The Pretender and The Prince novel Chapter 58

Before long, Seth’s hands were full of merchandise he had bought for Ondine. She felt guilty and offered to carry some of it to lighten his load.

“I’ve got it,” he said, not letting her take anything.

As they walked, Seth asked, “You used to love this game. Why did you stop playing?”

Ondine looked down, tempted to make up an excuse. But after everything Seth had done for her, lying felt wrong.

“I had a master in the game,” she said honestly. “He was really good. When Ellis saw me playing with him, he got jealous and made me quit…” Her voice trailed off, becoming almost inaudible. She felt a flush of embarrassment. Quitting a game she loved for a jerk like Ellis felt like a shameful part of her history.

But to her surprise, Seth’s focus wasn’t on Ellis.

“You had a master?” he asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice. “What was he like?”

Thinking of her master, a smile touched Ondine’s lips. “Oh, he was a great person. Incredibly skilled at the game, but also humble and polite. He had a really good moral compass and was a top student in real life.”

“And,” she added, her smile widening, “his friends said he was really popular with girls, but I never saw a picture of him or even heard his voice.”

A flicker of regret crossed her face.

Seth saw it, and the faintest hint of a smile appeared in his own eyes, gone as quickly as it came. His voice was neutral when he spoke. “Now that you and Ellis are broken up, why don’t you start playing again?”

“I’ve been too busy lately,” Ondine said, her gaze dropping. “And with my mom being sick, I’m just not in the mood for games.”

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