Chapter 66 For Jade
SOMA
Jade helps me get ready for Wednesday’s classes. We haven’t fully returned to our usual routine, but we do eat breakfast together in the suite. My heart gains speed as I head toward the door. It might have something to do with a certain stormy, grey-eyed prince and the wonders of his mouth, but I refuse to give it another thought.
So what if we had a moment? Last night was a mistake.
As I exit my suite, the door to Brynne’s room opens. He steps out, shutting the door behind him with a soft thud, and my breath seizes. His hair is back up in its bun, and his face is blank as always. Today, the harsh lines of his face are soft, and he’s not scowling at me.
Awkwardness sets in as we stare at each other, and my brain decides to replay the kiss in slow motion. From the second he cupped my head to the soft press of his lips against mine. Even the way he’d silently sought consent.
A soft sound jumps out of my throat. My thighs press together, and my nipples stiffen. Wait, what’s wrong with me? Brynne Rybak is not a good person.
Brynne’s eyes narrow. His cheeks flush, and he slides his hands into his pockets to hide the bulge straining against his pants. Is he remembering it too?
But why will one kiss with me affect him this visibly? He puts a foot forward, as if coming to rehash the kiss, but a door opens somewhere down the hallway and slams shut, snapping us out of the moment.
My head darts toward the sound, and Tristan glares at me. Just the man I don’t want to see, but I have to.
A smile spreads over my lips, and Tristan freezes. He glances around to be sure it’s aimed at him, and my smile only widens. I feel someone’s eyes on me, and my gaze strays to Brynne. His face hardens.
What? Aren’t I allowed to talk to other people now? I don’t let that bother me as I skip toward the grumpy prince, ignoring the warmth I feel from brushing past Brynne and the scoff that falls from his lips. I’m doing this for Jade. Besides, Tristan can protect her better than I have. He’ll also make a wonderful ally in case the kiss is another of Brynne’s pranks.
“Hey,” I murmur when I’m in front of Tristan. He stiffens, his face yelling what his mouth won’t. Brynne’s eyes bore holes into my back, like I’m a partner he caught in a cheating scandal. If he wants to think the worst of me, I’ll give him even more reason to. I take Tristan’s hand, and his face goes white as a sheet. “Do you want to walk me to class?”
Brynne storms past us, and I can’t help grinning at his back as he charges down the stairs. When I turn back to Tristan, he’s so red in the face I’m convinced he’ll combust. He snatches his hand from my grasp.
“Don’t,” he warns. His voice sends chills down my spine. Not the same kind Brynne evokes. “Don’t you ever touch me again without my permission.”
“Well, sorry. I didn’t….”
Tristan’s annoyance shifts to boredom. He pushes away from the door, avoiding all forms of body contact with me as he heads for the stairs.
“Prince—”
“No,” he cuts in.
On another day, I would have left him. I look back once, hoping Jade isn’t listening to this conversation. But the hallway is empty.
“Well, I guess you don’t want to see Jade again.” His feet crash to a stop, and he turns with a speed that gives me whiplash. I try not to cower at his scowl. “Is it a yes?”
Anger flashes in his eyes, and his fingers curl at his sides. The shift is slow. He exhales, and his shoulders slump in resignation. My heart almost softens. He really likes her. Maybe they are truly mates. He’s not someone who would have a crush on a random girl.
Tristan says nothing, but he doesn’t move until I’m right beside him on the landing. No one is downstairs to see us together, but he hurries out of the house like he has rogues chasing him.
The morning air blows against my cheeks, the cool wind brushing my hair into my face. We walk in silence for the first few minutes, while I struggle to find the best way to start the conversation. As we approach the lecture halls, I pause. This is my best chance.
“Why did you kiss Jade?” I whisper.
He laughs. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Do you like her?”
One minute he’s beside me, the next he’s in front of me, his fingertip touching my nose as he stares down at me.
“If you breathe a word of this to anyone, I’ll kill you.”
What? The shock of his threat wears off too quickly, and annoyance takes its place. It’s too early in the day for me to tolerate this madness.
“Excuse you?” I whisper, shoving him. He doesn’t budge, but his hand returns to his side. “I’m doing you a favor.”
“A favor? Is that the lie you tell yourself?”
An insult burns on the tip of my tongue, but I push it down. For Jade. I’m doing this for my maid.
“Jade will be in the room tonight. If you want to see her, come there.” His stance relaxes, but his face stays unreadable. “If you hurt her, I’ll kill you.”
He snickers. “And they say you have no backbone.”
“What?”
Without waiting for his reply, I stalk to my class. All the Rybak siblings are insane. Starting from Brynne down to Sienna.
The lecturer arrives at the same time as I do. It’s a few seconds of awkward silence as I mutter apologies, and he dismisses them immediately. They’re too biased. If I’m this favored among the lecturers, how much more the royal siblings? No wonder they act as they please because they can get away with anything.
Sienna smiles as I approach the aisle. Dianna is missing today, so there are empty seats on either side of her, but I sink into a chair in the row above hers. If she still thinks she was right not to interfere when Jade was stolen, then there’s no need for us to be more than classmates.
The lecturer clears his throat, and we settle in for the lessons of the day. Most of today’s classes are fun. There’s no drama, no pranks, and no Helga or the Royal siblings at the cafeteria. I’m still floating on the high of a drama-free day when I step into my suite.
Jade is waiting for me in the living area. There are a few textbooks spread out in front of her with a pencil tucked between the pages of one. She rises to her feet and smiles.
“My lady,” she says. “You look happy.”
The smile widens. “Today was a good day. Very good.” My announcement only makes her giggle. I dart a glance at the wall clock and add, “And it’s about to get better.”
“If you say so. Shall I ready your bath?”
“Yes,” I say. Moving toward her, I grab both of her hands, and she beams. “I’d like to eat dinner early, too.”
“On it.”
Letting go of me, Jade dashes into the bedroom, and I step out to knock on Tristan’s door. He yanks it open, his scowl disappearing the second his gaze settles on me.
“8 p.m.,” I tell him. “You only get ten minutes.”
“What do you want in return?”
“Just be—” I stop myself from telling him to be nice to me. If he’s as good as Jade is certain he is, then I don’t need to force a friendship or anything with him. It will happen in due time. “Don’t fool yourself. I’m only doing this because I care for Jade, and I see you do as well.”
His lips curve in the trace of a smile, and I walk back to the room. Jade is in my room, laying out my nightwear on the bed. To me, it looks good. But I’m not surprised she smooths a hand over the material and nods to herself.
“All done?” I ask. She jumps, and I chuckle. “I’m off.”