Page 53 of Somber Prince
“It’s my work you’re talking about. My life’s work. I’ve been dancing since before you even knew what to do for a living.”
“Taking dance classes is not ‘working for a living,’ sister. In fact, it’s the opposite of that. Do you know how much Mom and Dad paid for that little hobby of yours over the years? I bet your entire dancing to date hasn’t earned that money back yet. And do you know how much Dad’s care cost?”
“I was the one taking care of him, remember? Unpaid.”
“Yeah? But who paid his living expenses? His utilities? The property tax on the house?”
“His savings paid the bills,” I said with some uncertainty. Melanie had been in charge of the financial side. I only had a vague idea about Dad’s expenses.
“His savings wouldn’t have lasted long. And then what? Who would’ve had to pay for all of that? Me.” She punched her chest. “I always knew it’d be me, Dawn. All you have are a big heart and a trusting nature, neither are good for paying bills. Why do you think I’ve been stressing out so much about my job?”
The fight left me. Anger fizzled out, flooded by grief and the realization that Melanie was my only family left. What we argued about no longer mattered because Dad was gone.
Placing my elbows on my knees, I dropped my head in my hands. Melanie heaved a sigh and stopped screaming, too. What was the point of arguing about things and people that were no longer there?
She leaned over me and lowered her voice. “Listen, maybe not all is lost yet. How did it go with the prince? What did you do?”
“I kissed him,” I whispered.
I regretted my words the moment they left my mouth. Our kissing was no one’s business, especially since I hadn’t even had a chance to wrap my own mind around what was happening between Rha and me other than me getting excited in his company and him gobbling my excitement right up.
But the words were now out. Elaine heard them too. And Melanie latched on to them like a tick to a stray mutt.
“You kissed him?” She pressed a hand to her chest. “Thank God you’re not completely useless. Maybe you will get another chance with him after all. Did he say if he wanted to see you again?”
“No, he didn’t.”
Before she could yell at me again, the Keepers entered through the gate, carrying trays with our breakfast.
Elaine drew air in her nostrils. “It smells nice.”
Melanie eagerly turned to face the Keepers. “Cinnamon? Or something like…what’s that thing? Cardamom? Cloves? With nutmeg? God, I’d kill or fuck someone for just a drop of flavor in my food.”
A pleasant scent of something incredibly appetizing drifted from the breakfast dishes. Like starved-for-brains zombies, we all shuffled toward the guards, following the delicious smell.
Kostya was the first one to grab a bowl from the tray.
“Oh, yeah!” he grunted with satisfaction, sniffing the creamy porridge. “Finally.”
The porridge glistened with golden butter. Dark brown spices were sprinkled on top, emitting the wonderful aroma.
Before even leaving the line, Melanie put a spoonful in her mouth.
“Mmm.” She closed her eyes, savoring it.
Elaine nudged me with an elbow. “Did you do that?”
“What? No? I wish I did.” I accepted a bowl from Sigid. “This is wonderful. But what happened? Why the change?”
“Prince Rha ordered all meals for Joy Vessels made to their fullest enjoyment,” Sigid explained.
“Why?”
Sigid shrugged. “Because joy is precious and should not be denied.”
Elaine shot me a glance. “Maybe you did have something to do with it, after all.”
The only thing I did was let him feel the excitement he caused in me.