26

Azira

My footsteps falter as I approach our usual table that evening with my tray of food, swallowing hard.

We've got some new arrivals, it would seem. Alexander is sitting next to Natalya with his arm draped over her shoulder possessively. My stomach churns as it's weird to see them together like that after everything that's happened over the years.

And yet, as he murmurs something in her ear and she laughs, I can't deny that I've never her seen her look so happy and at ease before.

I keep moving, taking note that Alek, Rizzo and Rosa have also moved to our table. Rizzo has the audacity to be sitting in my usual seat.

I clear my throat when I get to him. "Why are you sitting in my seat?"

Rizzo's brow raises as he meets my gaze. He's Alexander' newest friend, who none of us have really spoken to. He seems to keep himself to himself.

Supposedly, Rizzo's father had bad blood with my family and intended to overthrow us, until they uncovered his father has been poisoning his mother for years and now Maxim Volkov and his sister have taken over operations. As far as anyone knows, his father is on the run, but I fear thaton the runis code for something more sinister as it normally is in our world.

"I'm sorry, I didn't see your name on it."

I grit my teeth together. "I've sat in that seat since 1st grade. Move."

Alexander clears his throat. "Move over for the girl. This is their table, after all."

Rizzo doesn't look pleased at being told what to do, but moves to one side.

Nat may be embracing this new change, but she's going to have to give us time to adjust, as this is just weird.

I can't help but cast my mind back to the day the same boy kicked Nat off her usual table and out of her friend group. A day that was our gain when she joined us and became one of my best friends for life, but now the tables are turned and everything feels upside down.

Adrianna leans toward me. "This is weird, right?"

I nod in response. "Pretty damn weird, yeah."

"I mean, I get it. They're together now, but do they have to sit together for dinner?"

I shrug. "She looks happy, though." I glance over at Alexander' usual table and see that Jeanie is glaring over at us. "At least Jeanie stayed put."

Adrianna groans. "Fuck, I wouldn't be sitting here if she was at this table."

I'm not sure I would either.

"Eva with Oak?" I ask.

She sighs. "Yep."

Alek and Rosa are the two of Alexander' friend who are friendly and likeable, and they're sitting opposite us.

"What is the chilli like, Rosa?" I ask, glancing at my plate of pasta. "I was torn between that and the pasta."

She smiles widely. "It's delicious, but then all the food here is, isn't it?"

I nod, as she has a point. There's not a bad meal I've had here at SA. "True." I tap my finger on my chin. "Maybe I'll try some afterwards."

"And you say I can put the food away!" Adrianna laughs. "I'm not sure how you're even hungry after sinking two meatball subs at lunch."

"I said maybe." I feel my cheeks heat as I don't normally over eat, as it all goes on my hips, but ever since last night with Luigi, it feels like I need something to distract me and it turns out food works pretty well.

As if I have a radar for the man, I feel him the moment he steps into the cafeteria. Before I even look in his direction, I know he's looking at me. When I do glance toward him, I wish I hadn't.

My body heats instantly as I look into those fire filled hazel eyes of his. It feels like he's looking right through me. As if one look can pierce right through to my soul, and I draw in a deep breath before looking away.

Alexander clears his throat. "Have any of you done the most recent anatomy assignment?"

I look at the ex-king of the academy and find it weird that he's sitting with us talking about such mundane things.

Nat elbows him. "You know I have."

He shakes his head. "Yeah, because you're a nerd." His tone is playful and so unlike him with Natalya. I can't deny that they make a cute couple, but it's going to take some time to adjust to this new dynamic.

For years, whenever I saw Alexander coming our way, a fight-or-flight instinct kicked in. My guard went up, and I struggle to work out how Nat has overcome that and appears so at ease with him now. It's going to take some serious adjusting to get used to this new setup.