Chapter 61 Was that you?
SOMA
The rest of my day passes in a blur of classes. Half of it is theoretical, while the other half is practical. By the end of the day, I’ve reached a conclusion. I hate etiquette lessons. There’s too much focus on posture. How to sit while eating, hold a cup to your lips, or place your cutlery on the plate so the maids know you’re done eating. It doesn’t help that I’m the only one taking those lessons.
Being a royal is exhausting. It must be why the siblings are annoying. They need to blow off steam after those stiff lessons.
As I pack up for the day, whispers of excitement reach my ears. Some students discuss the upcoming full moon, wondering if they’ll get a break to be with their mates.
Their worries stop me in my tracks. Lilith has said nothing about the mate ritual, but the full moon is close.
What if I end up being Brynne’s mate? It’s impossible. But what if? If so, I’ll make him suffer.
Our lessons haven’t progressed to mate bonds, but I’m curious to know how they work. I don’t know if Helga has a mate, but I retrieve my phone from my bag and call her.
It rings uninterruptedly. Maybe she’s still in class. I skip to Year 2 building, hoping to catch her before she leaves. With her help, we might be able to persuade Jade to reconsider the girls’ hangout. We all need a break.
With most students having finished their classes and a few others returning from the field, the campus is bustling. Some bow in respect as they hurry past me, but no one pulls any tricks. Now that I think of it, Sheila and Maeve haven’t given me any trouble lately. They act as if I don’t exist, which works perfectly for me.
I slow down in front of the Year 2 building and open the door to a long, empty hallway. The classes are grouped into A, B, C, and D.
Depending on our career paths and grades, we’ll be separated in Year 2. I’m not sure what lies ahead for me as the future Luna, but I know Lilith will have answers for me. Since Year 2 is still so far away, I push those thoughts down and continue to 2A.
There are signs above each door with its name written on it. Helga is in 2A, which is the first door on my left.
As I approach the heavy door, soft laughter echoes from within. I recognize it as Helga’s, and a smile breaks out on my lips as I grip the handle.
What’s making her laugh?
The answer lands when a familiar voice follows. My heart races, and I shake my head. No. No way. It can’t be him. She whimpers, and I kick the door open.
Helga yelps, and I gasp, my hand flying over my mouth.
It’s really Brynne. She stands between his legs while his hand remains under her skirt, the same one that was inside me days ago. Something dark, ugly, and possessive curls in my chest as I take in the view. Helga manages to act shocked, jerking away from his touch. Brynne doesn’t even flinch.
“Wow,” I say, unable to form other words. “Wow.”
Brynne stands, his hand lowering to cup Helga’s ass as he presses his lips to her flushed cheek. “See you later.”
Later? He stalks toward the door, shoulder knocking into mine as he brushes past me. Helga rushes forward, trying to hold my hand, but I jump back.
“What… what’s going on here?”
“It’s not what you think,” she mutters.
Does she think I’m stupid or blind? Who knows how far they would have gone if I hadn’t interrupted? I asked her about him that day, and she lied to my face, laughed it off.
“You.” I jerk a finger over my shoulder and point it back at her. “You and the crown prince. You two are lovers?”
Helga opens her mouth, but doesn’t say a word. How is this possible? He has a girlfriend, yet he cornered me like a starved, wild, horny animal. Do they sit in his room and laugh at my stupidity for hating him while liking her? The more I think about it, the tighter my chest becomes.
Memories knock into me. I shake my head as images grow more vivid. There was a girl in his room that morning, but he had teased me at the dining table, so I forgot about it.
It couldn’t have been Helga, but there’s only one way to confirm. “Was it you? I asked you to come over that Saturday, but you said you were doing homework. There was a girl in Prince Brynne’s room.” She twiddles her fingers, her face paling by the second. I know the answer before asking, “Was that you, Helga?”
“Dee, this isn’t how I wanted you to find out.”
“The answer is yes or no,” I say.
“Yes,” she replies.
I don’t cry, nor do I yell at Helga. It’s silly of me to think I’ll get a drama-free week or an actual friend who cares about me. Keeping my head high, I walk out of her class, and I don’t stop until I’m at the door of the house.
My fingers tremble as I reach for the knob. I twist it too calmly for someone whose inside is a rage.
As I step into the foyer, the urge to scream, break something, or hurt someone grows. I take one look at the vase, so tempted to smash it against the wall, but I stop myself at the last second. There’s a fresh set of roses there that doesn’t deserve my anger.
Taking a deep breath, I force myself to keep moving. No one is in the living room, which is a plus. I take the stairs two at a time, my backpack jiggling at my back. On the top landing, I pause to catch my breath and calm myself before I have to face Jade.
Jade steps out of my suite at the same time Tristan exits his room. None of them notices me, so I don’t draw attention to myself. Jade pales on seeing him, and he saunters toward her with the speed of light.
Tristan grabs her wrist, pulling her toward his room, and my anger detonates. Not on my watch. I jump into action, rushing toward them without missing a beat. Rage and hurt swirl in my chest, and words pour out of my lips before I think them through.
“Get your dirty, stinky, filthy, ugly hand away from her,” I demand. “Now.”
Once is enough. They’ll never hurt her again.
Tristan freezes, and Jade yanks her hand from his grip. I stand between them, clasping her wrist.
“Starting this moment, I forbid you, Prince Tristan, from talking or touching my lady’s maid.” He scoffs, putting one step forward to close the gap between us. His finger shoots out, but I square my chin. Hate motivates my next words. “Touch me, I dare you.”