“If you knew who I was, then you never would have come to theImperial City with me.”
He’s right. But now that I know who he is, I’m even more confused as to why he wanted me here in the first place.
“I’m not some charity case, you know.”
“I know.” He angles his head, and the golden flecks in his brown irises swirl.
“I won’t be treating you any differently,” I say, refusing to bow before hisroyal highness.
“Oh, I’m counting on it.” The corner of his mouth tilts up, but then he schools his features.
“Don’t lock me in here again. Promise me you won’t. I don’t…I don’t want to feel caged in like an animal.” I wrap my arms around myself, already hating how long I’ve gone without seeing the sun. Without feeling the heat on my skin and basking in its radiant glow.
He studies me for a moment, lips forming a straight line and eyes focused. “I won’t lock the door. But you need to promise me something, too.” He waits. Waits and waits for me to acknowledge his words, and when I finally nod, he continues. “Promise not to leave this room. I’m not kidding when I say you’d be in danger if the wrong people saw you. I may be the prince, and I may be able to keep your village from marking you as an evader, but there are some things I won’t be able to protect you from.” His brows furrow, and I want to ask what those things are, but I know he won’t tell me.
“I promise,” I say, and I do mean it. I’ll stay in this room. For two months, I’ll stay put. But then I’m out of here. Back to Village 28. Back to my parents. And back to Char.
“Good,” he responds, but before he can say more, Ishla walks in with another platter of food.
I instantly lick my lips.
She removes the lid, and I rush toward it. There are three eggs and a big pile of brown meat.
For a moment, I hesitate. I’ve never seen chicken this color before. Has it spoiled? But then my stomach grumbles again, and I bite into it.
My jaw falls open after I swallow. If it is spoiled, then that’s how all chicken should be because it tastes delicious. I take another bite.
“What part of the bird does this come from?” Even the texture is different from what I’m used to.
“Bird?” Ryjax asks.
“Did I stutter?” Rolling my eyes, I refocus on the meat in front of me.
“It’s beef,” he says. “Like from a cow.”
We don’t have cows in Village 28. Lots of chickens. A few pigs. But no cows. I’m too embarrassed to tell him that I’ve never had cow before, so I don’t say anything.
“I’ll be back tonight to check in on you, Serafina,” Ishla says.
I groan at her statement, realizing she’s about to leave me alone with Ryjax again, and I don’t want to be alone with Ryjax. Especially if he keeps looking at me the way he does. Like I’m some weird experiment. Like I’m something he’s trying to figure out.
“Are you sure you can’t stay? You know…until…” My voice trails off because what am I trying to ask here? Until Ryjax leaves? Gods, I’d sound like a child.
“Until?” Ishla questions with a short laugh, and Ryjax’s eyes narrow.
He knows exactly what I was going to say.
“It’s just…he’s a bit more…tolerable when you’re around.” I shrug at the same time that Ryjax scoffs.
He reaches his hand behind his neck and squeezes. “I’mthe intolerable one?”
“Also, allergic to honesty. If I were to make a list.”
“I’m as honest as I can be,” he says simply, as if that’s somethingI should justaccept.
“Not good enough when my life is on the line.”Mylife. Not his.
How am I supposed to blindly trust someone I’ve only just met? Especially when that someone has a habit of eluding the truth.
