Chapter 24: Chapter Twenty-Four

Iris:

Cirdan has been sulking since I told him that I could not be his date to the ballroom party. I had agreed to be Vine and Vane’s date when I sat close to them at the bonfire and I couldn’t very well go with Cirdan, that would be enough to put us under the spotlight and it would not be very long with people poking around before they discover that he is my mate. He knows this but it still doesn’t prevent him from sulking.

“Cirdan, give it a rest, you know this is for the best, or would you prefer I go with Finn?” I asked my mate would was acting like a child of two and just as I suspected that he would react, his face pulled into a frown, and I couldn’t help but smile at his reaction.

“Don’t even joke on that?” He snapped and my smile ran free, he really acted cute when he was jealous.

“And here I would think that you would prefer me being the date of one instead of two.” I teased Cirdan with a smile, that was until I saw Viana staring at me and Cirdan with a confused look on her face like she was trying to figure out the nature of our friendship.

My smile dropped at her actions, there was no quicker way for the people whom my parents wanted to hide the news from for the news to leak out because Viana is aware. My smile died as I tucked my chin in so that I would be staring at the ground instead. Cirdan confusion at my actions wafted to me and he turned to see what the reason for my action was, he must have looked murderous because I could hear feet quickly walking away.

“She was watching us.” Cirdan stated and although he did not really need confirmation for his statement, I offered him one anyway.

“Yes, she was as if she needed to figure out our connection.”

“Damnit, you have been making me smile too much in public these days.” Cirdan frown was practically visible in his tone.

I jerked my head up with a frown. “Hey, why am I being blamed for that?”

“Because you are the cause of my smiles.” Cirdan returned and even though I knew it was mushy, my cheeks still turned red as I smiled at his words, he meant it in a bad way since he was not clearly happy about his public smiling, but it was still heartwarming for me.

“Thanks.” I replied but he shook his head at me.

“I think it is preferable that you go with Vine and Vane, they are the least suspicious choices right now. For Viana to come and watch our interactions, it means her spies must have told her about your friendship with me and Finn. Now let’s not make them think that Finn is your mate, shall we?”

“Jealous?” I asked with a smile.

“Yes, I will not like it if Finn takes the title of my place in your life, it would be enough to drive me insane.” Cirdan said truthfully. “They also need to see you interact with others the same way you interact with us. That would prevent people from making connections.”

I nodded in agreements before I stood up from my seat. “Where are you going?”

“To tell the twins that you have agreed for them to be my date.” I replied and smiled inwardly when I watch as Cirdan hastily stood up too, it took a lot from me not to snicker at his rushed movements especially since he stumbled.

“Wait, hold on a minute, I was not aware that this was not already a done deal.”

“It is but the three of us didn’t hold our breathe on the fact that you would agree. Vane even went as far as to say that you would go all caveman on them.”

“I am tempted to do that now.” Cirdan muttered.

“Don’t you dare, we never thought you would agree but since you did, I better inform them, what I don’t understand is that, I am not allowed to think of a relationship with you, but it would be okay for any other powerful suitor?”

“Yes.” Cirdan shrugged. “As long as your mate is not light fae or Folk then it is completely okay. If it is one of them, they feel that race next ruler would be a whole lot more powerful than ever and that is what they will try to prevent.” Cirdan explained, with a sigh, I moved my hand to his shoulders to squeeze as I left but that moment, some students entered the classroom that was empty apart from us and they were talking loudly until they saw us and then the whispers started because my hand was just above his shoulder. With a sigh, I dropped my arm by my side as I walked away without saying goodbye to my mate. I could not. Not with the whole world watching me.

*******************************

“He agreed?” Vane asked. “My mind is still stuck on that.”

“Me too, apparently he is not as serious with his mate as I thought he would be?” Vine replied.

“He doesn’t have a choice.” I snapped at them, coming to my mate’s defense. “He is aware that I need to be seen with others for our relationship to still be a secret, he did not agree until it became obvious that we were being spied on by others.”

“Others are already suspicious?” Vine asked and when I nodded, he shook his head.

“One of the rules of power is that you shape the narrative. It is just time before the news of you and Cirdan comes out. It would be best you release the news and shape the narrative than you let the news come out at whatever narrative it would explode with.”

“My parents are aware, and we do want the news to come out, it is not as if I can hide Cirdan forever, it is just that we need until school is over for the two of us. That is less than a year from now, we certainly can do it.”

Vane shook his head, but it was Vine who spoke. “That is risky but since you want to take the risk, be our guest.”

The issue was not mentioned again, even though the party, there they decided that they wanted to stay, and I was happy that I have made extra friends.

That was also the first night that I woke up somewhere which I did not fall asleep in.