Chapter 93 Eat
SOMA
The next morning, I wake up in my bed. It’s almost a routine at this point, with me falling asleep anywhere and Brynne coming to the rescue by taking me to my room.
As heat floods my body, another dark, traitorous thought settles in. How many girls has he done that with?
Something tells me I’m the first. Plus, he never dates. So he might never have done this with anyone. I shake my head, trying to clear my head of silly, whimsical thoughts. I’m not that special for him to make these exceptions. Or maybe I am. I don’t know.
The door creaks open, and Jade’s head pokes in. She steps in with a smile, waving the paper in her hand. Something dangles from her wrist—a bracelet that wasn’t there yesterday. I meet her halfway across the room, my interest more in the paper than her smile.
“It’s him,” she says. “Prince Brynne.”
“What?”
“The phone number. It’s his. He sent it.”
Warmth floods my being, and I have trouble keeping the smile off my face. Finally. Jade giggles, and I shoot her a glare. She sobers up, but that only lasts a few minutes before she’s laughing into her fist again.
“What’s that?” I say to distract her. She frowns, and I touch the carved wolf on her bracelet. “This.”
Jade beams. “He gave it to me.” Of course, it’s from Tristan. Every detail on the wolf shows the care that went into the carving. Jade can’t shift, but she has a wolf to protect her, even if it’s a wooden one. She clears her throat, drawing my attention back to her. “What do you think Prince Brynne wants, my lady?”
“To apologize,” I confess.
Her eyes go wide. “You like him.”
“What?” I blurt. “I didn’t say that.”
Without waiting for her reply, I head to the bathroom, but she follows behind me. I shrug out of my nightwear and step into the shower, keeping the door open.
“If you tell Tristan anything about this, I’ll…” My voice trails off, but I force myself to continue. “I’ll punish you.”
She grins, but nods. “I have something to tell you, but I can only say it after Prince Brynne’s apology.”
“Why not now?”
“I don’t want to make you mad,” she admits. When my brows lift, she steps back. “It’s better to tell you later.”
“Jade, tell—”
“My lady, I’ll get your outfit and breakfast ready.”
Before I can utter another word, she bolts out of the bathroom. I roll my eyes at the door and flip the shower on.
Theories float in my head as the water touches my face. Does she want to talk about Tristan? Whatever it is, she has my support. Maybe I can talk to Brynne about them. Or not. I’ll let Tristan handle it at his own pace.
In a few minutes, I’m out of the shower and the suite. Jade flushes once she sees me, but I save her the stress of running off by keeping my questions to myself. We have all the time in the world. At least ten days. With the tests over, we have more free time for ourselves. Those who wish to leave are welcome to do so. Those who wish to spend it on campus are welcome to stay. But nearly everyone is more interested in the Mask Ball.
After the conversation with Brynne, I’ll know my stand. But my attire for the ball is ready. Since the mid-semester exams are over, uniforms are no longer compulsory, so I slip into one of my dresses.
Jade is quiet throughout the walk downstairs. Tristan is at the table, a generous spread of breakfast in front of him. He winks at Jade, and her face flushes. She almost misses a step, and he jumps out of his seat to steady her.
I clear my throat, reminding them they aren’t alone. Given how obvious they are with their affection, I’m shocked none of the other siblings have noticed it. Maybe they’re only this free around me because I’m aware.
Tristan lets go of Jade’s waist, his hand sliding into hers to bring her down into the empty seat beside his. She whines, but he shuts her up with a soft glare. After setting up a plate for her, he returns to his meal.
Jade stares at her plate without eating, and he tells her, “Brynne and Kade are at the field. I’m supposed to join them. Sienna is still getting her beauty rest.” He grabs the fork, nudging it into her hand. “Eat. It’s safe. Promise.”
With his reassurance still hanging in the air, Jade nods and takes her first bite. In just a few more months, this will become a normal part of our lives. She won’t have to worry about anyone stumbling upon this scene because she will be part of the family.
“So…” Tristan drawls, giving me a look. “Brynne texted you?” Jade freezes, and I shovel eggs into my mouth. He stares between the two of us and laughs. “How else would I have confirmed who the number was from without a backstory?”
“Yes,” I murmur. “He did.”
“What about?”
My cheeks heat, and I chew slowly. “Can you not ask?”
“If he’s asking for a second chance, I think you should give him one. He’s not as horrible as you think he is.”
“Yeah,” I mumble. “Thanks for letting me know.”
Jade jumps to her feet, her chair scraping against the floor. Our heads tilt in her direction, but she doesn’t sit.
“I’ll go get water from the kitchen,” she says, her voice a little too bright.
My gaze snaps to the untouched jug on the table. But she’s already moving. I watch her go, noticing how her shoulders tense as she hurries out of the room.
Tristan’s eyes follow hers, with a mix of amusement and concern on his face. As soon as she’s gone, I turn to him, my eyes narrowing in accusation.
“You made her uncomfortable,” I state.