Chapter 101: Triangle at the Table

–Chapter 101–

Title>> Triangle at the Table

Ymir emerged from the little tent at the back where the planning committee for the event was busy trying to keep the night in one piece.

With clear relief on her face, she stretched lazily in her fitted furry jumpsuit that stopped just above her knees.

Finally free to enjoy her evening after apparently working all day.

Dean noticed her hair wasn't loose and carefree as ever. Instead, it was tied back so neatly it slightly changed the frame of her face.

Even as he waved, Dean noticed that she wasn't necessarily attentive to his calls.

She was talking to two other Year 2 students as she walked, gesturing about something with the same focused energy she adopted whenever she planned to torment him, all in the name of mentorship.

Almost like the only thing he could do… Dean watched her longer than he intended.

Astrea looked up at him, biting her lower lip slightly.

But just then Ymir's ears twitched and immediately she scanned the crowd and spotted Dean.

She looked at him and her expression changed. It suddenly became a lot less tired.

Quickly dismissing the two students beside her, she walked over to their table.

As she approached, the two werewolves at the table stood up in anticipation, their heads slightly bowed.

But Ymir didn't even bother with them. Truthfully, she didn't bother with anyone else...

Her eyes were only on Dean as her lips curled into a small grin.

"Been here a while?"

"Yeah... where were you?" Dean responded, waving his head toward the werewolves, who just stood there.

Ymir didn't even look at the werewolves, only giving a small nod.

And they sat down immediately.

"I was working..." She pulled a chair from an adjacent table without asking.

Sitting down, her eyes moved across the table.

"Those pesky vampires spent three hours arguing about lantern placement."

Stretching forward, she reached across, lightly grazing Dean's arm as she picked up a cup.

"Hello..." she greeted Astrea.

"Hey..." Astrea responded casually.

Neither of them said anything else.

Instead, the tension between them screamed out for all who dared to listen.

Dean, however, sat rather calmly, his shoulders relaxed, his eyes focused.

'If I can survive a Blue Gate, I can survive this,' he tried assuring himself.

While the tension slowly swelled, Gretchen Mercurien, from the head of the table, looked between the three of them.

Her expression was smug with interest.

She was definitely going to have the time of her life with this one.

Gulp!

Olsen drank a cup of the smuggled goods in one go... and began pouring another.

---

The already rising tension didn't get a moment to breathe as Gretchen brought back the question game.

And right now, the entire shape of the game had changed due to the added participant.

Ymir.

"So who's next?" Gretchen asked excitedly.

No one answered immediately, but the werewolf beside him, the one he had arm wrestled with, leaned forward.

"I'm Bram," he said, extending a hand toward Dean with a casual familiarity one would think had always been there.

Dean leaned in with his right hand and shook it.

"Umm... D-"

"Do you think you stand a chance?" Bram asked as they shared the handshake.

"Hmmm..." Dean raised an eyebrow.

Bram immediately caught his mistake.

"I mean... against Marcus."

The moment the words left his mouth, all the attention was pulled their way.

The other werewolf glared more attentively than everybody else at the table, almost like he was waiting to hear what Dean had to say before he pounced.

Tilting his head slowly to the left and letting go of Bram's hand...

Dean smiled.

"I did beat him once..."

"So... why not a second time?"

He shrugged nonchalantly, making an amused face.

Everyone at the table except Olsen and Astrea widened their eyes.

Even Ymir, who would normally expect this from him, seemed visibly surprised by his choice of words.

"Hahahahaha!" Bram laughed...

"You're indeed something else," he continued, his expression brimming with curious interest.

Even while Bram expressed himself without the usual political restrictions that came with such discussions...

The other werewolf at the table, the one who hadn't spoken much, shifted visibly at the exchange.

His allegiance to Marcus sat plainly across his annoyed face, and Bram taking shop with Dean was clearly something he believed to be betrayal.

This was something Bram didn't seem to notice, or simply didn't care enough to bother about.

Beside Dean, Astrea was silent.

She hadn't uttered another word after the awkward greeting with Ymir.

Dean could tell she was acting like she was unbothered by what was happening, but he wasn't the only one who picked up on that.

Gretchen noticed it too...

Of course she did.

***

Things hadn't gone south yet, but everybody at the table knew all that was left was a push.

A snap.

Gretchen watched the table closely, waiting until things began to settle.

Just then, she made her move.

Leaning forward, she pitched her voice with interest just for him, even though she knew everyone else could hear.

"You know... I'm hosting something next month for my graduation."

"You mean... your family?" Astrea intercepted without hesitation.

"Same thing," Gretchen replied, her crimson glowing eyes still focused on Dean.

"It's something small. A few third years and, you know..."

Dean didn't flinch.

Instead, he leaned back. "Sounds exclusive."

"It is." She smiled like that was the entire point.

"People worth knowing tend to find their way there eventually."

Dean understood exactly what she was offering... and how it would look if he accepted.

He recalled Ying's words about his role right now within his family.

This was obviously an invitation wrapped in casual conversation.

"I'll think about it," he said casually, drawing Astrea's devouring eyes toward him.

"That's all I ask."

Gretchen leaned back, obviously satisfied with that outcome.

Astrea took a sip from her cup, which now magically possessed a single crack along its base.

Dean saw it. Basically everybody at the table did.

But something else bothered him.

His senses heightened as he felt a strange weight pressing down on him.

He turned to Astrea, but it definitely wasn't her.

Raenar had managed to calm the vampire princess down, massaging her shoulders slowly.

Then Dean felt it even more clearly this time.

He turned his head behind him and found the source.

It was none other than Marcus Argent.

The boy stood between two other oppressive presences.

–End of Chapter–

A/N: Sorry I have been MIA here... Been working on my new work. Unfortunately NovelPhoenix hasn't been showing much love on this one.😭😭