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I should’ve known she’d bring it up. She’s been hinting at it all month, asking if I know whether or not I’d been nominated.
Like always, I don’t want to crush her hope, so I pretend like I have a chance, guiltily glad she can’t see my face. “Who knows? I might be sleeping in a castle tonight.”
She chuckles. “Do you think the toilets are made of gold?”
“Probably.”
I get a jumpstart on Kevin’s breakfast even though my little brother isn’t here yet. When he finally stumbles into the kitchen, he’s got his shirt on the wrong way around and the waistband of his trousers is bunched up.
Without saying anything about it, I continue the conversation with my mother while heading over to help him when he shoots me a pleading look. We don’t like her knowing when we need help. The last thing she needs is to feel guilty about not being able to see when he’s done something like bungled dressing himself.
“Wouldn’t it be amazing?” she croons, pressing her hands to her chest as her features soften in that dreamy way. “My daughter—royalty. But even those royal boys don’t deserve you.”
I shove a bite of cereal into my mouth, scoffing quietly to myself, probably looking like a savage. I’d be banned from the castle before I’ve even set foot in it if any royal saw me eating this way. Thankfully, it doesn’t matter because I can’t be banned from a place I’ve never been and will never see. So I can eat like an animal all I damn well please.
Kev raises a brow at me as he drinks the milk from his bowl and that only makes me intensify the speed at which I shove the cereal into my face, earning myself a giggle from him.
“Oh, Kev, slow down.” I chuckle as he tries to copy me and spills milk down the front of his shirt. I wouldn’t get points for being the best role model, but at least I made him smile before school.
Mum drops her head, going back to drinking her tea with a pained knot between her brows.
“I bet the royal pack are really nice,” I offer her, playing more into her fantasy to cheer her back up. It’s the image the media would have you believe, but who knew in reality. They could be a bunch of spoiled rotten assholes.
She hums her agreement, the ghost of a grin on her lips as the radio crackles and dies.
“Not again,” she gripes, throwing her hands up. “It’s been doing that for days.”
I try to get it working again, but it’s useless. Something has shorted beyond repair. Mentally, I count the meager few dollars I’ve managed to keep saved under my mattress. Not enough to help with any bills, but maybe enough for a new radio at the thrift store.
“Sorry, Mum, I can’t get it going but maybe I can borrow one from school to bring home for you.”
She wouldn’t like me buying a new one for her.
I finish breakfast and a quick tidy up of both the kitchen and my little brother before kissing them both goodbye. Mum’s soft hands cling to mine for a moment before she lets go of me. “I can’t wait to hear how it went when you get home.”
“I’ll see you later. Love you.”
“I love you too, sweetheart.” She gives my hands a final squeeze. As I turn to leave, I bump my hip into the counter and jarring pain shoots through me.
My hands fly to my likely bruised hip, but I don’t want Mum to worry. Biting back the howl of agony that wants to escape, I hobble out, muttering a string of silent curses until the front door shuts behind me. “Ow. Motherfucker, that hurt.”
Being clumsy is downright dangerous, but as I look around our front yard, I realize it’s not as dangerous as forgetting to bring my bicycle inside.
Unsurprisingly, it’s found a new owner overnight. Now, I’m definitely going to be late. Great.
Oh, for the love of the king’s unfaithful bullocks!
Clutching the straps of my backpack on my shoulders, I grit my teeth and gingerly make my way down the steps. If I’ve already missed the city bus, I’ll have to walk the four miles to school with a bruised hip.
Just. Bloody. Great.
* * *
When I finally arrive atthe Academy, the rest of the school is already heading into the auditorium. The buzz of excitement among the crowd is palpable, making my heart flutter in my chest.
Everyone else is dressed to impress. They look like they’ve spent hours at hair and nail salons, with perfectly applied makeup, pressed uniforms, and jewelry that could pay my family’s rent for a month. I’ve never felt more like the scholarship Omega than I do right now, but I keep my head up and my back straight.
“Why did she even come?” Clara says snidely to one of the male Omegas in her demon squad when I pass them.
