Always & Forever

Chapter 9: Our secrets

The three of them went back to the dinner room, right before entering Maya stopped Axel.

"Axel... Let go of my hand... Please..." she whispered.

"Oh... Right."

"You two are impossible, you know they will ask us what happened don't you?" Avril asked, pretty annoyed by the situation.

"We know." they responded together.

"Let me do the talk." Maya said as she walked in to leave them no choice.

As the door opened, all eyes were on them. The copper head's breath stopped for a moment until Malachi started to talk.

"Well, quite a ruckus you did earlier. Can you both explain your behaviour, where have you been and done?" Mr. Gaunt asked with a serious and discontent look.

"It's all my fault Sir." she hastened to reply. "You see, I was pretty shocked by the question, I never thought about it and felt uncomfortable. That's the reason I left suddenly and I deeply apologize for my behaviour. And Axel just got mad at me because he tried so hard to help me today to attend this diner correctly... So when I left, it got on his nerves that I haven't been able to do as he told me. So please, don't be too harsh on him. It's my fault for not having followed his advice for tonight..." Maya said with an apologetic look. "I was about to leave an Axel was the was who refrained me to do so and convinced me to come apologize."

"Is that so?" he asked back.

Malachi's eyes narrowed at Axel who was a bit nervous. With her foot, Maya hit discreetly his foot to make him understand to play along. After a deep breath he finally answered.

"Yes sir, that's what happened. I went after her to make her come back here." he said with a gulp.

Avril looked at her brother, dismayed by all this made up story after what she discovered. The twin's father who saw her look decided to speak.

"Avril, anything to say?" Alastair asked with a wary look.

"No, father..." Avril replied, eyes down.

Even if she knew about what happened the flaxen-haired girl would turn down her own brother and decided to keep it for herself for now even though she'll probably need to talk to him about all this madness. Malachi wasn't really convinced about all of this but decided to let it slide for this time.

"Well Alastair, seems like thanks to your son, mine will still have a bride if she can behave until the wedding day and not act like a wild kitten. But one more question, why is the young Drake's vest on you my dear?" Mr. Gaunt said.

Mr. Drake didn't replied to Malachi's comment, still furious about his son's behaviour from earlier. His eyes not leaving him for a moment. Maya's emerald eyes widened to the question of their host. 

"I..." she didn't know what to answer. 

"Maya was freezing cold. She was flying away on a thestral when I caugh her with nothing on her back. When she got back down, she was sneezinng so I kindly offer my jacket Sir." 

"I see but it's warm here, maybe she can remove it now right?" Mr. Gaunt asked. 

"With all my respect Sir, I still feel cold, please allow me to keep it a bit longer for tonight." she asked completly fearing the idea to remove it in front everyone with all the marks she had on her. 

"Hmm... I'm not thrilled by the idea but... That being so... Wouldn't have a sick fiancée for my son at the dinner dance tomorrow night now, right? Please, take your seat back so we can continue this dinner." Malachi said a little grunt.