A Court of Stars and Memories

29. Outdated

    The Peregryn female was walking away by the time Mitsi turned around. She still felt the urge to go after her, but restrained herself somehow. What would she even say to Celeste if she caught up to her? What happened between her and Lysander was none of her business. She had no right to get involved.

    All the same, something cold and sharp twisted in her gut when she thought of that look on Lysander's face. Whatever that female had done...it hurt him deeply. Mitsi started, tearing her gaze off Celeste as someone came to stand beside her. Corbin crossed his arms, also tracking the Peregryn.

    "Every time I see him like that, I have to fight the urge to knock her out and toss her off a cliff," Corbin growled.

    "Does this happen often?"

    "Too often."

    "Why doesn't she just leave him alone if their relationship ended so badly and so long ago?"

    Corbin glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "I don't know. Sienna, a friend of ours, and currently our only friend who still talks to Celeste, claims that she feels guilty but she doesn't know how to make things right. She just makes these halfhearted attempts to talk to Lysander which never end well for either of them."

    "Well," Mitsi began carefully, "I'm no expert when it comes to relationships, but if all of their interactions are like that, then maybe it's best if they don't make things right. Sometimes the best way to fix a situation is to leave the situation entirely."

    "That's the issue," Corbin huffed. "Celeste can never leave things alone and Lysander can never enforce his boundaries. I'm not sure what her problem is, but he feels like he owes everyone something."

    "Any time Celeste approaches him, he feels like he owes her an answer. He blames it on our position in the Exchange, but I think he just doesn't know how to tell her to leave him alone or how to enforce that boundary." 

    "Then it's a good thing you were here to help him today," Mitsi replied.

    "You too. Thank you for talking to him. It seemed to calm him down a little more."

    Mitsi returned his smile. "I just asked if he was all right. I didn't offer advice or anything."

    "That's all Lys needs, someone to check on him from time to time." Corbin sighed and raised his hands to tie his hair back. Mitsi waited for him to continue, sensing there was something he still wished to say.

    "I think he forgets that he's important too," Corbin murmured, almost inaudibly. He shook his head and gave her another parting smile. "I've got lessons to teach and you should probably go keep an eye on Eira or your brother. Mother knows what Devlon has him doing with Aramis and Theron."

    Mitsi giggled at that and headed off. Eira wasn't where she'd left her, but Mitsi didn't mind surprisingly. She wandered through the expanse of training rings, keeping her eyes peeled for the female's vibrant hair. Mitsi wove her way between Peregryns and Illyrians, ignoring those who let their gazes linger.

    Now would be a good time for one of them to approach since she was alone, and she wasn't keen on making them feel invited to do so. Not because of the warning Lysander gave her, but simply because she didn't feel like dealing with the same problems here as she did in the Winter Court.

    There was no Cyrus to fend off potential suitors here, and no Colette to answer the letters from their mothers, insisting that their sons be given a chance to prove themselves. Mitsi's lips tilted up as another thought occurred to her. If she ran into any of those problems, surely Seren would be happy to assist her, and she'd likely get Azriel involved too.