Taz peeked over my shoulder. “We must have luck on our side today. To find his room first—”
A female voice drifted from the hall. “Zyacus has no idea what he’s in for tonight.” The door handle jiggled.
“Yes, so lucky,” I grumbled. It had to be one of those girls we’d heard laughing, now standing outside the room.
“Closet,” Taz said and we ran to hide in the shadows.
My blood went cold when I heard a click.
Chapter 4
These girls would come in here? If they were comfortable enough to do so they had to be servants or—
The bedroom door opened and in strolled dark-haired and big boobed wench Jennika with her stupid friend. “Why Jennika, you naughty girl, whatever do you have planned for the prince?” her friend, Jade laughed and gave her a light shove.
Oh, I wanted to crash through this closet door and slap her right across the face. Then break her nose and pull out her hair.
As if sensing my thoughts, Taz took hold of my arm. “Stay,” he murmured. “This isn’t the academy.”
“I know,” I hissed.
“A lady doesn’t kiss and tell,” Jennika said. Laughing, she set an envelope on Zyacus’s pillow. “Oh, what do we have here?”
My heart hammered and felt wrecked all at once. Kiss and tell? Naughty girl? Had they been together? Was she the reason he suddenly stopped responding to me?
“Love letters from that pathetic swine Visteal,” Jennika said, picking up one of the notes I’d left on the bed. “Let’s have a look shall we?” She opened one and held it out to read. “Written in Delian of course,” she said, sounding disgusted.
Jade peered down at the paper and pointed at something. Her voice took on a whiny sound. “Oh Zyacus, why aren’t you writing me back? Did something happen? Please tell me.” Her voice changed back to her usual tone, “Gods she is pathetic.”
My cheeks flamed. Taz gripped my arm harder. Stay calm. Stay calm, I chanted in my head. I can’t even imagine the consequences if I whipped Jennika’s ass, the daughter of an Entari, on Hesstian soil. The academy was neutral ground but here it could be seen as an act of war.
Jennika took her turn making fun of me, “Oh Zyacus, I can’t wait to see you again. These three months have been torture. I miss you so much.” Jennika crumpled the paper and threw it in a trash can. “I hate her.”
The feeling is mutual. Hate. Loathe. Detest. Abhor.
“You said he seemed open to the two of you at dinner last night. Don’t worry, Jen. After you give him a little taste of you tonight he’ll forget about her.”
“It seems he already has forgotten her if he isn’t writing her back.” She let out a wicked laugh.
Jade grabbed my other two letters and tossed them as well. “Let’s go sneak some of the King’s good wine.”
My hands trembled with fury. If we were back at the academy I’d attack her. Straight up like a wild, ravenous predator pouncing on fresh meat. But I had to bury my rage.
They exited, laughing about something I hadn’t heard.
I turned to Taz, angry-hurt tears stinging my eyes. He patted my shoulder. “Don’t let them get to you, Vis.”
“It’s not them making fun of me I care about; it’s what Jennika said. She’s right, he’s not writing me back and she has plans with him tonight.”
Taz’s face softened. “Before you presume anything, find out what’s really going on. I know it sounded bad but—”
“I’m going to tear her eyes out and then when I’m done with her, I’ll hit Zyacus so hard he’ll never forget it.” I clenched my fists, digging my nails in until they cut skin.
Taz cocked an eyebrow. “She could just be being devious, but if he has been slumming with her then kick his ass and we’ll leave.”
I let loose a long breath and dug my letters out of the trash bin. Setting the notes back on the table, I eyed the envelope Jennika left. My stomach turned as I imagined the words inside.
Taz stood beside me, arms folded. “You should read it,” Taz said, grabbing the envelope. He set it in my hand. “I would.”
I ripped the envelope and pulled out the piece of paper. It read: Come to my room at sundown. I miss your kisses, birthday boy. Love, Jennika.
I set it on fire and threw it on the stone floor. That conniving whore.
Taz stared open-mouthed at the simmering ashes. “That bad huh?”
“It was an invitation to go to her room tonight,” I said through nearly clenched teeth.
Taz bit down his bottom lip, tapping his foot. “Alright, you wait here. I don’t want to be around for this conversation with Zyacus. It would be awkward anyway. I’ll be nearby when you’re ready to leave. Send a note.”
“Thank you,” I said softly.
He made his way to the exit. After he’d only been gone a moment he stuck his head back in. “The sparring is over. Everyone is gone. He may be up soon.”
I nodded, and as I waited I wandered around his room. It sort of felt like an invasion of privacy since he hadn’t invited me in, yet I didn’t care. I picked up a crystal ball on his shelf; it warmed at my touch so I set it back down. I ran my fingers along the spine of a white dragon sculpture. Opened a book titled Call of the Dragon and glanced at some of the pages he’d folded at the corners. It appeared to be an adventure fiction novel. For whatever reason, I didn’t expect him to read for fun.
After setting it down
