. He then looks up at us again, eyes darting between the two of us. The slight shimmer of sweat on his upper lip is apparent under the glimmer of the chandelier above.
“I have to ask— but are you two—”
“Oh, no,” Cordelia waves a gloved hand, “nothing romantic.” Her cheeks never seem to turn red anymore, like they used to when we were kids. Now, we’re used to the assumptions. The photographs. The headlines.
He gives a nod and a smile. Cordelia grabs my arm again and we proceed to the right side of the stairs.
“You know,” she mutters, “I wonder if everyone else is thinking the same thing.”
I frown, “He’s new. I’ve never seen him before. Besides, I don’t really think it matters. If you weren’t on my arm people would say I’m not a gentleman. They always have an opinion about something.”
“Isn’t that the truth?”
I keep my face blank. I keep my shoulders square. Spine straight.
She’ll be here.
I knew that she was going to be here, in the same room as me.
And it’s fine.
I don’t care.
Cordelia’s right. I just need to stay away from her and we’ll all have a good time.
We make it to the next floor and take a left. I can see the banquet hall doors propped wide open, the golden frame around them sparkling.
People are gathered around the doors, sipping champagne and talking in low voices. My eyes snag on a thick sweep of blond hair. Camran. Head of the Marino House. Total jackass. Also, the father of my ex. He laughs and pushes another man on the shoulder.
Cordelia and I keep walking, in pursuit of the doors.
My eyes betray me and scan around the hall, looking for Nora. Cordelia’s hand comes briefly into my field of vision, motioning to the left corner.
Nora’s blonde hair is pin-straight, dangling just above her waist. Her eyes are locked on a brunet guy in front of her, occasionally breaking eye contact with him to glance down at his lips.
The poor guy doesn’t seem to know that he’s flirting with danger, and not the good kind. You let the good kind of danger ruin your life. Nora’s danger ruins you even when you do everything to prevent it from doing so. Even when you see the signs and don’t like it.
I push through the crowd, pulling Cordelia behind me, trying to get through the doors. Just as we’re about to go through, a man jumps out in front of me. I ram into the back of him and hear the sloshing of champagne hit the floor.
The man has blond hair.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
I keep my glass steady and turn around quickly, keeping my hand on Cordelia. I get us next to the wall, trying to go back to the stairs.
“Was that Camran?” I hear her whisper.
“Yep.”
“Shit.”
“Shit indeed.”
He never has liked me much. Even when Nora and I were a thing. If I was a father, and my daughter cheated on anyone, I wouldn’t take her side. It’s just something you don’t do. Yet, he hates me. Like I’m the reason the relationship ended. Like I’m the reason it’s been blown out of proportion and made everyone else’s business.
I wish I had a hat. Either to cover up my face or tone down Cordelia’s hair. Either option would be helpful. I don’t know how the hell this happens. I come here with a damn plan— and a good one at that. Just stay the hell away from any Marino. I’ve already fucked it up.
I get to the staircase and the same man who was sitting at the desk before eyes us again.
“There’s a room on the first floor down the left hall.” He says, smiling.
I give him a gesture that heavily involves my middle finger. I let go of Cordelia’s arm and run down the stairs. She catches up with me.
“How did that happen?” She asks.
“I don’t know. He just jumped out in front of me.”
“Well, what now?
“I don’t know. I can’t go talk to him so we’re going to have to go in from the back. Do you know how to get there?”
She grabs my arm and pulls me to the left side of the room, towards the back side of the stairs. We go behind them, into a hall. Cordelia’s heels echo down the deserted space, filling the air with an urgent tapping sound.
At the end of the hall, we take a right, leading us towards the outer part of the castle. She stops at a door with a small, square window in it, revealing a staircase meant for housekeepers and maids.
She opens the door, raising her eyebrows at me.
“Brilliant,” I mutter.
We jog up the stairs and find ourselves on the second floor, right at the back entrance to the banquet hall. I push open the door and hold it for Cordelia. I’m disappointed that I don’t smell food yet.
The banquet hall is carpeted, unlike the majority of Third. The muted red color in the carpet compliments nicely with the golden walls. The arches along the walls and the domed ceiling give the room a nice private feeling. There are probably fifty tables in this room, all circular with white tablecloths and giant flower arrangements centered on each table. The glasses are sparkling, and the cutlery is more than likely made of real silver.
“Over there,” Cordelia points to a t-shaped table centered at the front of the room. I walk over and inspect the seats, realizing there are name-holders.
“Bullshit,” I mutter, “first come first serve,” I say, grabbing my name tag. Cadmus too. I place us near Cordelia and Beaux, who are sitting side by side at the base of the T.
Cordelia unfolds her napkin once she’s seated and places it in her lap. I look towards the front entrance and see a maid wiping up the spilled champagne. Camran is nowhere in sight, probably fixing up his attire if I had to guess.
“Don’t freak out or anything,” Cordelia says, “but she’s staring at you.”
I don’t move. I just look over and see her in my peripheral vision, sitting a few tables over, staring in my direction.
She knows it was me who spilled the champagne down Camran’s front side.
I cringe, “I was really hoping nobody knew it was us.”
Cordelia looks at me, folds her hands on the table, and then tilts her head a bit, “That would be impossible.”
I hear a slight surge of clapping coming from the back of the room. I don’t even bother looking. A few seconds later, Cadmus and Beaux sit down with us.
“Where have you two been?” Cordelia asks.
“We went down by the lake for a few minutes,” Beaux says, running a hand through his brown hair.
I look over at Cadmus, who is intently staring at something behind me, blue eyes narrowed. With a slight point of his finger, I sigh.
“I ran into Camran and he spilled his champagne all over himself.”
Cadmus grins.
Beaux laughs and he grabs onto my shoulder, “You know, most people try and avoid their raging exes and crazy families.”
“He jumped out in front of me. The guy’s situational awareness is shot.”
Beaux shrugs, slumps in his chair a bit, “Don’t act like you wouldn’t have doused him in it if you had the chance.”
Bonus Content
So what did you think? I would love to hear your honest opinion of the story and your first impressions of the characters of Kalistar. I’m not posting this to receive half truths— I want full honesty, even if it isn’t positive. Let me know in the comments. I reply to every one of them and I’m happy to discuss anything.
With that being said, here is some commentary from me on certain parts of this chapter.
🎙️Commentary on Cordelia:
While the chapter is from Tobias’ pov, Cordelia’s presence is impossible to ignore. Cordelia is my tribute to all of us teenage girls that have been the “moms” of the friend group—the ones who take charge, keep everyone together, and carry the weight of responsibility that nobody else sees. The ones who seem strong on the outside, but the carry the weight of a thousand worries on the inside. She’s structured. She’s clean. She’s wickedly intelligent— and she’s longing for something more. Something that she can’t have.
Cordelia (Deli) is fragile and fierce at the same time, and her story is deeply personal to me. I find that I connect a lot with the Arien women (you’ll meet her mother in the next chapter) mostly because of their mindsets. I adore writing this diva, and I’m so excited to share her voice with you in the next chapter— because she will challenge your heart.
Here’s a picture of her, hope you like it.
💎Cadmus’s Aura:
It makes me think about his soul. If they happen to be made of anything—his soul is comprised of hundred dollar bills and diamonds.
GAHHH! I squealed when I wrote this. It’s just... Cadmus Evander. That’s him. That’s the vibe. That’s the boy.
Honestly, I don’t have a ton to add here — I just wanted to highlight this moment because I adore it. Expect more of this energy. Expect more of him.
🪩The Opening:
This chapter has had more makeovers than Cordelia’s gala wardrobe. I’ve gone through so many versions of the first chapter, but eventually landed on the House Ball. I felt like it was appropriate because it sets up the characters and world without feeling too overbearing. I INITIALLY had the heirs go into the woods and shoot fireworks. Yep. It just wasn’t it. On brand, but not necessarily the opening I was looking for. Then I went through my fair share of first lines. The original was “Everything is better at night.” Don’t get me wrong, it’s on brand for Tobias’s character to think that, but it didn’t have the punch that I was looking for. I ended up flipping through a dictionary one day, looking for spark words. I landed on soul.
And then came Tobias’s (iconic in my opinion) opening about what a soul actually is. And I think it's perfect because it immediately lets you know that this guy is deep. He likes to think about the questions that can’t be answered.
It’s a common theme that will continue on throughout the book and I can’t wait to see what people think about it!
🕰️Backstory Tease:
What I love about this chapter is that it hints (both obviously and subtly) on past relationships for both Tobias and Deli. You immediately get the sense that Tobias has been through a brutal breakup — one that didn’t just stay private. When you’re Tobias Dougherty, heartbreak makes headlines. And that kind of exposure leaves scars. You’ll get to see the fallout of that as we move forward.
And then there’s Cordelia — you can feel the undercurrent of longing around the prince’s mention. Is it unrequited? Is it complicated? (Spoiler: yes.) The darling of First Castle and the boy everyone wants… well. Let’s just say the full story is still waiting behind the curtain.
That’s all for now
I’m so glad you’re here for this! Let me know your thoughts on the chapter, characters, and world of Kalistar! I’d love to discuss it! (Both the good and bad)
Welcome to Kalistar. I’ll have more for you on Wednesday.
With all the words
—Chloe
Wow, what an incredible start! You pulled me in right away—I’m already hooked and can’t wait to read more. ICheering you on!💝
amazing after turning it into audio,