Chapter 39 Dear Soma
SOMA
When Jade walks into my room on Tuesday morning, I pinch my cheek to convince myself she’s real. I thought last night was a dream, but Lilith allowed her to come live with me.
“Are you sure the priestess asked you to be here?”
Jade lets out a soft laugh. “My lady, how else would I have made it here on my own?” Her question makes me relax. “She wants you to be comfortable. So, I’ll be with you for the duration of the entire session.”
A smile spreads over my lips, and I release my hold on the sheet. She’s a piece of home in this strange new place. With my worries now dissolved, I focus on the mini bag in her grip. She inches closer and sets it on the console table near the bed.
“From Priestess Lilith, my lady. In my excitement, I forgot to give it to you yesterday,” she explains. My brows furrow, and she smiles at my confusion. “She asked me to hand it directly to you.”
Experience tells me she hasn’t checked the content, so I reach for the bag and pull out a box wrapped in paper. She watches, just as curious as I am, as I peel it open.
“My lady,” she gasps. I let out a low laugh, revealing the brand-new phone inside. “The priestess is so thoughtful.”
“Yeah,” I whisper, unfolding the note that came with it.
The handwriting is neat, as if the person took their time to write the words.
Dear Soma,
Congratulations on your first day at school. I hope you don’t mind that I got you a phone. My number is on the back of this note. Save it as soon as possible and call me if you need anything or encounter any trouble.
Lilith.
On flipping the note, I see her digits written in the same neat scrawl. The offer sounds nice, but as I save her number, I know I won’t be calling her when I’m in trouble unless it’s an emergency. If I can’t survive five years at an academy with people of my age grade or only a few years older, how can I lead a pack?
Folding the note back into the box, I rise and stretch. It’s my first day of classes, and I can’t afford to be late. I glance at the phone once more and pick it up.
It’s my first phone. Not only is it sleek, but it looks expensive with a camera quality that’s more suited for a professional photographer.
Jade moves to the bed as I inch toward the mirror. She shakes her head when I take pictures of her while she works with precision, smoothing down the sheets and tucking the corners right. The quality is so nice I switch to video, capturing her smoothen the edge of the same spot twice. To me, it looks perfect as it is.
Without looking up, she tells me. “I’ll be doing the same things I always did for you at the palace. I’ll also find out from Dianna what hours the cleaners come or laundry is sorted out, so it won’t interfere with your personal time.”
Her tone is that of someone who has done this all her life. I don’t know who Dianna is, but I trust her judgment.
“For now, go freshen up, or you’ll be late.”
With her still words ringing in my ear, I step into the en-suite bathroom. The space is bright with tiled walls, a window that allows light to filter in, a separate shower, and a large soaking tub. In a few minutes, I’m under the shower, washing away the last remnants of sleep.
On my return, Jade has already placed my pressed academy uniform on the bed. My backpack sits on a chair.
“Breakfast is downstairs,” Jade tells me as I dress. “There’s a house menu, but if you have a preference, let me know and I’ll do well to inform the chef.”
“It’s fine,” I blurt. I don’t want to come across as demanding. Being able to eat three meals a day is already a privilege I won’t abuse.
As we step out into the living area of my suite, I take in the space. In the morning light, it feels different. It’s spacious and big with a small fireplace, but not as grand as the suite in the palace. I like it better. It feels livable, like a place that I can afford if I work hard enough.
There is no separate dining area or balcony overlooking the gardens. But the living room has large windows that allow sunlight in. A door separates it from my bedroom.
Helga already informed me it was the royal quarters, but as we head out, I notice the other doors. Two on each side, including mine. There’s one directly across from mine, another beside mine, with one opposite it. We walk past the closed doors, descending the stairs together.
The scent of freshly baked bread and spiced tea curls upward, making my stomach flutter. My steps falter at the landing, and I grip the bannister when I spot the brothers.
This isn’t happening. Shouldn’t my housemates be girls?
Kade and Tristan are already seated at the dining table. Tristan is quiet while Kade drones on about something only he finds funny. For a split second, I almost turn back.
Jade leans close and whispers, “You’ll be sharing the house with the princess and her brothers.”
Great. I scan the room again, but Brynne is nowhere in sight. Relief loosens my shoulders, but my heart still beats wildly.
Only Kade looks up as I slide into a seat, leaving the empty chair between the two of us. He notices immediately, and his lips curve into that familiar mischievous smile.
“Aren’t you going to thank me?” he asks.
“For… what?”
Jade watches him, like she’s prepared to step in at any moment to defend me. But he only leans an elbow on the table.
“Really? You made it to the academy in one piece yesterday, and you also learned endurance.” He raises his hand for a high five, waiting. “Come on. I would say that’s thanks to me.”
Jade scowls at the back of his head, and I snatch a piece of toast, shoving it into my mouth. The bread is so warm and buttery that I forget my annoyance.
As I chew, I realize something else. Eating here with the royal siblings means I won’t be able to share meals with Jade like I used to at the palace. She was here early, so she might not have gotten a chance to eat.
“Will that be enough for you, my lady?” Jade asks.
I glance up to reply, but suck in a sharp breath when she reaches across the table, fingers stretching toward a steaming pot. Before I can recover and warn her, Tristan nudges her hand back, his grip firm around her wrist to keep her from touching it.
“It’s hot,” he mumbles. “You’ll hurt yourself.”