Chapter 64: Chapter 64

Elari

I was pretty sure my cheeks were flushed and my lips still swollen when I got back to my dorm to get ready for classes. All I could do was hope that people would put it down to my run and not because I had just been making out pressed up against a tree.

I was still breathless when I burst into my room, and headed towards the shower. Not one person in the common area had said hello. They just looked at me with icy disdain. But that was fine. I didn’t need them. Not when I had-

I jumped, as I stepped out of the bathroom to find Issi sitting on my bed cross legged. She was idly playing with my stacked bracelets. Turning them over and over in her hand. She lifted her face to me with a wary smile when she heard my small scream.

“Hi.” She said nervously.

“Hi.” Clutching the towel around me. I pressed my wrist to the material. One wrong move and she would see the mark and it wasn’t like I could snatch the bangles from her hands without making her even more suspicious.

“What are you doing in here?” My voice came out more threatening than I meant it to.

For a second she looked shocked , her eyes widened in surprise at my tone and then she shrugged and looked down at her lap. “I wanted to speak to you in private before classes.”

“Ok.” I didn’t know what to say to that. “So you decided to break into my room?”

Issi looked at me guiltily. “I know I treated you horribly.” She muttered. “It was just a shock. I’m still in shock but I know I can’t blame you for who your father is.” She lifted her head and met my eyes. “You didn’t ask for either of them.” She added with a wink.

My lips twitched. Sometimes it was easy to forget how many of the packs hated the chancellor as well. What would my best friend say if she found out I was bonded or soon to be bonded with the chancellors only heir? I had a feeling that would be a step too far for her.

I could be the long lost daughter of the mad king. A rogue but being -

“Can you ever forgive me?” She asked in a whisper. And I was horrified to hear tears in her voice. I searched her face quickly with my eyes.

“I know I hurt you and I totally get it if you don’t want to be friends anymore but-“

Rushing forward I pulled her into my arms in a hug. We sobbed together. “You’re my best friend Issi. There’s nothing to forgive and-“

Someone knocked on the door and it pushed open without me saying a word.

“Is this a private hug marathon?” Rivan chuckled. “Or can anyone join in.”

Issi stepped in front of me and I crossed my arms around myself. Pressing my wrist into my breast. Half to hide the mark from them and half because Rivan was looking at me strangely.

It took a second for me to realise why. I was standing in nothing but a towel. I was almost naked and he was very very interested in what he was seeing.

Issi understood his look before I did. Hands on her hips she scowled at him. “Do you ever knock? What are you doing here anyway?”

Leaning against the door Rivan cocked his head to the side and grinned. “I came to walk my girlfriend to class. It’s the done thing between future mates.”

I saw the ripple of shock flow up Issi’s spine. “Mates?” She whispered. “What have you,” she shook her head. “Never mind. You can wait in the common room to walk with us. Elari needs to get dressed.”

“I don’t mind-“

She punched him in the arm. Pushing him towards the door. “Do not finish that sentence Rivan. Otherwise I’ll kick your one ball so far up it will never descend ever again.”

A snort of laughter erupted form my lips. I’d forgotten all about the one ball joke I had heard them tease with when I had first met. So much had happened since then. It seemed so long ago. Back when life was simple even if I was terrified.

Rivans eyes widened but he backed towards the door with a rueful smile. “I’m going. I’ll wait out here for you babe.” He met my eyes. “And just so you know my balls are all perfectly-“

“Out.” Issi pushed him all the way out and slammed the door behind him. Pursing her lips she blew out a breath. “Goddess protect us from horny boys in love. I best get out there and make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid like climb in your window.”

Shaking my wet hair around my shoulders I laughed. “Rivan wouldn’t do that,”

“He’s a teenage boy. A teenage boy with a wolf. They are stupid creatures. I wouldn’t put it passed him. He seems like he’s totally into you.”

“Yeah.” I couldn’t help it my smile faded a little.

“And you’re into him? He just said mate so-“ she trailed off. “If you’re not-“

I forced myself to smile and it was easy because suddenly I could feel Kades warm lips on mine. The way he smelt when he pressed his hard body into mine. “I like Rivan a lot.” That at least wasn’t a lie.

“Good. My two best friends together.” She beamed at me. “I’ll be waiting but don’t be long. I don’t want detention this week if I can help it.”

“I won’t be long.” I promised and as far as I knew she’d never had a detention a day in her life.

The first thing I did when she closed the door behind her was slide the bracelets back into place. That had been too close , I couldn’t take them off again unless my door was locked and maybe not even then.

I hated covering the mark. I hated hiding who I was but more than anything I hated lying to my friends.