17 Chapter 17 - Talks Behind the Scenes (1/2)

The next morning, I woke up with a hangover. Since I still didn't feel like dealing with the others, I made my way back to my room where I spent the morning meditating and fighting with One. Unknown to me, however, Alice used my absence to gather some of the girls together and stage a meeting that would end up changing my life...

Alice walked into the kitchen, where the early risers of the house hand already gathered. Terri, Sophia, and Lesedi were sitting around the table lightly chatting with Kiara and Katye, who were also there, just not one of the girls she was looking for. She poured herself a cup of coffee and enjoyed the first few sips in peace after she sat down in her normal seat.

”Becca doing okay?” Sophia asked as she had been the one to hear the story from Alice.

”As good as our moody dragon every is,” she replied with a sigh.

”Ah, it's 'that' problem,” Lesedi said, giving a similar sigh.

”I may have an idea for solving it, but I want you two and Terri to come to my study after breakfast to discuss it,” Alice said.

”This should be good,” Terri said with a light chuckle.

”What's wrong with Becca?” Katye asked.

Alice chuckled and replied, ”It's just a complication from her bloodline. It's normal after she fights with Gustavo... Dragons and family ties are always complex.”

”Oh,” she said quietly.

Alice gave a look to Sophia, who understood instantly as her eyes sparkled. ”So, what do you think of Becca?” Sophia asked with a mischievous smile.

”What?!?” Katye exclaimed as her cheeks reddened, but she quickly tried to cover the fact and hurriedly said, ”I mean, she seems nice and funny... really strong when she spars with Gustavo.”

All of the other girls gave a chuckle, not buying Katye's false front, including Kiara who gave an uncharacteristic giggle herself since she would normally remain silence in these situations. Katye's face grew even redder as she looked down at her plate to escape their gazes.

Lesedi, with a big grin on her face, leaned forward and laughed, ”Now, now, that doesn't seem to be your full answer. We are safe enough since Becca isn't here yet.”

Katye only grew redder as Alice added, ”Lesedi is right, Becca said she was going to spend the morning meditating.”

Even Kiara picked up on what the other girls were hinting at and threw in her own two-cents. ”You do ask about her more than anyone else in the house,” Kiara said as she swirled her juice around in the glass. They had gotten close in the past week since Katye had been helping tend some of the herbs in the garden, freeing up more of Kiara's time to work on potions and pills.

”You too?!?” Katye muttered under her breath, nearly cursing her new friend.

The others laughed again and gave her expecting looks, waiting for her to finally respond.

Katye gave an exaggerated sigh, ”Fine, alright, whatever...You all are with Gustavo, after all... Yes, I'm interested in her, but she has been avoiding me for days and has barely talked to me.”

”You can't hold that against her. Becca is really shy, and I think living the manor has messed with her quite a bit,” Terri said.

Before the conversation could progress any further, Gustavo, flanked by Yue and Melissa. Melissa, the resident empath, picked up on the mood in the kitchen and gave a questioning look to the girls, but no one said anything, especially not Katye, who was trying to hide her red face. Yue could tell they had interrupted something as well, but seeing the teasing smiles on most of the girls, she didn't bother to pry. Gustavo was blissfully unaware of the pervious mood as he sat down with a light smile and made himself a plate of food. Katye's blush slowly faded throughout breakfast since the conversation at the table shifted to something more light-hearted. When the three Alice requested to meet up in her study finished eating, the four of them left the room together, finally sparking Gustavo curiosity.

”What's going on?” Gustavo asked as the others walked for the door.

”Nothing important, Alice just wanted to go over some things with them,” Kiara answered with an unnoticeable sparkle in her eye.

”Oh,” he mumbled, returning to his food.

The four girls chortled, overhearing him, as they left. Alice's study was one of the closer rooms to the kitchen, so they reached it within a minute and Alice sealed the whole room with an Isolation Ward. The others laughed as they found their seats on the couches. Sophia sat in a corner with Lesedi leaning back against her and kicking her feet up on the rest of the couch while Terri sat down across from them and Alice joined her.

”So, I imagine why I pulled you three in here,” Alice started.

”I hope it's just because you want to get our dragon and new fairy together,” Terri said with a bit of humor.

Sophia and Lesedi both chuckled and nodded.