Page 22 of The Promise Born
But something was different. I hummed, a soft melody that I only sang when I was my happiest. I paused. Hands deep in the dough I was kneading. My stomach fluttered and my pulse quickened.Did I actually want to cook for him? Was I happy about feeding him?
“This is going too far!” I slapped the dough. “I’m only here until the deal is done! Then I can live the life I truly want. This is not the life I want!”
I spent the next few hours making the best versions of my desserts that I could. With my privacy, I could do the process exactly how I would any other time. There was no one to watch me pull the ice. No one to report me to the queen for doing the practice.
How would they feel about having an ice dragon cooking for the prince? Maybe they would think someone sent me there to hurt him. Would they capture me? Punish me? A wave of anxieties washed over me as these thoughts raced through my mind. And what would Asante think if he ever found out who I was? What would it mean for him if anyone else did? But my worries didn't stop me from doing what I needed to do. And by the time Maryl returned to take me to him, everything was ready.
As before, she led me straight to the prince. Only this time, there wasn’t any chatter. No talk about what the other workers said or did. She walked me there, had an awkward exchange with him, and then left us alone. He was in the same spot as before, underneath the flowered arch.
“You're all right.” I said once we were alone.
“Shouldn't I be asking that about you?” He looked down at my ankle.
“I’m fine.” I lifted my ankle and rolled it around. “It doesn't hurt at all anymore. I didn’t even need my cane.”
“That was fast.” He frowned. “Are you sure?”
“Apparently, I wasn’t as hurt as I thought.” The lie left a funny taste in my mouth that I ignored.
“Well, that’s good. And why are you worried about me being alright?”
“You weren't there when I woke up.” I admitted. “I expected you to be.”
The corner of his lips lifted; he liked that I wanted him there. “I’m sorry, I had to take care of something.”
“Is everything alright?”
“It is, and it will be even better if those desserts taste like they did the first time I had them.” He pointed to the tray in my hand.
“Have at it.” I pushed the tray towards him and watched him to pick a dessert.
He pondered for a moment before choosing the jelly filled roll dusted with essence of fire flower. He peered at me, his brow furrowed, as if worried I hadn’t done them right. The silence hung heavy in the air.
“They’re good. Just try it.” I urged him.
“I trust you.” He closed his eyes and bit down into the pastry. And a moment later, his expression shifted into one of pleasure, his eyelids fluttered, and he moaned softly. “Mmm. Finally.”
“How are they?”
“They're perfect.” He took another bite. “Even better than before, if that’s possible.”
“Good.” I sat the tray down on the table next to him. “I'll leave these here with you. I need to go get cleaned up.”
“Put on something nice.” He said, after picking up another pastry. “I like the dress you wore yesterday. Do you have something else like that?”
“Why?” My brow lifted in suspicion.
“I would like to take you to dinner.” He admitted.
I laughed and crossed my arms over my chest. “You want to have dinner with me? Like a date?”
“We are supposed to be keeping up appearances, right?” he looked at me. “How would it look if we shared no time together apart from you delivering these creations to me?”
As he moved closer, his breath brushed my cheek, and my pulse quickened with anticipation. “I would treat the woman I intended to marry much better than that.”
“Of course.” That was the only thing I could think to say that wouldn’t betray me and reveal the response I had to him. As he came closer, a feeling of anticipation, like butterflies, took flight in my stomach. Afraid to find out what would happen if we remained close, I stepped back and awkwardly turned to leave. My face flushed with heat when I heard his chuckle behind me. He was proud of himself.
Hours later, a quiet guard escorted me from my room. When the knock sounded on my door, I found relief to open it and see no one I recognized. I had feared he would send Domin. I didn’t care if Asante or anyone else believed me. I knew my gut instinct told the truth. That man didn't like me, and I didn't like him either.
