Page 28 of The Princess's Chosen

Footsteps padded softly through the aisles of the library toward my window seat, and I looked up, expecting to see Wendell joining me, or even Owen fresh from the stables or visiting some of his wild pets in the woods.

Instead, I startled at the specter before me.

"Sam!"

He looked more or less the same as he had a week ago when left behind by Camellia. Thin, appearing even taller than he really was for his lack of breadth, hair and skin pale. If there was one thing changed, it might've been that his lips didn't look so chapped and the circles under his eyes were maybe a little less dark.

I hadn'tforgottenhis presence in the palace, but I hadn't seen him until this moment, and I suddenly wished I weren't alone.

He looked similarly startled, and his eyes glanced behind him, a soft clank of metal in the shadow of the library signaling a guard.

"We aren't alone," he said, that crack of disuse still in his voice. I wasn't sure if he was reassuring himself or me.

"Ah, well, don't…mind me," I said, fingering the pages of the book, my legs curling under my lap.

Sam seemed equal parts fragile and unpredictable. I just wasn't sure if I was waiting for an explosion or for him to fall apart on himself.

"Do you want me to—?" He glanced at my skirts as if my sex might drag him under of its own accord.

"No," I said, shaking my head and forcing a smile, before clearing my throat. "I… Sam, you aren't obliged to do anything while you're here. Not on my behalf."

His brow furrowed, the lines deep once they appeared, but he nodded. "That's what Daniel said."

I sighed and nodded. Well, that made one area where Daniel had been helpful. I tipped my head and wondered if it was too soon to ask the question in my head, before deciding to dive forward.

"Do youwantto be one of my Chosen? I am not taking you on, but if it's—"

"No, I don't," Sam said, eyes widening and shoulders tensing.

My smile came more readily then. "Good, then we're of the same mind where that's concerned."

Sam moved closer, but something seemed to be unraveling in him, a kind of watchfulness that made me equally wary. He leaned against the far side of the window seat, staring at me, but he seemed less tense.

"I would like to have some kind of…something to do here," he said slowly, eyes flicking back and forth across my face to study my response.

"Oh! Well, you may do anything you like," I said, shrugging.

He frowned again. "I…don't remember what I like. But I don't like sitting in my room with nothing to think of, but—"

His words stopped abruptly and his stare went vacant, my chest tightening. I leaned forward, and Sam stiffened, flinching back, making it clear between the two of us who was considered the predator.

"I will talk with Lady Prudence and Mr. Farraque to see what might be useful," I said. "You can try things out, see what suits you."

"Daniel says I'm to do what you say," Sam said, but he was looking down at his own shoes.

I huffed and rolled my eyes. "Well, Daniel does what I say, and I'll tell him to help you find some work you enjoy."

Sam hovered, not really responding, and I realized that I could either go and find Daniel now or I could let Sam watch me read. I considered briefly asking him to help me research, but I wasn't really prepared to trust him that far.

He skittered back as I stood up, and I backed away. "I'll go see him now."

"You were never really like her," Sam said.

I frowned automatically at the thought of Camellia. "No, I wasn't."

"But you do have the Hunger?" Sam asked, frowning.

I sighed and turned away from him, my stomach cramping in response to thoughts of the Hunger. "Unfortunately, yes."

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