The Light That Shines From Above

Chapter 32

"Have you two completely lost your minds?" Pher's voice reached my ears before I could even see him approaching.

My body turned to see him rounding the table so he could sit opposite of Ikzo and I. He was eyeing our position like we were insane. To be honest, maybe we were. Since this afternoon when Ikzo kissed me in front of dozens of Occollans things had changed between us. Publicly anyway. Both of us were more touchy, feeling comfortable with being as close as physically possible.

Like now, when we first came in his arm was around my waist as my body pressed into his side. That got some side eyes but the open stares began when he pulled me onto his lap as I went to sit down in the chair. I didn't mind, smiling at him and ignoring the others.

I was happy, elated. I felt like I could finally fully embrace my feelings and now that we didn't have to hide it in public it only encouraged them.

My left side leaned into Ikzo's chest again as Pher sat down. Ikzo had one hand around my lower back and the other resting on my thigh. Pher tilted forward, glancing between us and the people behind us.

"What are you two doing? Is this some sort of new plan I don't know about?" His voice was low as if the others couldn't pick his brain to figure it out.

He shot me a look at that thought, "Yes how could I forget?" His response was sarcastic, "Though it wouldn't really matter now would it?"

"Watch it." Ikzo warned at his tone.

"Don't try to scold me right now." He threw back, "First the thing a few mornings ago and now this? At least the morning thing was better, well kind of, it was private anyway."

I looked away from him at the mention of the make out scene he walked into. That was still mildly embarrassing to me.

"You're overreacting." Ikzo assured.

"I'm overreacting? You're underreacting." Pher didn't drop it, "Do you know what I heard? There's a rumor you kissed her in public. A rumor. That you two kissed. I had to spend ten minutes convincing Osted that it was fake. Now no one will believe that because of this."

"It's not fake. I kissed her at the brysklias."

Pher's purple eyes nearly popped out of his head, "Are you insane?" He demanded, "I mean you must be. You know what this means for her, what it means for you. They'll all but command you to partner with her. She won't be able to leave."

Pher almost seemed upset at that.

"Of course I'm upset." He read my mind, "The whole plan was for you to go back with your mother. This ruins that."

"Pher calm down." Ikzo called his attention again, "She's made her decision already. And command is a harsh way of putting it. They'd simply would try to pressure me into it. A headache is the most they would achieve if I didn't want to."

Pher straightened, "You're going to pair." He said more than he asked.

I nodded as Ikzo verbally confirmed it. He seemed surprised but held his tongue for a short while. I glanced away from him to Ikzo, smiling when he caught my gaze. He returned the expression and then my attention went back to the food I had stopped eating when Pher burst in.

Pher was unusually quiet making me wonder if they were having a silent conversation or he was still processing the information. I wondered if he thought the same thing Ikzo did. That I was making the decision just to ensure my mothers safety and not because I wanted to. I suppose it could seem that way. But it wasn't. My mother would be helped, a good thing of course. But I would also get to stay with Ikzo. Something I wanted a great deal as well.