Chapter 35
The walk took me longer than I expected since I hadn’t originally accounted for the ankle-breaking contraptions that Laryk considered shoes.
I felt his lingering gaze on me, and I tugged down on the dress nervously.
Osta had chosen a restaurant along the harbor.
The spot offered a glittering view of the city and its reflection in the water below. A sea-drenched breeze blew over the docks, sending a shiver over my exposed skin. I inhaled the scent of grilled fish.
It wasn’t difficult to find my friends’ after navigating the masses of Aossí populating the dock. Raine had been sure to reserve the best table amongst the outdoor seating.
“I’m so sorry I’m late!” I rushed over, finding an empty space beside Raine, opposite Briar and Osta.
I was surprised to see Nazul had dared to show.
Glasses of varying fullness littered the table. I craved a drink and the relaxation it would bring, but I needed to be of sound mind while I got my story straight .
“Um, hello? Who is this vixen in our midst?” Briar gasped, eyes going wide.
“Fia? Where has this dress been hiding?” In a flurry of movement, Osta made her way around the table to pull me off the chair, clumsily spinning me to get a better look.
“Seriously, Fia! You look hot!” Raine grinned, tilting her drink to me in a salute.
A blush stained my cheeks, and I rolled my eyes, gently guiding Osta back to her seat.
“I…wanted to try something new, so I went shopping today after leaving the Compound.” I hoped I sounded convincing, but when Osta’s eyes widened, I knew I should have just bitten my tongue.
“ Shopping? You? And you didn’t invite me ?” Osta held her heart as if stabbed, the alcohol clearly bringing out the dramatics.
“Where did Mercer pull you off to by the way?” Raine jumped in, saving me from one white lie only to force me into another.
I repeated the General's words. “There was paperwork I needed to sign that got looked over on my first day.”
“Well, you got lucky because Mercer didn’t let up on us for the rest of the session,” Briar complained.
Grimacing, I offered an apologetic look at both of them.
“Mind if I sit here?” We looked up to find Draven standing awkwardly next to the table. His black hair, which usually hung in his face, had been pushed back. I could finally see his gray-blue eyes framed by dark lashes. It was obvious he had bulked up from all of our training.
I guess we all held ourselves differently these days.
“Draven! So happy you decided to show up. Sit, sit!” Briar yanked an unoccupied stool from a table behind us, positioning him at the head.
“Yeah, I figured if I was going to get in trouble for the group's activities outside of class, I may as well participate.” He gave us a half smile, settling in.
“Let’s get a round of drinks!” Osta clapped, motioning to the bartender.
Maybe one drink wouldn’t hurt.
Draven was surprisingly funny when intoxicated. I hoped he would start joining our gatherings in the future.
The next few hours passed in an instant.
Before we paid our tab, Osta went to freshen up.
“Did you know General Ashford is back?” Raine asked as we waited for Osta to return.
“I had no idea,” I responded, too quickly.
“I’m sure you're so excited he’s back, Fia. Am I right?” Briar’s voice had gone up an octave and there was a slight slur to his words.
“What do you mean?”
“Why do you look embarrassed? You’re bagging the General. That’s a win!” He giggled, and while it seemed he was being playful, the volume at which he announced it seemed anything but.
“I really don’t know what you’re talking about…” I shifted, hoping no one was listening too intently.
“Briar, quiet down a bit,” Draven said.
“Why else would they be having private lessons at an off-campus gym? Doesn’t seem so innocent to me.” Briar’s lips were pursed, eyebrows wagging.
I shot Raine a look as my stomach turned to concrete. I couldn’t believe that she had leaked this information to anyone after I’d asked her not to. Based on the look on her face, she was regretting it.
I couldn’t help but notice a few heads turned our way. I leaned over the table, speaking in hushed tones. “Let’s talk about this later. Now really isn’t the time. Please?” I couldn’t help the stern undertone of my words.
Briar scoffed. “Stop with the dramatics. General Ashford is known to have favorites. You’re not the first, and you certainly won’t be his last, honey.”
“Briar, stop it!” Raine hushed, swiping her hand at him.
I needed to get some air.
“I’m going to go find Osta,” I announced, standing on stiff legs. When I didn’t see her in the powder room, I stepped out onto the connected docks.
I looked around, almost giving up when I saw Nazul’s frame leaning over a petite form, a flickering lamp barely illuminating the view. They were locked in an embrace, and sure enough, that was Osta’s yellow lace dress bunched in his fingers.
“What in the actual fuck,” I blurted, already on the move to break them up.
They pulled apart in a daze. When Osta saw me, her eyes went wide.
“Fia! I was going to tell you about us but it’s still so new–”
“No, no, no. This isn’t happening. Osta, he’s not a good person. I’ve seen the people he spends his time with and know exactly how they feel about Riftborne.”
I seethed at Nazul. He had the decency to untangle himself from my best friend and step back.
“He’s not like you think. After he saved me in the clearing, we got to talking and I promise–”
“I’m telling you. He is just trying to use you for a lay.” I couldn’t help but cut her off again. “I think it’s time we go back home for the night.”
“Fia, I promise I don’t have any bad intentions with Osta. I really like her…” Nazul began. I held up my hand.
“It’s not happening. Not with her,” I snapped with a warning look.
I linked my arm around Osta’s and began pulling her behind me, but I could feel her resistance as she looked back at Nazul.
We made our way through the outdoor bar when Raine caught up to us.
“Were you leaving without saying anything? Fia, I’m really sorry. I accidentally let it slip months ago, before we got this close. I’m ashamed of myself. I never thought Briar would repeat that. Clearly I made a big fucking mistake,” Raine pleaded, concern heavy in her eyes.
I paused, taking a deep breath of the night air.
Releasing a confused Osta, I turned to Raine.
“It’s… fine. I just don’t know why he had to announce it like that.
The timing couldn’t have been worse.” I frowned and looked around the mostly vacant street.
Perhaps I should have been more upset with her, but I wasn’t exactly in a position to lose friends at the moment.
I’d give her the chance to redeem herself with a new secret.
“I have a way you can make it up to me,” I offered a small smile.
“Anything,” Raine promised.
“The clearing. Whatever you saw me do… no you didn’t.” I bit my lip and glanced around once again. “I did a few little tricks and embarrassed some of the guys, causing a scene. That’s all that happened.”
Raine looked at me, confused, but I watched as the dots connected behind her eyes, and she nodded solemnly in understanding.
“You got it. I’ll inform the others too… maybe Briar after he sobers up. I’m still really sorry, Fia.”
“That would be helpful, thank you.” I promised to see her tomorrow before looping my arm with Osta’s again. She was looking longingly back towards the water and I couldn’t hold back an exasperated sigh as we began our walk back home.
“Osta, what were you thinking?” My lips curled back in disapproval.
“You’re wrong about him, you know. We’ve spoken almost every evening since the clearing, and he is more of a gentleman than any boy or man I’ve met thus far.
And you’re blind if you think he’s not attractive, so stop making that face already.
” She bumped me with her hip, and I had to steady myself to avoid twisting my ankle.
“I don’t think you understand. He was best friends with Baelor. You know, the one who tried to burn you alive?”
“That's Baelor, not Nazul. Plus, he isn’t best friends with him at all. He protected me,” she countered.
I shook my head. I didn’t believe it for a second.
“Fia, I know how protective you are of me, but I will tell you this right now.” Osta approached our front door and paused before opening it, turning to me.
“I’m going to continue to explore this with Nazul whether you like it or not.
I’m an adult who can make her own choices, and I will go into this knowing the risks.
Please respect that.” Osta spoke so clearly, I forgot she had been drinking all evening. She was serious about this.
“Okay…but I swear to Eibhlín if he hurts you, I’ll kill him myself.”