Pure rage bubbled up inside of me. So intense I was afraid I would pass out from the pressure of it.
Amador picked up her glass as she laughed haughtily at whatever her friend across the table had said.
I hate you. I hate you, Amador, you nasty...
She took a sip of her drink; immediately, her eyes went wide, and she spit out the liquid all over the table. Her friends screeched and flew back, trying to avoid the spray. But it was all over them anyway.
“Ew!” one of them shouted. “Whatisthat?”
Amador looked confused, disgusted, then angry. She scanned the cafeteria, then set her eyes directly on me.
I turned and dashed out of the room. Nix stared after me. I felt bad running off from her like that, but I was so sick of everything. Sick of Amador. Sick of Lucas ignoring me. Sick of the games, and the strange rules, and the expectations. I didnotask for any of this. I didn’t ask to be born a princess, I didn’t ask to spend my entire childhood hiding, I didn’t ask for any of this!
I ran straight for the front doors, where my calesa would be waiting to take me back to the palace. As soon as I got there, I could pack my stuff—no, forget the stuff. I’d just leave in the middle of the night and go back to the human world, where I belonged.I need to leave this place,I kept telling myself, wanting to run away but too heated and upset to think straight.
So I didn’t notice someone coming right toward me. We collided.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, extra flustered now. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, Your Highness. It’s me who is sorry.” She pushed the hair back from her face, though she wouldn’t look directly up at me. It was Fortunada. Her schoolbag had fallen by her feet when we ran into each other. One of her books, stuffed with tons of paper tabs,was spilling out of it. It was a dark, mossy green with vines stamped in gold on the cover.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” I crouched to pick up the bag at the same time as she did.
She cringed and pulled back as if I was about to smack her.
My mouth opened to assure her I had no bad intentions, but without another word, she swooped up the bag and hurried off down the hallway.
I managed to make a mess of everything everywhere I went.
22
A few dayslater, there was a knock on the door. I jumped up to open it. Ayo was supposed to be back with tea and pastries from the kitchen, and I was starving.
But it wasn’t Ayo—it was Lucas.
I jumped back in surprise.
“Hey,” Lucas said. He looked grim. “May I come in?”
“Uh, sure,” I said, grimacing. I wasn’t sure what to feel about seeing him—elated? Or wary? Both?
He stepped in, carrying a huge rainbow bouquet of native Biringan wildflowers. “For you,” he said.
“Why?” I asked, still a bit stunned to see him here as I took the bouquet. I was almost sure he never wanted to talk to me again after giving me the cold shoulder all week.
He shuffled his feet. “They’re a little late, to be honest, and I just wanted to say I’m sorry... I should have paid you a call, after.”
I froze, still holding the flowers. “After?” I whispered.
“Well, you can’t just kiss the princess without a proper courtship, can you?” he grumbled. “I don’t have to take Pagkahari at Paggalang to know that.” He took a seat on the nearest armchair and immediately put his feet up on the table, like he belongedthere. To be honest, I kind of liked that he felt so at home in my rooms.
I peeked at him over the iridescent blooms. “Is that what this is? You’re courting me?” I tried to keep my voice steady, but oh, my heart.
He looked up at me and grinned. “Do you want me to?”
Oh, we’re playing this game, are we?
“Hmm.” I put my hand on my chin like I had to think about it. “I don’t know, I mean, it has been almost a week. One could say it’s very ungentlemanly,” I said as I laid the flowers down on the nearest side table.
