Chapter 22 Do you love him?
SOMA
The palace is much quieter when we arrive. I don’t say a word to Lilith, and she doesn’t start a conversation. Guilt eats me from the inside. My life might be better now, but it cost me my only friend.
When the car stops, someone comes to my door to open it. If this is what I get for being chosen, then what will my life be like when I’m made princess or Luna? I step out of the car, and the person who opened it bows in greeting.
Lilith slides out of the car, waiting for me before she starts for the entrance. More heads lower in a bow as we pass. Maids dart around as they clean the house. I’ve come here a few times to deliver things to my cousins, but this time, it feels different. I’m not coming as an errand girl, but as someone important.
We make our way upstairs, and Lilith leads me down a wide hallway on the second floor. My heart gains speed as I follow. The room I slept in last night was on the first floor.
“Come on. This is your wing,” she tells me. Her finger jerks toward the ceiling. “The princess and princes’ wings are upstairs. Your maids have their rooms down the hall. Which makes it easier for them to reach you faster when you call.”
“My maids?” I force the lump down my throat. Having a driver is one thing, but maids? That’s more than unnecessary. “There’s no need. I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.”
“I’m well aware, but you’re a royal now. You can’t do that.” She steps in front of a set of double doors with a shiny gold knocker. “If you’re going to be crowned Princess of Shadowspire within the next year, you’ll need to start acting like one now. Your life as you knew it before is officially over. People will treat you differently, as you’ve already witnessed at Helen’s. The sooner you get used to this lifestyle, the better.”
That being said, she pushes the doors open. I take a step inside and pause, my breath catching in my throat. If I thought my cousins’ rooms were big, this is… magnanimous. It’s not just a bedroom. It’s an entire suite.
The warmth hits me first, and the soft hum of luxury wraps around me like a hug I didn’t know I needed. Beneath my feet are smooth, dark woods that have been polished to a shine. A thick cream-colored rug stretches beneath a circular glass coffee table. Around it are two velvety armchairs and a plush sofa in a muted gold tone that looks too soft to sit on without sinking all the way in.
There’s a cozy fireplace set into the wall, framed by a white marble mantel. Above it, a large screen, an actual TV, hangs like a piece of art. There’s a real television for me.
To my right, there’s a small dining nook with two elegant chairs tucked into a glossy table set beneath a low-hanging chandelier. Everything sparkles, even in the daylight. The tall windows stretch from floor to ceiling, draped in sheer curtains that allow sunlight inside. One of the windows is a glass door that leads to a balcony.
Lilith walks ahead without a word, her footsteps quiet on the floor. She reaches a closed door and opens it with ease. And I almost break down in tears.
The bedroom beyond is straight out of a fairy tale. The bed is enormous, too big for five of me. Six, even. It’s framed with carved wooden posts and layered in white bedding. The padded headboard rises tall, as if waiting for me to run my fingers over it.
Snapping out of my daze, I continue my exploration of the living area. My fingers trail over the edge of the sofa, the smooth surface of the table, and the edge of the fireplace mantel.
This place… is mine? I have my own space. My own room. My own TV. My own view.
Lilith clears her throat. “Do you like it? We can make necessary adjustments if there’s anything that’s not to your taste. What do you think?”
I think she’s out of her mind. That she’ll laugh and call this a prank soon. But she doesn’t.
“It’s fine,” I mumble. “Thank you.”
“Get settled. Look around. We spent more time at your aunt’s than I thought we would. I have a few engagements to attend to right now, so I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She leaves as quietly as she entered. I stand there for too long, afraid to blink for fear of it all disappearing.
A knock sounds on the door, snapping me out of my trance. I can’t remember Lilith ever knocking before entering my room. It must be a maid, probably with lunch or a new set of clothes for my stay here. At the door, I smooth my hands over my dress and open it.
The peace that once settled over the room shatters.
Kade grins. Brynne scowls. Their expressions jolt me into motion. I lunge for the handle, but Brynne is quicker. His hand shoots through the gap, slamming against the doorframe to keep the door open.
“Not so fast, Princess. Or should I say Your Ladyship?”
The mockery in his voice makes me recoil. Kade laughs, stepping into the room with him. My hands shake, and I hide them behind me. I’m no longer the girl they used to bully. I can stand up for myself.
“What do you want?” I ask.
“Brynne, she’s asking us what we want?”
They snicker, and my lips twitch. I place my hands on my waist, my gaze traveling to the closed door. Lilith isn’t coming to save me, so I have to defend myself.
“Can we do this tomorrow?” I say. “I’m exhausted.”
“It’s just a few minutes past one and you’re exhausted already,” Brynne says with a sneer. “Lazy thing.”
If anyone will be termed lazy, it’s probably him and his siblings. My exhaustion can be blamed on the last full moon, but they don’t deserve my explanation.
“Lilith wasn’t kidding when she said they’d bring you to the palace. They even let you have your own suite,” Kade says. “Must be nice, right? A driver. New clothes. Soon, you’ll be marrying a prince. You’re winning—”
“Kade,” Brynne calls. His seriousness makes his brother sober up, and Kade backs away. “Do you love him?”
“Who?” I whisper, but I know who he’s talking about.
“Mason,” he answers calmly. “Do you love him?”
“What does that have to do with anything?” I ask.
He takes a step toward me, and I jump back. But he doesn’t let me go far. His hand shoots out, grabbing my wrist before I can inch away. I stumble, but before I can regain my balance, he yanks me toward him with a rough pull.
My chest collides with his, and a second later, his fingers clamp around my jaw, forcing my gaze up to meet his. His grip isn’t bruising, but it’s tight enough to make my heart hammer in panic.
His eyes blaze down at me. “Run away with Mason. Leave Shadowspire and never return. I’ll help you.”