08: Losing focus

SORAYA

"Oh, dear heavens! It is the crown Princess."

I walked into the cafeteria along with Adele, who kept skipping around and jumping in excitement.

"I am trying to understand what you mean by it is the crown Princess, and why you are acting like you have won a lottery," I spat at my roommate with a frown.

"Come on, Soraya, must you always be so mean?" Adele whined.

"I am not mean, I am just being skeptical," I answered.

Adele scoffed. "Whatever you say, you will not ruin my mood when the Princess is here."

We found a table after getting our food and sat. The cafeteria was loud, with chatter and laughter filtering around. I took a bite from my food and looked back at Adele. "You said the Princess is here?" I questioned.

"Now you want to listen to why I am acting like I have won the lottery?"

"If you won't answer, then shut up, Adele," I said dryly.

"You see? Always so mean, but I will answer since it is my job to catch you in on the latest news in school." She paused for dramatic effect, earning an eye roll from me, then she continued.

"The crown Princess is here," Adele repeated.

"You said that before," I deadpanned.

"Calm down, I'm bringing it on slowly." I raised a single brow while Adele kept on talking. "According to my sources, Prince Daryl's sister has come to join us for our second year."

I snorted at that. "That is no big deal, I don't see why you should be excited about that?"

"You don't understand, do you?"

Instinctively, I allowed my gaze to find Daryl's table, but only Dolly and Axel were there. I glanced back at Adele. "Understand what?"

Adele palmed her face in a mock exasperation. "Princess Ilana is every Nevanda male fantasy and every Nevanda female's role model."

"Not mine though," I muttered.

"Of course not yours, I know. You are your role model. I mean, what can beat you winning a spar session with the Prince himself?"

I pressed my lips tightly together. If only Adele knew.

"Why do you think the Princess is here?" I asked.

"Am I supposed to know?"

"Well..."

"It was the same question we asked when the Prince suddenly showed up here. Everyone wanted to know why he would show up in Fenrir Pack of all places."

I gave Adele an inquiring gaze. "What do you mean Fenrir of all places?"

Adele gasped in disbelief. "You don't know? About the hatred that Fenrir Pack has for the monarchy? Where have you been living that you do not know these things, Soraya? Under a rock?"

I scoffed and put my last slice of pizza in my mouth. Again, I wondered—if only Adele knew who I was. I stood up after taking a large gulp of water, grabbing my books.

"Where are you going?" Adele questioned.

I glanced at my roommate. The new information she had given me was swirling in my mind, and I needed to think. "To the library," I told Adele.

"But–"

I did not wait to hear the rest of Adele's protest before turning on my heels.

The library looked like some sort of dome, I noticed as I made my way in. Books lined the shelves in different categories. I reached for the shelves tagged Spell Books on Curses and took out one that caught my eye.

It was a hardcover book. The cover was black, and on it was a gold imprint of a spell bottle.

"Is it not funny how we keep meeting in unexpected places?" Prince Daryl's voice was small, careful not to enrage the librarian whose hawk eyes followed every movement of the students in the library. But even when it was a whisper, it still sent stills of caresses down my spine.

"Perhaps you are stalking me, your Highness," I said, struggling to keep a blank face.

I did not look back to regard Daryl's presence as I went further into the stack of shelves.

"You wish, Karter. I have better things to do than stalk you."

"Better things like?"

It was an unexpected question, and even I was taken aback by my audacity. I grimaced but then assured myself that it was a strategic move; getting to know him so I would strike when he least expected it.

"Should I wonder why you are suddenly interested in what I spend my time doing?" asked Daryl with a quizzical look on his face, his smirk deepening.

"I am not interested in anything that concerns you, Daryl Ender. Do not get your pants twisted," I countered defensively.

Daryl glanced down at my hands. "I am wondering why you are holding that book. A spellbook of curses?" He raised his gaze back to my face.

I clenched my fingers over the book. "Perhaps I want to cast a spell on you."

"That is even if you could," Daryl commented, stepping closer to me, his breath fanning against my skin. "Do you wish to cast a curse upon me, Karter?"

"You doubt my skills, your Highness," I retorted defiantly.

Daryl chuckled. "Skills? I beg to differ, Soraya Karter."

He had a knowing glint in his eyes, like he knew I was hiding something but yet he did not push further, only dancing on the surface. But still, I asked, "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean, I wonder why you are pretending," Daryl answered, all the while leaning in closer than he already had. I swallowed as my traitorous body reacted to the Prince's nearness; his scent was intoxicating, his dark gaze sending a flush through me.

It was wrong to feel this sort of attraction towards him when I was his supposed enemy. It was very wrong.

I stepped back as I forced the heat down my throat. "I would appreciate it if you maintain a good amount of distance away from me, Prince Daryl," I managed to say, my voice a raspy whisper.

Heavens, I was losing it. I was losing focus.