Chapter 72 Not my mate
BRYNNE
Her voice holds no judgment, and the words tumble out of my lips. “I don’t know. She triggers my fire.”
Lilith shifts her attention to me. Seconds pass in silence, but I feel her gaze on every inch of my face.
“Really?” she says at last.
“Yeah.”
“Can you show me?”
My shoulders sag, and I whisper, “I haven’t been able to summon it again.” The only time the fire listened to me was in the palace. Thinking about that moment makes my neck heat. “The first time was because we touched.”
“Have you tried touching her the same way again?”
I cough into my fist. “The first time was a mistake.”
“It’s fine,” Lilith says casually. “When we perform the mate ritual later next month, touching won’t be an issue.”
Only if we are truly mates. Usually, I would flinch at the possibility of being mated to Soma for life, but I don’t know what to think anymore. My ability to command my flames is directly linked to her.
“Have you been taking care of her?” Lilith whispers.
“What?” My head raises. “Why would I?”
“If she ends up being your fated mate, do you think she’ll forgive you for how you’ve treated her until now?”
Memories race in, and emotions cut through me. My face grows warm, and guilt leaves a bitter taste on my tongue.
“I have done nothing wrong,” I mumble.
“She seems weaker than normal,” Lilith states. Because she’s an omega. This is not her first time falling unconscious at this time of the month. It also happened after the selection ceremony. “Your indifference isn’t working.”
Then her maid should be blamed, not me. It’s not my job to take care of her. But all it takes is that memory of me taking the soup to feed her, and that thought vanishes. Maybe I have a role to play in improving her health.
Frustration creeps in slowly. My eyes close, and I run my fingers through my hair. Nothing makes sense.
“Did you try to get into her head?” Lilith asks.
“Yeah. It didn’t work.”
“Brynne,” she snaps. My hands close around my knees as she bristles. But I’d be lying if I said I felt bad. “I’ve told you two that it’s dangerous, haven’t I? One day, you’ll get killed or harmed trying to get into the memory of someone stronger than you are.”
“But she’s just an omega,” I protest.
For some reason, they all seem to forget I’m the crown prince. I’m the one everyone should be worried about, and I’m strong enough to protect my mind against anyone within the academy. She stares at Soma, her knuckles dragging across her cheekbone while she sleeps.
“One special enough for the Moon Goddess to care about her. Kade could barely handle her memories, and she was unconscious. What if she was awake?” She locks eyes with me, and I sigh. Her points ring too true to be ignored. “This has to stop, Brynne.”
“Okay.”
“You’re in charge here,” she mutters. I offer a shaky nod. “I don’t want anyone’s hair catching fire.”
“Oh, come on.” I groan behind my palms, lowering them when she chuckles. “It was an honest mistake.”
“Maybe. But you’re responsible for everyone here,” she says.
It sounds more like she’s telling me I’m responsible for Soma. We haven’t confirmed anything, but I’m certain she believes Soma is destined to be mine.
The room falls quiet as she presses her palm against Soma’s chest. A golden glow shimmers beneath her fingers, nearly blinding me. When I blink again, it’s gone. Soma doesn’t stir, but her face looks more relaxed than when we entered.
“She’ll require your assistance within the next few hours.” Lilith stands, smoothing the front of her jacket. “I’ve asked Jade to take two days off. You’ll handle it.”
“Excuse me?”
“No, you’re not excused.” Her chest heaves, and so does mine. But my argument never makes it past my lips. “It’s time for you to pick up more responsibilities as the crown prince. You don’t think the title is ceremonial, do you?”
“But she’s… I don’t understand how this translates to me being a good ruler.” Lilith arches a trimmed brow, and I point to the bed. “She is not my mate. She has a maid.”
Lilith places her hands on her waist, her shock coming out in an exasperated sigh. She looks at me with a sad smile.
“From where I stand right now, it looks like you’ll make an awful king. Is this how you’ll rule Shadowspire?”
Her words shut me up. Without missing a beat, she closes the gap, and her palms cradle my face. It’s the softest she’s been with me in a long time, and it reminds me of Mother. They were not best friends, but they were close until Mother died, and then Kade became her favorite.
“If she triggers your fire, maybe there’s a reason for that. Instead of trying so hard to hate her, why not find out what that reason is? Maybe you’ll free yourself of that guilt. No one could have saved your mother, Brynne.”
The statement lashes at me, and I back away from her. Mother died, and it has nothing to do with me.
“Priestess, you’re mistaken,” I hiss. “I feel no guilt.”
“You could have fooled me, Your Highness,” she mocks. My finger juts out in warning, but her eyes stay locked on mine, daring me to do my worst. “You’re such a cold child, trying to keep everyone at a distance, especially those who should matter. Cruelty isn’t the solution. Don’t be like your father.”
Red tinges my vision. My shoulders slump, and my hands quit shaking. Everything within me goes too silent, like the proverbial calm before the storm.
“You’re a priestess, not a therapist,” I tell her. Pity flashes in her eyes. “Stick to your job description.”
The words land with a totality, and the ensuing silence cuts deeper than any words we’ve exchanged today. She stalks to the door and opens it gently.
“See you later, Your Highness.”
With that, she shuts the door behind her, leaving me alone with an omega I’m afraid to claim as my mate.