“Serafina.” He sighs, and the look in his eyes makes me feel like he’s going to say something kind, but then he shakes his head once more. “Please, just try again.”
“What part ofI can’t,don’t you understand!” I scream, and he flinches for a second time. But now, he’s turning away from me and moving toward the door, which only makes me more upsetbecause I don’t want him to go.
Damn my fucking temper.
“Wait,” I say, the word a desperate plea on my lips, and I hate myself for it.
He doesn’t turn, but he does stop walking, and I know he wants me to say something,anything.
But I don’t.
Ican’t.
I can’t because he’s the prince. A member of the family I have despised my entire life.
He has lied, or at the very least, twisted the truth.
But it’s more than that.
He commands shadows.
I cannot trust him.
But even so, loneliness somehow feels like a greater danger than he’ll ever pose.
When I don’t respond, he sighs again.
“Good night, Serafina.” He opens the door.
“It’s my birthday today,” I whisper, and I don’t know why I told him that. But my words make him pause. He’s frozen, hand resting on the knob.
Please stay, I want to add, because even though he’s the prince, I really, really don’t want to be alone.
Not tonight.
But unfortunately for me, I’m realizing that a bit too late, and he moves through the door and closes it behind him.
I fling myself onto my bed—hisbed—and drag the pillow over my face. I grip both sides and pull tight, nearly cutting off my ability to breathe, and then I open my mouth, and I scream.
I scream and I scream, hoping the pillow muffles the sound enough to not draw any attention to myself.
But maybe that’s exactly what I want.
Attention.
From someone, anyone, but the prince who just left me here alone.
Again.
And on my birthday no less. But why wouldn’t he leave? I haven’t been very nice to him. And heistrying to help me.
Isn’t he?
Yes. He is. I know he is.
So why can’t I control my temper around him?
Because you’veneverbeen able to control your temper.
