CHAPTER 185: THE WEEK-LONG BREAK [4]

Slap!

Iris clapped both hands against her cheeks. Hard.

The sound echoed across the balcony.

"Urgh!"

She groaned and dropped back into the chair. Her silver hair spilled over the backrest as she slumped down.

"They’re gonna spread baseless rumors now."

Her voice came out muffled. Hands still pressed tight against her flushed face.

"Hahaha!"

Meanwhile Alaric laughed on the other hand. His shoulders shook with it.

Iris’s hands dropped. She shot forward in her seat.

"Don’t you dare laugh!"

She pointed at him. Her eyes blazed with embarrassment and indignation.

Alaric’s laughter faded off. He straightened, wiping at the corner of his eye with one knuckle.

"Why are you so fussed about this?"

"You know what those gossip-loving maids are gonna do now?!" Iris snapped.

"They’re gonna tease me till death. Some are even gonna hate me."

Alaric tilted his head. His brow furrowed slightly.

"Hate you?" A pause. "But why?"

Iris opened her mouth. Closed it. Her cheeks flushed deeper.

"Because they’re gonna think that I—" She cut herself off. Waved her hand frantically. "Just shut up. That’s not important."

She shot up from the chair. Paced two steps. Then whirled back around.

"What if Lady Selene finds out about this?"

Her voice pitched higher. The panic bleeding through now.

"She’s gonna expel me. She’ll think I’m trying to seduce you. Aiming for some higher position or—or trying to—"

Slam!

Her hands came down on the balcony railing.

"Urgh!"

She wailed. Her forehead dropped forward to rest against her clasped hands.

The evening breeze stirred her silver hair. Made it flutter around her hunched shoulders.

"I’m doomed. Completely doomed."

The words came out muffled against her hands.

Alaric watched her spiral. His eyes tracked each exaggerated movement.

His lips twitched again. Fighting back another smile.

Then he sighed.

And closed the distance between them.

His hand came up. Settled on her back with a light pat.

"It’ll be alright. You’re worrying over nothing."

Iris’s head snapped up. Her eyes locked onto him.

"But they’re going to—"

Alaric’s fingers caught her ear. Pinched and twisted.

"Ow! Ow ow ow—"

"Stop your mindless prattling."

His tone stayed flat. Almost bored. But his eyes held a hint of amusement.

Iris’s hands shot up and grabbed at his wrist.

"Let go! That hurts!"

She squirmed. Tried to duck away from his grip.

Alaric let go.

His fingers released her ear with a casual flick.

Iris stumbled back half a step. Her hand immediately flew up to rub at the reddened spot.

She shot him a sidelong glance. Her silver eyes narrowed into slits.

"Bastard," she muttered under her breath. "You didn’t need to do it that hard."

The words came out low. Sullen.

Alaric tilted his head. His smile widened—innocent and completely unconvincing.

"Did you say something?"

His tone was light.

Iris’s jaw worked for a second. Her teeth ground together.

Then she shook her head quickly.

"Nope. Didn’t say anything."

Her hand dropped from her ear. She crossed her arms instead.

Alaric’s smile lingered for another moment before he turned away and leaned against the balcony railing. His forearms rested on the stone as he gazed out over the manor grounds.

The gardens stretched below. Pathways wound between carefully maintained hedges. The evening light painted everything in shades of gold and deep orange.

Silence settled between them.

Iris moved up beside him after a moment. Kept a deliberate arm’s length of distance. Her own hands gripped the railing as she looked out at the same view.

"So," Alaric said, not looking at her. "How bad has it actually been?"

Iris huffed. "The work?"

"What else?"

She was quiet for a beat. Her fingers tapped against the stone.

"Work’s fine. Exhausting, but fine."

Another breeze swept past.

"What about you?" She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "How is your life at the academy?"

Alaric snorted. "Full of pretentious assholes."

"That bad?"

"It is." His fingers drummed once against the railing. "Though watching them trip over their own egos is quite satisfying."

"You’re causing trouble, aren’t you?"

"Me?" His eyes slid toward her. Innocent again. "I’m a perfect student."

"Bullshit."

"Hey, you wound me," he added, clutching his chest.

She shook her head, smiling.

Iris opened her mouth. Started to say something but—

"Oh, so here you are taking your rest."

A cool voice cut through the evening air.

Both of them froze.

Alaric’s fingers stopped mid-tap against the railing. His entire posture went rigid.

Iris’s breath caught audibly.

They turned. Slowly. Like prey animals who’d just heard a predator’s footsteps.

Selene stood in the balcony entrance.

Arms crossed. The deep blue of her gown seemed darker in the fading light. Her dark hair was still pulled back perfectly, not a strand out of place despite the evening breeze.

Her green eyes were narrowed. Fixed on them with laser focus.

The temperature on the balcony seemed to drop several degrees.

"I—Lady Selene—I was just—"

Iris’s words tumbled out. Panicked. Incoherent.

She dropped into a bow quickly.

"I must be working now!"

Her voice pitched higher. Almost squeaked.

She straightened, though kept her head down as she hurried past Selene.

Her footsteps echoed frantically down the hallway. Then disappeared entirely.

The silence that remained felt heavier.

More oppressive.

Selene’s gaze shifted. Locked onto Alaric with an intensity that could cut glass.

She took one step forward. Then another.

Click! Click!

Her heels clicked against the stone.

Then she stopped just inside the balcony threshold.

Her green eyes bore into his crimson ones. Held there. "So."

The word came out quiet. Dark.

"What was going on here?"

Alaric forced a smile.

"Nothing at all. I was just heading to my room, but I met a friend instead and—"

"And you declined my invitation and house responsibilities?"

Selene’s eyes narrowed further.

She took another step forward.

"There won’t be any rest for you."

Before Alaric could respond, her hand shot out and grabbed his arm.

She tugged him away from the railing in one smooth motion. His feet stumbled slightly as his balance shifted.

"Aunt—"

"Move."

She didn’t wait for compliance. Just pulled him along with her toward the hallway entrance.

Her grip on his arm was iron. Not painful, but absolutely unbreakable.

Alaric’s boots scraped against the balcony floor as he was forced to follow.

They crossed from the balcony into the dimmer hallway.