I glanced down at Sebastian. His eyes were open but half-lidded, lost in his own little world. He seemed deep in thought. Maybe he was working through his feelings, just like me.
As much as a vipercanhave feelings…
Still, despite all my rage and frustration towards Sebastian, I couldn’t bring myself to regret apologizing to him in the baths.
A polite knock on the door brought us both out of our reveries. Sebastian’s guard went back up instantly. He stood, shoulders back and face hard, and said, “Come in.”
A servant bowed at the door. “Your dinner, Your Highness.”
The beta brought an intricate folding table into the center of the room and placed a silver tray on top. The servant’s uneasy motions made me think that Sebastian didn’t eat in his room very often, and that the beta was going out of his way to make the prince comfortable, all while hoping he didn’t mess anything up. Steam rose from the food, making my mouth water. It was an extravagant dinner fit for a prince. I’d never even seen such a feast for one person, let aloneeatenone.
Sebastian examined the tray. “And?”
The servant paused like a cornered mouse. “Y-yes, Your Highness?”
“Where is the food for my alpha?” he demanded.
That surprised me. For some reason, I hadn’t expected him to think of me. I assumed I’d be eating leftover scraps, or dog food, or whatever other humiliating thing the prince’s cruel mind cooked up.
“I’m so sorry, Your Highness,” the servant said, bowing and eyeing me nervously. “What shall I retrieve for him?”
Sebastian spoke without looking at me. “Tell him what you like, Rourke.”
I stood in silence for a moment, my jaw hanging open, too shocked to talk. The last time someone actually asked what I wanted for dinner was before my life at the alpha market. Amos had been making a sort of ‘goodbye dinner’ the night before I enrolled myself there and planned to make my favorites. The swell of emotion in my chest made it difficult to think.
“I, um—”
“Speak freely,” Sebastian said.
Back at the alpha market, I was used to meeting the beta guard’s eyes directly as a socially tolerated display of defiance. But right now, I found that I couldn’t. I stared at the ground, feeling uncharacteristically shy.
“Steak and potatoes,” I finally said.
“Add roast vegetables on the side,” Sebastian cut in. He turned to me. “Fruit?”
“What?”
Sebastian was impatient at my confusion. “What is your favorite fruit? I’ll have it prepared for you as a dessert.” As an aside, he muttered, “I doubt they were feeding you properly at that place. You’ll need an increase in vitamins and minerals.”
“Oh, okay. Um… My favorite fruit is oranges.”
Something flashed across Sebastian’s grey-blue eyes. He almost looked… disappointed?
Why?
“Did you catch all that?” Sebastian asked the servant, turning away from me sharply.
“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll be right back.”
He left. I was alone with the prince again. I wanted to ask what that was all about. There was no good reason for him to be disappointed upon hearing my favorite fruit. It was fucking bizarre.
We didn’t speak until the servant returned with a second tray. He hadn’t brought another folding table. Sebastian perched himself on his couch with his own tray and table before him. The leash’s handle was looped around his wrist. I realized wryly that he was placing a lot of trust in me. If I lunged in any direction, his tray and all its contents would go flying. But since I figured a harsh punishment would result from doing that, I decided to behave.
It did make for a very funny fantasy, though.
“Erm,” the servant said, glancing from me to Sebastian. “Where should I—”
“On the floor.”
