Existing in the mortal realm was different from what the prince has imagined. It was far more interesting and entertaining, or at least the "television" was, which did not only stream specific people or events but some music as well. Or so Matt said, which reluctantly agreed to host him until guardians captured Nerissa.
"And this is Rock channel, which has harder music," said Matt clicking through channels and staying with MTV Rocks.
Guitar strings filled the room. Drums. The grungy, yet raspy voice of the main singer repeating "Hello" countless times. His screams. Head-bangs.
It was heavy. It was delightful. A catchy tune, which prince couldn't recreate in Meridian.
"I wonder, how is it made?"
"You are interested?" dark-haired raised an eyebrow.
"Not really, I thought maybe street rats would have fun listening to it" smirked Prince.
Matt's expression became sour.
Ah. Phobos shouldn't have said that, but he wasn't used to holding his tongue between teeth. Or engaging in mundane conversations, which weren't about guardians or peasants trying to overthrow him.
School life was… an experience, to say at least. Rats starring at his white long hair, as if it was their first time seeing the long-haired man. Some of them even whistled, treating him like a pesky dog.
"Don't," said blond guardian. "Don't even try using your powers in here"
One more order. Younger girl assuming that she knows the best.
"I won't" and he didn't, because pests weren't worthy enough.
•
The food in the cafeteria was… Awful. It looked bad, and it smelled greasy. One bite was enough to make Prince nauseous and that's why he didn't even try touching it.
Guardians were obviously upset, but it wasn't his problem, that they didn't have any standards regarding food.
"You are in the human world, shouldn't you eat?" the guardian's leader asked.
"Oi, I bet he survives on oxygen" a pesky remark from water guardian.
"I ate breakfast at Matt's, don't worry about me" calmly answered Phobos.
All eyes on Matt, as if the host has sinned for feeding the guest.
"Don't look at me, he insisted on having breakfast at home…"
Without potions, without roses to whisper him to sleep, there were owls. At times it felt as if they are pecking the window's glass. Or perhaps it was tree branches.
In the castle, he had dreamless nights, but on Earth…
Royal bath. Muscular hands wrapped around his waist. Loose blond hair falling on his collarbone. It was warm. Comfortable even. Small kisses on his neck. The only time when he was vulnerable when he didn't mind being held.
"Cedric…" Phobos whispered sleepily, reaching for something that wasn't there.
And yet prince felt how his fingers brushed against warm skin.
"So you were lovers?" a familiar voice spoke, but not the one Phobos craved.
White-haired dropped his hand in disappointment, not even opening his eyes to see the disgusting smirk on the youngster's face.
•
Girls were eager to… guard him for better or worse. One thing that they were oblivious to, was that Nerissa knew how they look like and could send her minions to the mortal realm.
That's how their usual walk from school was interrupted by… older guardians being an utter annoyance. "Destroy Phobos" they mindlessly repeated. Brainwashed. If prince would be kind enough, perhaps he could fix that spell, but…
Flames. Useless young girls, who couldn't transform without the heart of Kandrakar. He fell on the ground and could feel how the jeans became dirty. Tsk.
"Anytime you wanna join in" water guardian sarcastically remarked.
"And use my life force? You are supposed to protect me!" without hiding annoyance in his voice, said Phobos.
The only person of use was Matt who was not as useless as High school girls, especially in his monster form. But even the winged-beast became chained. Sigh escaped the prince's lips.
The playground was not the most practical place to hide, and Phobos was no good at improvising either. Hiding behind the iron cage… well.
That was a bad idea. Now he was trapped in it with earth and fire guardians, which still were in their human form. The cage started to shrink. Did Nerissa want them dead?
"Do something!"
"I'm trying" struggled blond.
No, he won't wait this time. Two hands-on each of girls' shoulders. They better be grateful for still being alive after this.
Like a thunder strike, everything in the prince's way became white.
If any else would've attempted to drain energy from guardians' human forms, they might end up dead. But girls didn't know that and they never will. Perhaps that's why they still acted like self-entitled brats – complaining about their headaches.
"Don't you ever try this again!" scoffed blond guardian.
"Somebody needed to do something! I can't believe you feeble girls have the audacity to call yourself guardians!"
"Maybe with someone worth guardianing" said with anger fire guardian.
Ah. They don't care. He is just a bait for them, not even somebody to respect. Well then.
Girls still muttering between themselves walked away, not even saying goodbye to them.
"Ah, they are brats, aren't they?" smirked the prince.
"They were just in a bad mood," said Matt, trying to ignore insult thrown to his friends.
From what Phobos noticed, guardians were always in a rather dreadful mood when dealing with him. Well, the prince shouldn't expect proper etiquette from them.
People that showed him at least a glimmer of politeness were… Matt and Caleb, even if the latter did that out of spite.
"By the way… do you know how to contact that rebel leader?"
"You mean Caleb? Sure, why?" raised eyebrow dark-haired as if he was implying something.
"I suppose we need to change the strategy" smirked Phobos.
Prince assumed that once they all meet at Matt's house; lads will immediately hear out his plan, but…
How come the duo were speaking about their lovers?
"I'm telling you, Cornelia is one of the strongest amongst guardians"
And not even about drama at that.
"Well, but Will does have lighting and heart of Kandrakar, so she does the most damage"
"Cedric would destroy them both, you know" in a smug voice said the prince.
Both of them looked at Phobos in disbelief. And then Matt chuckled.
"We destroyed your armies and especially Cedric in every single battle" smirked Caleb.
"I don't know if you noticed, but my army functioned without any elemental powers nor magic" squinted Phobos.
"It doesn't change the fact that your boyfriend was defeated," said Matt, holding his laughter.
"He is my consort, not boyfriend" a serious tone.
Both lads started to cackle.
•
Dreams about Cedric still occurred nightly. Memories entangled with fantasies, and at times guilt. Even if Phobos tried to lie to himself during day hours, little voice in his head would still find time to catch him off guard.
Waking up alone on one's bed, having nobody to listen to his tangents. Being surrounded by kids. It was… fine.
Pretending. It was one of many things that Phobos was great at. Pretending to be a fool, to be kind, or even being a student. The only thing he was rather bad at, was hiding his snappy remarks and sarcastic attitude, but even that on Earth was rather 'lowkey' as would water guardian say.
MP3 in his ears. Switching through Matt's playlist. Today prince will pretend to be a usual high schooler, while the other three lads attempt to embody him.
Vacation from himself. From cold eyes and whispering around him. For today he was Matt – a popular, guitar-playing lad, which also was the vocalist of the band.
•
It was not out of character to skip class. To spend half of the day in the music room. With notes and pen at hand. Scribbling words into it. At least for Matt.
Phobos even if tried to write "lyrics", but words just transformed into silent tangents on paper. Once finished, ripping it apart. Again and again, until only unreadable scraps were left on the floor.
Cedric. In the cell. With disgusting spider. Lonely. Missing him. Why did he leave his favorite snake there?
"Cedric..." he whispered in an unfamiliar voice, ripping the page again.
"Matt?"
Phobos almost dropped notebook. Feeling Deja Vu, how the certain blond girl would always peak into his room at most unexpected situations.
Red-haired guardian peaked through the door. Smiling. Warm and innocent smile.
"Hey, is it time for class, or…?" he smirked.
"You look grumpy," she eyed him as if trying to pinpoint something. "I wanted to ask… how are you doing? I can imagine Phobos is a pain in the ass these days"
"I guess he is." short answer.
"I wish he would be more useful like he expects us to protect him 24/7, but like we have school and Nerissa is getting stronger and…" Will started her tangent regarding all things Nerissa, older guardians, saving Elyon, and what kind of piece of shit Phobos was.
At that point prince just started scribbling.
"Are you even listening?"
"Yeah."
"What was the last thing I said?"
"You hate Phobos and want him to die or something?"
"Are you serious? You can't even listen to- "
"Look, I'm doing what I can, living with the prince isn't easy either"
"Oh come on! Who else is supposed to take him?"
"I'm not complaining."
"You just did! Look none of us could take him, he is a man, and that would be over-"another tangent.
Phobos just looked at her through Matt's brown eyes. All of the suddenly feeling too old for this and even feeling sympathy for the dark-haired boy.
•
Kissing the guardian's rival, hand before the swimming match. Prince could see how Will's hair was electrified. Yet he just smirked at her.
Red-haired guardian managed to get only second place. Disappointing. He thought that through jealousy she might actually electrify the whole pool and shock the students. A bit morbid, perhaps.
Matt with the prince's face tried to hug Will, but she just looked at Phobos confused.
They stayed at the school's pool for some time. Too much time. Guardians happily chatted about their day, homework, and silver medal.
Until Nerissa's minions showed up and started to, yet again, use their elemental powers.
"Guard Phobos!" Will shouted.
"He is safe with me," the prince with Matt's face muttered.
Might as well relax, when guardians were fighting and fake princes running like headless ghouls. At least for now, nobody will bat an eye on Matt's lonely form. Thus he turned on MP3 and got earphones. The fight looked bearable with a catchy song. Repeatable lyrics, like the fight, which was also rather predictable.
At the end of the song, guardians, at last, made some progress. Older guardians' mind control was knocked out by water. Yet hold and behold Nerissa came to ruin the party.
Time to turn off the MP3 and listen to her monologue. Is she aware that nobody cares? Perhaps she wasn't intimidated enough by three Phobos surrounding her and the minions becoming aware of the situation?
"You surrounded yourselves to me, my control may have weakened, but not your obligation, I own you all!" angrily said Nerissa, and older guardians soon joined his sister in the seal. "and I choose to keep what's mine trapped within my seal!"
And guardians only watched her. As Nerissa was surrounded by the elements. As she was becoming more and more powerful. Useless girls! They almost got burned.
"and you are done for!" she was so proud.
Holding power which wasn't even hers! How dreadfully annoying.
Phobos charged towards her, eyes full of disgust. As he was coming closer, Nerissa's eyes widened.
"You!" and she disappeared.
Nerissa ran away, having all the elements at her hand. Tsk. If he wanted, he could've watched the world fall apart from his cell.
Still in Matt's form prince looked around. What a mess, the swimming pool was ruined, guardians drenched and three Phobos looked like a disaster. That outfit... He will wear something else unless he wishes to blend into the pool's walls.
"You know one was really enough," said Will rather annoyed.
"What are they? Astral drops?" questioned Hay Lin.
"And why Nerissa is afraid of Matt?" pesky remark from Irma.
Time to drop the act and get back his white hair. They transformed back.
Before guardians appeared Caleb, Matt, and that pesky creature. Phobos could only imagine, what kind of mess all three of them made and what kind of rumors will be spread around by fellow mortals.
"Wait a minute, how long have you guys been glamoured as Phobos?" red-haired squinted.
Prince could only cross his arms and frown. Yet again receiving no respect.
"Since the attack in the park, your plan wasn't working so I thought of a better one," Phobos explained an obvious.
"So you weren't hitting on me" just now understood Cornelia.
"Or eating crickets," said Taranee.
"Or kissing Mandy!" exclaimed Will.
"You kissed Mandy?" rather confused voice from Matt.
"Why didn't you tell us?" another obvious question from Will.
Prince would fancy picking up earphones again. These questions and surprised gasps were getting on his nerves.
"You didn't need to know, and your ignorance helped fool Nerissa!" shit he was losing it. "For all the good it did I was counting on you to distract her not lose to her!" the prince was getting frustrated as he was speaking. "None of you have what it takes to achieve victory at any cost!"
"Yeah, except we had what it takes to you know kick your keister" Will smirked, as well as the guardians.
No respect and not even a thank you. Ah yes, they are so full of themselves.
"Besides victory at any cost is no victory at all, not if you lose yourself in the process" she continued as if trying to persuade herself.
Do guardians actually think they can win against Nerissa with friendship? Without any sacrifices? Tsk.
"Pretty words to justify your defeat," he couldn't even listen.
"This was no defeat Nerissa gained more power, but for the first time she's running scared from us" and Will smiled, forgetting that they never included him in the group nor treated him with a grain of respect.
"Tell yourself that," prince smirked and put earphones into his ears. "But if I will refuse to help you, you are nothing."
"Sheesh, that's childish," rolled eyes, Irma.
"Maybe he is just lonely," said Hay Lin and the other girls looked at her as if she was crazy.
"Hah, well he can't stop speaking about his lover," offensively Caleb said.
"Shut it." mood wasn't getting better anytime soon.
"He has one?" Cornelia raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, and you all know him," even Matt tooned in.
"Wha- don't tell me it's that snake!"
"Cedric?!"
"Seriously?!"
"He was making out with snake?!"
"No wonder he has no taste!"
The perfect time to walk away from this conversation. Volume up. Mortals technology shall be immortalized, or at least MP3 playlists.
•
"Do you think he will forgive you?" Matt asked while picking pancakes with a fork.
Prince was surprised by the question, he even stopped trying to find cherry tomatoes between all the salads.
"Who?" Phobos looked at the dark-haired boy rather confused.
"Cedric," he didn't even look him into the eye.
"Have I wronged him?"
"I-"
"I haven't wronged him," harshness in the prince's tone was obvious. "You don't know anything, and I can only imagine that guardians spouted nonsense about us."
"I'm sorry, it's your private matter, I should've stayed silent," casual tone was dropped and once again he came back to formalities.
'I'm sorry' he didn't hear that one in ages. White-haired squinted, why does Matt even care? It's not like he knows Cedric.
And yet boy still looked as if he wanted to say something. Not eating, just poking pancake with a fork. While living together, the prince started to pick up on the lad's personality and the way he behaved when curious. Which was surprisingly often and in most cases it would happen before school, during breakfast.
"Speak."
"So I wondering if you stay at Cedric's now?"
Oh. He didn't think about that. Cedric does have a place in the mortal realm and they could…
"You will huh," Matt smirked and cut pancake in half.
Prince immediately frowned.
"Am I that easy to read?"
"When thinking about your boyfr- I mean consort – yes."
•
Meridian, the castle's prison. The cells prince knew way too well, but for now, he was free. Even if accompanied by those, which detested him.
"I require bodyguards who pack more mystic might, such as these two," as he was speaking, both snake and spider started to crawl closer to their cell's door. "Perhaps my punishments for their earlier failures were too severe." truly, if a guardian wasn't here he would open more cells than this one.
Phobos couldn't help but mask his joy, with a smirk, as Cedric and Miranda started to grow into their usual shapeshifter forms through the smoke. And yet when smoke was lifted they appeared human.
"I grant you one last chance to prove yourselves."
Vatic in his usual manner couldn't hold his tongue "If you ask me, it's a bad idea."
"hmm, no one did, so stop grumbling Vatic, after all, I am the universe's only hope," even though it seemed filled with irony.
•
Will insisted on giving him a mobile phone and providing all of the guardian's phone numbers.
"Truly you don't think I will call you?"
"I hope not, but we will try to reach you," assured the red-haired guardian.
"Oi, do we reeeally want to let prince live with snakeman?" Irma said.
"And I don't think he knows how to use mobile phones," Hay Lin tooned in.
"Don't worry about that guardians, I will teach him," Cedric said.
"Please, mortal technology isn't that hard to learn," the prince was almost offended that people in this room assumed he was THAT ignorant. "Matt has already shown me quite a lot."
Cedric rose an eyebrow.
"I didn't think Matt was that friendly," Teranee said.
"He was the far better host than you were guards of mine," prince crossed his arms.
•
As they were walking, and yes, not teleporting, but walking on the pathway to Cedric's bookshop, for the most part, all three of them stayed silent in their human forms.
"My prince, have you found the boy of your tastes?" Miranda asked.
"Why do you think so?"
"You sounded rather content when speaking about him."
"Matt was polite and a good host, but a tad bit too young for my tastes," has she forgotten that Cedric was walking near?
Yet even if blond was listening he just silently walked, leading them through streets.
Prince couldn't ask him anything either. Only Miranda at times would try to indulge in conversation with both of them, but nothing of merit.
After all rebel leader was tailing them as if to check if they won't evaporate.
"Here's the book shop," silently said Cedric as they stopped nearby a rather modest building that had two metal feathers and a book as its signature design.
He unlocked it and all three of them walked in. As libraries were, it was filled with dust. Books were lying on the floor, as well as scattered all over the place. In any other situation, Phobos would complain, but now, at least they had some privacy.
"I hope you will be excited to come back to Meridian," the prince smiled looking at them.
"Yes, my prince." both of them answered.
And the conversation just like that died. Will he start speaking about the plan to trick guardians? Or how he will take Nerissa's seal for himself? No. Cedric and Miranda already knew, they worked for him for years. But it felt like they were distant, both of his closest servants.
"Perhaps I could show you around?" said blond looking at white-haired reluctantly.
•
Cedric's love for books was one thing that didn't change throughout the years. His eyes happily gleamed every time he saw a rare book or one in a foreign language. It didn't matter if it was fictional or the magical parchment. Thus the awkwardness disappeared when they started strolling through bookshelves.
Blond excitedly spoke about few discoveries he made being on Earth for few months, back when he was looking for Elyon. Discoveries, which he didn't have time to pursue, but now – perhaps.
Phobos couldn't help but notice, how elegantly Cedric's fingers skimmed through books covers. How his lips moved and that they were alone between the shelves. Miranda was near the counter, too far to notice anything that might unfold between the bookshelves.
"Cedric…" prince almost purred as he slid his hands around blonde's waist. "I missed you," soft and sugary, the tone he used every time they would argue over unimportant matters.
Lord squinted as if thinking. Holding the book even tighter than before.
"My princ-"
"My… aren't you angry with me? Not even calling my name?" smirked.
"Phobos," it was stern, with a hint of unpleasantness. "We should think about how to take Meridian back."
Can everyone give him a break? Meridian, kingdom, Nerissa, seal. If this was Meridian they would already be in the pool pleasing each other, but now his precious lover was playing a serious one. As always, the voice of reason.
"Let's fuck instead, I already have a plan," he just wanted to moan Cedric's name into the wooden floor.
Blond smirked as mortal curse word rolled off prince's tongue so casually.
"Perhaps being a student comes naturally to you..."
"Shut it."
"Such foul mouth," blond leaned towards the prince, brushing their noses together as if teasing.
Prince couldn't even mockingly blow warm weather into his glasses, as Cedric locked their lips together.
•
Napping during the evening, acing hips, bite marks on fingers and all over the back. Maybe one on the neck? On ears? Ah. One thing that was not as pleasant was the hard bed and the fact that he woke up alone in the dungeon. Perhaps it was a night already? No windows, no lights.
Phobos sighed. Thought of standing up wasn't appealing, but he will need to…
Doors creaked, letting in the dim sunlight into the room.
"You are not picking up your phone!" annoyed voice of Will.
"Like we thought you were devou-" Irma almost choked on her joke.
And Cedric turned on the light. Smirking.
Guardians' faces were priceless. As they saw the prince under the white, bloody, sheets - disheveled as if he was attacked by the snake.
"I-" no words from Hay lin.
"You-" nor from Taranee.
"oh my god," Cornelia managed.
"YOU SHOULDN'T GO THERE!" way too late Matt ran into the room, almost falling off stairs.
Only one, which was sensible. Too bad.
One unreadable face was Miranda's, she wasn't gawking at him like the rest, but he could feel how she eyed every visible mark on his body.
"So you were saying?" prince rose the eyebrow.
•
Last time guardians were so stunned, that they couldn't even properly explain the plan before the due date. If this was actual war… Well, they would lose. Perhaps that's for the better.
Going by foot to Cornelia's house wasn't ideal either. Especially when Caleb was sneaking behind, pretending to… just walk in the same direction.
Cedric and Miranda were in the good mood. Their faces beamed, backs straight and in general, their demeanor was far more relaxed. Blond was walking in front, leading them. Miranda at times would happily toon in and speak about the book she read.
It was… tiring. Her voice. So high and girlish.
Prince stopped and turned towards the direction the rebel leader was walking. In other words, their direction, but few miles away.
And indeed he was, looking at various shops and touching his chin in a not suspicious manner.
"You know, we can walk together," Phobos said rather loudly. "Caleb."
As if startled Caleb looked straight at the white-haired lad.
"No, no, I didn-, "the brunette said, even adding the hang gestures.
"Sure thin-,"
But he was interrupted by even higher voices. They were almost squeaking.
Soon enough near the trio (and Caleb which was dragging his feet now) appeared two girls in heavy makeup, 'bloody' hands with long black nails and big pointy green hats.
"Mr. Hoffman!" ginger exclaimed.
"We thought you won't come back!" the blue-haired said.
"Cindy was soooo sad," teasingly said the girl.
"Oh shush you!" ginger blushed.
"You wer-,"
"How are you ?" she cut in.
Cedric already had a polite smile ready.
"I'm very good, thank you," he said. "I'm happy to see that you two are still lively as ever."
"By the way," Cindy shyly smiled. "Did you fin-"
"Did you find a girlfriend?" blue-haired chirped in.
Ginger blushed even more. Meanwhile, Miranda squinted at them, as if about to pounce at them like a cat.
"Oh… Yes, I did," smiled blond.
Phobos didn't notice how he started smirking. Almost expecting. Yet the warmth of Cedric's hand wasn't on his shoulder, but…
Miranda's.
Both girls, as well as the prince, were confused.
"B-But you said, you don't date school girls," ginger frowned.
"Yeah! You rejected Sabrina when she confessed!" the girl whined.
"Now, now… Miranda, dear, isn't school girl, she is already 25, am I mistaken?" he softly smiled at the black-haired.
"Yes… I just look young, because I don't wear makeup," Miranda said half-smiling.
Shame and disappointment filled Phobos' to his core. It was an insignificant gesture, yet it felt as if strategic move. How come he never needed to pretend to have another consort?
The group was chit-chatting and even laughing at times. The air was slowly getting electrified. Yet nobody noticed. Almost.
Suddenly Caleb leaned towards him.
"Don't murder them," he whispered. "We don't want to deal with poli-ouch!" electric spark felt like a slap.
"Shut it," prince hissed.
•
It was insignificant. It was just a strategic move. Did something happen in the cell? Phobos's head was filled with grim thoughts.
Meanwhile, guardians were starting to discuss the grand finale. Or more like the cat was providing them with insight on the celebration they will attend.
"Halloween the one night a year when the heart of Earth is up for grabs," the cat said.
"Okay time-out I thought permission was required to take a heart," Irma noticed.
"Halloween has bent the rules when the power of the Earth can be stolen by rubbing true hearts familiar," he explained. "Lilian's black cat - me."
At times Matt would glance prince's way as if asking 'did something happen?'.
Meanwhile girls tried to ignore Phobos altogether, even if he was a significant piece of their plan. But apparently, images from a few days back were still fresh in their memories.
Cedric was near Miranda. So he created an infuriating couple. Why else would blond choose a spider, which looked like a teen? Ah, whatever.
"You mean that stuff isn't just superstition?" Taranee asked.
Did guardians weren't aware of their realm's magical properties? What a disappointment.
"Superstitions got to come from somewhere now," cat also seemed rather surprised. "Now you think it's bad luck for a black cat to cross your path, try being a black cat."
Will their strategizing take a whole evening? Prince yawned. His input won't be respected either way.
"As tragic as your tale of woe is what do you expect us to do?" Phobos asked.
"Hide me! From a stroke of midnight, I can't even transform to protect myself," how pitiful.
Thus guardians happily started to dwell into the plan even more, until children, without knocking got into the room. A notable sacrifice for the occasion was Irma.
•
As guardians were changing, lads were waiting outside the door. And also Miranda.
"Matt, do you still have MP3?" Phobos asked.
"I think, I left it at home," as the prince frowned, Matt quickly added. "But I can bring it to the bookshop."
"No need," it's not like they will meet again after the festival.
"Our princey is rather sad, don't you think?" Caleb smirked sliding his hands around Phobos' waist.
Yet the prince didn't even shake away the hands. White-haired glanced at the Cedric, yet his eyes were elsewhere. As if on purpose.
"So did you break up?" Matt asked, amused by the stage play.
"Did we?" prince hummed. "Ah, I suppose my delightful shapeshifter enjoys the company of an araneidan a lot more these days."
Blond glanced in their direction.
"Quite a story, how one can fall for one's prison-mate," Phobos continued while smirking. "Bootless spider, took away my consort… quite a gossip for Meridian, don't you think, Caleb?" rebel's name rolled off prince's tongue so sweetly.
Caleb chuckled into the prince's neck. Miranda frowned. Cedric rose eyebrows.
"Maybe you fancy being lord, instead, rebel leader?" he brushed through the brunette's hair. "And you Matt, you could be excellent commander, perhaps you could win against guardians?"
"You know I wouldn't fight them," Matt smirked leaning forward.
"Perhaps you could banish our spider then?"
"I would," Caleb answered.
Tsk from Cedric's side.
"My prince, Cedric didn't mean to offend you," softly started the black-haired girl.
"Did you bite off his tongue? If not, shut it."
"Phobos, that-"
Yet the blond's words were interrupted by another blond's screech.
"C-Caleb!"
Brunette snapped away from the prince immediately as if caught during an indecent act. How dramatic, it's not like they were kissing.
"We were just messing around," Matt cut in.
Will's eyes narrowed as if cats. The black-haired lad looked back at her without saying a word.
"Aren't you three becoming too close?" red-haired asked.
"Don't overthink it, guardian," Phobos smirked. "Or are you starting to become jealous?"
"Aw, I thought it was Phobos making Cedric jealous," Hay Lin snickered.
Yet even if there was any reaction from the lord before guardians shown up, now he was once again indifferent. Placing his hand on Miranda's shoulder.