Chapter 82 Enough privacy
SOMA
“We have enough privacy.” Sienna nudges my plate closer to me, eyeing it with obvious judgment. “Can you finish that?”
It’s for Jade and me, but I can’t tell her that. Tristan will be sure to feed his mate, but in case he doesn’t, she’ll have food stored up in my room.
“Not really,” I say. I reduce the toast and heap more eggs to balance the ratio. “I’ll be going to the library later, so I wanted to have something to eat there when I’m hungry.”
Sienna laughs, and I almost confess the truth. I’m not a glutton, though the heap on the plate points to it.
“Soma, you can’t eat in the library. It’s against the rules.” Leaning closer, she whispers, “But I can take you to the library annex. My brothers and I like to read there. There are more important books there, and you can eat whatever you like. No one will bug you.”
The library has an annex? I didn’t know that, but from her tone, I can tell it’s more equipped than she claims. I’ve never seen her or her brothers in the main library, and now I know it’s not because the academy is too big for us to bump into each other. But because they have a private reading space for themselves.
Being a true royal has too many benefits.
“Really?” I ask.
Sitting upright in her seat, she picks up her fork and nods. “I can take you there later. Nobody is allowed there except the four of us, but you’re a royal now, so it shouldn’t be an issue. I’ll give you my key.” Her kindness makes me smile, and for a split second, I wonder if it will extend to Jade if she finds out Tristan likes her. “Need to finish an assignment first, but if you’ll wait, I’ll take you there.”
“Of course I’ll wait. I’d love to see this annex.”
“It’s not a big deal,” Sienna mutters as she digs into her meal.
But an hour later, when she pushes the door to a reading nook open, my jaw drops. The annex is small but inviting, like a secret hideaway built for quiet afternoons or evenings. It’s alive with the smell of books, fire, and the scent of coffee. And shaped by the love of the people who’ve used it over the years.
Everything blends together into something that feels like home. If I have access to this place, I don’t need another library.
Shelves line every wall, packed with books that look well-loved, their spines a mix of faded colors and shiny new covers. A few shelves hold odd trinkets: tiny statues, a clock shaped like a crescent moon, and what appears to be a jar of marbles that don’t quite match.
In the center of the room, there’s a cluster of polished tables and padded chairs. The plush armchair at the far end begs to be sunk into, its cushions worn in the right way to cradle anyone perfectly. Beside it, a set of low tables is surrounded by couches, their soft upholstery inviting guests to sprawl out if they are tired of sitting upright at the other tables.
The arrangement feels effortless, like it was designed for comfort, not order, encouraging you to stay as long as you like.
Soft, golden light spills from a couple of hanging lamps, casting warm shadows that make the room feel smaller in the best way possible. To my left, an aisle stretches between two tall shelves, the books stacked so high I’ll need a ladder to reach the top. I glimpse more shelves tucked beyond it, disappearing into a quiet corner of the annex, but I’m not ready to wander back there yet.
To the side, there’s a small food bar tucked against the wall, further away from the hearth. A counter holds a coffee machine, a rack of tea bags, and a basket of snacks that contains everything from chocolate bars to tiny packets of cookies. Next to it, a mini-fridge hums softly.
Sienna steps over to it and pulls it open, revealing rows of neatly arranged drinks: water bottles, soda cans, and little glass jars of juice in bright colors.
“It gets restocked pretty often,” she says casually, grabbing a bottle of water before glancing over her shoulder at me. She wasn’t kidding when she said eating was allowed here. “You can tell me what you want, and I’ll let them know to add it to the list.”
Still taking it all in, I blink. “This… isn’t a big deal?”
Twisting the cap off her water, she shrugs. “Not really. It’s just a place to read or whatever. I have to go now.”
Sienna leaves after a hug, leaving the water on the table. I dump my backpack beside it, settling onto the chair. After bringing out my books, I tuck the bag at my feet and flip a textbook open.
Before I can start reading, movement catches my eye. A figure steps out from behind one of the far shelves, his footsteps soft but deliberate. Kade’s eyes narrow when they land on me, and he shuts the book dangling from his hand.
“I thought I heard Sienna,” he says.
“Yeah.” My thumb presses against the edge of the page, and my pulse ticks faster. “She brought me here.”
He stares at me for a moment longer, his gaze flicking toward the book in my hands and the backpack at my feet. I expect him to kick me out, but he turns and disappears back into the shelves, his presence fading as quickly as it arrived.
The room settles into silence again, and I focus on the book, letting the words draw me in. Hours pass, and the annex grows quieter. The light shifts, softening into something even warmer.
I don’t notice Kade returning until I hear the faint clink of a bottle against the counter. Glancing up, I see him at the snack bar, rummaging through the mini-fridge. My stomach growls, and I look away.
Once he leaves, I’ll eat. But he spends too much time at the fridge. Something drops onto my table, and I gulp when he sets down a bag of chips, some cookies, a soda can, and a water bottle.
“For me?” I ask, shocked. He rolls his eyes, and I pick up the water. “Thanks.”
“Whatever.”
Without another word, he leaves, carrying a bunch of snacks. I stare at them, smiling as I open the bag of chips. A yawn escapes while I’m finishing the last snack. I try to ignore it, but I yawn again.
Fine, I’ll take a nap.
Before lowering myself onto the couch, I set an alarm for a thirty-minute nap. But when I open my eyes again, I’m on the bed in my room. I climb off the bed, my brows wrinkling when I spot the backpack on the table. I open it, and inside it are all my books.
Whoever brought me back home hadn’t only been kind enough to take off my shoes. They had been thoughtful enough not to abandon my things.