Chapter 26 Happy shopping
SOMA
Lilith shows up as Jade is leaving the sitting area. My hair is a little better than it was before Sienna showed up, and Lilith’s eyes widen in approval as they size me up.
She might be the high priestess, but now that the ceremony is over, she’s discarded the robes and ceremonial dress for a flower-patterned blouse tucked into fitted pants.
“How are you enjoying your lady’s maid?”
“Jade is wonderful,” I tell her.
She smiles. “Sorry I’m late.” I wave off her apology, and she slides onto the same couch I’m seated on, moving to the other end. “What was it you wanted to talk about?”
“Well…” Her brows lift, and I drag a finger over the couch, trying to buy myself time. “I heard I’ll be resuming at the academy. Is it necessary? I thought I only had to attend princess lessons? Do I really have to go?”
“Yes, you have to,” she replies.
Head raised, I put my hands together in a plea. It’s hard to avoid the princes in the palace, how much more when we’re left alone in the academy?
Lilith moves closer and places her hand over mine. “It’s important for you to have this education as our soon-to-be crown princess. At the end of the sessions, you’ll be privy to princess duties and royal etiquette. And you’ll also be able to defend yourself and fight alongside your prince. Every royal passed through it.”
“It’s not a good idea to send me to a school with a bunch of angry teens and… men.”
She laughs. “Everyone in the academy is of importance, and they all know to be well-behaved at the academy or they’ll risk expulsion.”
At her last words, I almost scoff. The rich and important members of the pack have their own cliques. They treat other pack members as less than themselves. Many of them already think I’m a fraud, who’s undeserving of this spot. I bet they won’t let my stay be memorable. The rules might apply to the poor, but I’m not sure they apply to them.
“Brynne is far from well-behaved. He threatened me.”
“It’s all talk,” she promises.
But I don’t believe it. She’s not the one who’ll have to live with it. Plus, she’s a priestess. No one will dare to disrespect me in front of her.
“Nothing bad is going to happen,” she insists. I nod only because I have no other option. “Today’s agenda involves a lot of shopping. For your suite here and room in the academy. We can’t afford our lady looking anything less than royal, can we?”
“Room? I’ll live there?” I shriek. “Why?”
“Soma, it’s part of your training,” she tells me, her voice soft. Her face softens, like she’s urging me to accept my fate without giving her a hard time. “The princes live at the academy, and so will you.”
Her words leave a bitter taste in my mouth, and I’m surprised I don’t burst into tears. It’s over for me. They’ll have their revenge. Why can’t I get away from them?
“You’ll take up residence at the academy for the entirety of your schooling. That way, you also get to enjoy the full college experience. If you ask me, I think it’s a good one.”
If they had asked me, they would have known I consider it a horrible idea. Not only will I battle the three evil princes, but I also have to face my cousin. If Sheila is in her first year, does that mean we will all be in the same class? I clamp down on the urge to argue as she stands.
Sliding her hand into her pocket, Lilith stretches out what looks like a platinum card toward me. “Here you go. For your shopping. Don’t be modest. Buy whatever you need or want.” Despite the situation, my heart leaps. It’s rare to have anyone care about my needs, but I’ll try. After everything Sienna said, I don’t want to look out of place. “Jade will accompany you, but if you need another maid, just request one. Request whatever you need.”
“Thanks,” I say, accepting the card.
“Have a good day today. I’ll be on my way now.”
I’m on my feet immediately. “You’re not coming?”
“Of course not. That’s why you have a lady’s maid. As High priestess, I can’t be seen following you around.”
My heart thumps harder against my ribcage. She takes both of my hands, waiting until I’m looking at her.
“Hey, cheer up. I’ll see you later. Shopping can be fun, but if anyone bothers you, let me know. I’ll handle it.”
“Okay.” I pull my hands from hers. “Have a good day.”
Lilith offers me one small smile, turns on her heels, and walks away. I run my fingertips over the card, my chest tightening. I have always known the royal family is rich, but the ease with which they have spent money and welcomed me too easily into the fold still shocks and worries me.
While waiting for Jade to return, I step onto the balcony. It overlooks the palace garden, and I spot a few maids trimming the hedges. Someone steps into the garden, and from the way the maids bow, I know it’s a royal.
The person comes into view, and I suck in a breath. It’s Brynne. He stops directly in my line of sight, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Even with the distance between us, my heart still thumps.
What does he want?
Brynne curves his hands around his mouth and screams, “Happy shopping, Your Ladyship.”
Dread pools in the pit of my belly. I stomp back to the living area and collapse onto a couch. The door creaks open, and my head snaps up. Instead of Brynne, Jade enters. I place a hand on my chest, trying to calm my heart.
“My lady. Are you alright?”
“Yeah.”
“The car is ready,” she says. I glance at the balcony’s door, and Brynne’s words ring in my ear. They sounded too much like a warning. “My lady? Are you certain you’re okay?”
A lump forms in my throat, and I nod. I can’t let him get to me. We’ll live together on the same campus. It’s time to learn how to stand up to the prince, the man I’ll have to marry if I’m to become the Luna.
“Yes,” I said. But I don’t feel that confident. “Let’s go.”
Jade follows me out of the suite, telling me about the different stores we can visit. I know only a few from following Sheila and Maeve, but there are some names I’ve never heard. As we settle down in the backseat of the car and Dante drives out of the palace, I turn to her.
“Are there places limited to only the royals?”
Jade nods. “If you want a store shut down, we can do that. Princess Sienna likes to be alone when she shops.”
Unlike Sienna, I’m not doing it for privacy, but to ensure Brynne or his brothers don’t pull any stunts. I save that information for later, quiet for the rest of the ride.