Paladin

But He Would Always Share With Me

Aitor dragged Illyria to the back of the library during lunch, "Did you think you were being funny?"

"Wasn't it so funny though?" Illyria gave a devious smile, leaning against the stacks.

"The press showed up before I knew what was happening. I am the Crown Prince, you know that, right?! Do you have any idea what you did?" Aitor towered over her and she stared up at him defiantly.

"I think I just taught you a lesson since no one else was going to do it," She said haughtily.

"And what lesson was that?" Aitor retaliated.

"To not be a fucking dick to people," Illyria didn't back down. "You deserved it."

Aitor breathed heavily, his chest heaving up and down; Illyria realised how close they were and couldn't process the next few moments. Aitor slammed his lips on her, angry and hard. She kissed him back before a noise behind them brought them back to the present. They separated and neither one of them could look at one another for more than a few seconds.

"I'll get you back," Aitor said stiffly.

"You can try," Illyria scoffed.

***

"So, here's my present," Illyria announced. "Now can we have the cake?"

"No, we can't have the cake," Umma said. "We still have to wait for a few more people."

"Who else could be coming?" Illyria asked, just as the doorbell rang.

Illyria's Umma shooed her and Illyria begrudgingly got up to answer the door.

"Hyeon, what are you doing here?" Hyeon held a fluffy pink bag in her hand and swept her way past Illyria.

"Like I was going to miss Sofia's birthday." Hyeon kicked her shoes off and Illyria remained stationed at the door awkwardly.

"Right, of course." Illyria couldn't meet her eyes.

"So, what you don't want to be friends with me anymore?" Hyeon questioned, clearly hurt. "You've been ignoring me for a month now."

Illyria sighed, "Look shit has been happening-"

"So, tell me." Hyeon beseeched Illyria. "We're supposed to be best friends!"

"I just-"

She was cut off by the arrival of two men. "Are we late?"

"What are you doing here?" Illyria's jaw dropped at the sight of Rufus and John, suited up and each carrying a sparkly giftbag.

Christopher appeared, slapped their shoulders and showed them inside. "Glad you could make it. We were just about to cut the cake."

Umma folded her arms, equally confused. "What is going on here?"

***

"So, you haven't told her," Rufus smoked a cigar curiously as it was his first time.

"Told me what?" Aaliyah watched Sofia open up Illyria's present up before focusing her glare on her husband.

Christopher hurried to explain, "Rufus was the one who helped Amanah be assigned to Illyria's case and he came to for a favour-"

"The lies just keep piling up, don't they?" John interjected.

"Help with what?" Aaliyah wanted to know.

"Roman Holiday," Christopher said reluctantly. "I'll be done before you know it."

Aaliyah tileted her head. "That secret little club you made in Juste Milleu?"

"It wasn't little!" Rufus and John said simultaneously.

"It's not a club now. Its some kind of society and the hazing is intense. I just need to put an end to it," He was also miffed that his wife had called his club little; it was exclusive.

Aaliyah studied him before finally saying, "Just make sure it won't be traced back to us." She returned to her children.

***

"My parents are getting divorced," Hyeon stirred her milkshake mindlessly.

"What?" Illyria dropped her spoon. "Since when?"

"You know when I ditched you all those timed?" Illyria nodded pointedly. "Well I was bunking at a hotel and looking at emancipation."

"You know you could have stayed at mine anytime you wanted," Illyria said, concerned.

"Yeah, but I've relied on your family so much. I just-I want to do this by myself," Hyeon swallowed. "I need to."

"Okay, if that's what you need."

***

"So how long did you know?" Illyria rolled the mats up, her first lesson back after the holidays had really done a number on her.

"Ever since Amanah was acting paranoid," John chuckled fondly. "And I couldn't find your ability assessment footage or recordings so there were a lot of missing pieces."

"Is whatever my dad is involved in dangerous?" Illyria asked after a short while.

"No, he's fine," John hid his face and his shoulders tensed. "Don't worry about him kid."

"Okay then." Illyria still worried on her way to the library; the librarians weren't done with the free labour just yet.

The lights were dimmed when Illyria entered the first floor of the library and she called out, "Hello?" She dumped her bag on a chair before going to the desk, trying to find Molly or Lewis.

They weren't there but she heard steps of the second floor so ventured towards the staircase. "Hel-" A hand reached out to cover her mouth and forced her down to the ground.

Hands wrapped around her neck and Illyria started to lose consciousness.