NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14: Causing a scene
"Morgan." Kai greeted her the moment their eyes met, which only frustrated her further.
That damn Nightmare Creature drink was far more potent than she thought if it had her acting like this…
She furrowed her brows. "Dragon." Her gaze remained fixed on his face, staring at him shamelessly -which, of course, startled the Saint.
Why was it so easy to make him feel awkward? Was he like this around everyone? Around other women too? Charming them with his innocence and pretty looks, despite being one of the strongest Saints alive?
Those thoughts certainly didn't help with her lingering anger and frustration.
He took a step toward her, visibly bracing himself. The slight widening of his emerald eyes and the way he sighed told Morgan everything she needed to know.
"You finally decided to come over," Kai said gently. "I wanted to go to you myself, but I figured it'd be a bit weird in front of everyone." His hand instinctively went to the back of his neck, scratching his auburn locks in embarrassment.
Morgan's brows furrowed even further, practically twisting her face into a scowl. "Oh? And why exactly would it be embarrassing? Are you ashamed to be seen with me?" she asked, one hand settling on her hip.
Of course she was misunderstanding everything, but then again, was she really in a state to think rationally?
Kai took a step back as the Fire Keepers and Nephis -along with everyone else- finally started to take full notice of the conversation and Morgan's presence.
"N-Not what I meant," he said, clearing his throat awkwardly. "I just thought it might be weird for you." He gestured slightly toward the crowd. "You know, being surrounded by so many Saints from your clan."
As he stepped back, Morgan stepped forward. Her heel struck the wooden floor with a sharp click.
"I don't care what they think," she lied, her voice only loud enough for him to hear. "You could've still come over and kept me company."
For a brief moment, Kai's expression shifted after her first statement -just slightly- but it quickly returned to what it was before. "I'll keep that in mind," he chuckled apologetically.
Two sharp steps, and Morgan was right in front of him, her vermillion eyes boring into him from above.
'Why does he have to be this damn handsome?' she thought, gritting her teeth quietly.
Kai couldn't do anything. The sheepish smile still lingered on his face as he stood there, clearly at a loss for words.
Suddenly, a voice -one that Morgan could no longer bear to hear- spoke up from behind him.
"Solve your lovers' quarrel somewhere else, please." After a brief pause, Athena added, "Just make sure not to kill our poor Kai there."
Morgan shot a sharp gaze past Kai's shoulder, one that could cut through steel. "Zip it. I can kick you out whenever I want. This is Valor Estate in case you failed to realize."
Athena -who was comfortably lounging on a long sofa with her husband and some other Fire Keepers- snickered at her before pointing at Nephis.
"Last time I checked, she was also a princess, and she's the one who invited us here. So, do you really have a say in whether I stay or not?"
She was really testing Morgan's patience.
The sharp pressure around the princess intensified, drawing everyone's attention toward them.
Even Nephis finally moved, throwing her friend a warning look that clearly told her to stop.
'Oh, so now they don't even care about my status as the Princess of Valor?!' Morgan's mind was on the brink of exploding as she took another sharp step forward, standing next to Kai by now.
But before the princess could say anything back, she felt something -or rather, someone- gently grab her wrist.
"Effie, please just stop." Kai suddenly spoke up, his voice free of any awkwardness or embarrassment. Was he really choosing her side over that of his friends…?
'Did he just-' she thought, but it was immediately cut off as Kai looked back at her.
There it was again, that embarrassed and stupid smile he always gave her.
"How about some fresh air, princess?- Again…" he said awkwardly. For some reason the way he called her 'princess' felt so much different from how everyone else did.
She looked at him, slightly dumbfounded, yet the sharp pressure in the room eased.
Multiple sighs of relief echoed from the Fire Keepers. Was Morgan really causing a scene? Especially after telling herself she wouldn't?
"Ah- Yes, sure." She answered before glancing over at Athena, silently letting her know that she wouldn't forget her words.
And at the same time, Kai shot a glance at Cassie as well, one that Morgan couldn't quite decipher which left her a bit confused.
But that confusion vanished as quickly as it came once the two of them strode out of the room. Everyone followed their movements with their eyes and even Nephis' gaze silently tracked the entire confrontation.
---
Morgan couldn't tell for sure whether what happened would be forgotten by tomorrow or if it would become a topic of gossip for a bit longer. Both were possible, but at the moment, Morgan didn't care. Let the sober version of her worry about all that.
Once outside the large room, Kai sighed and mumbled apologetically, "Please forgive Effie. I know I've already said that earlier, but she really can be a handful sometimes."
Morgan glanced down at his hand, which was still gently holding her wrist. "You can let go." She cut in sharply, ignoring his apology.
Kai winced -not from pain, but from embarrassment- and immediately released her. "Sorry, I don't know what's gotten into me. The last five minutes were quite a lot." He said the last part with another exhausted sigh.
The two of them stood alone in the brightly lit hallway. There were no Knights stationed here, for obvious reasons. Who in their right mind would try to attack a room filled with dozens of Saints and Masters?
Brushing off his words, Morgan leaned against the beige wall behind her. "You shouldn't have intervened," she hissed, her voice full of distaste. "Someone has to teach her a lesson on how to behave sooner or later."
Kai stepped forward, leaning against the same wall next to her, only a couple of inches separating them.
'How bold. Maybe come even closer?' she thought, smirking on the inside with her frustration already forgotten. But of course, she didn't voice what was on her mind.
"I'll talk to her for you," Kai said, "Explain to her that she shouldn't joke around with you like that, you know." After a moment he added quietly, "And be more respectful obviously."
After a brief moment of silence, Kai suddenly turned his head to look at her, his emerald eyes locking with hers. "Are you drunk by any chance?" he asked out of nowhere.
Morgan crossed her arms over her chest, answering defensively, "No, I'm not. And even if I was, why is that any of your concern, Dragon?"
Kai smiled -or was it a smirk? Morgan couldn't tell for sure; she was far too captivated by his eyes to notice the difference.
"You're lying," he said confidently.
She quirked a brow in response. "And how are you so sure?"
His eyes widened slightly, as if searching for an excuse. "I have a well-developed sixth sense," Kai answered -the smile on his face widening a bit- trying to joke his way out of it.
The princess stared at him with a straight face for a moment before bursting into a sharp chuckle.
"Seriously? Sixth sense?" she said with a wide smile, moving her hand up to cover her eyes. "You're awful at making excuses, but let me pretend I bought that."
The Saint next to her chuckled as well, unable to stay serious for too long.
Why was she even finding something like that funny? The alcohol was definitely working its magic.
"Tell me, Kai," Morgan said suddenly, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye and locking her eyes with his. A slight flush colored her cheeks and neck from the liquor in her system as she pressed onward. "If your sixth sense is so well-developed, can you tell what I'm about to do in a second?"
Raising a brow, he smiled awkwardly and started to apologize again, "Sorry, but I don-"
"Oh, shut up." she hissed sharply before grabbing the collar of his blouse and pulling his face to hers.