Gray watched Moon’s confused expression as she left the room and walked into the kitchen, still sleepy. Her mouth was slightly open, and she held her phone in her left hand as she walked over to the fridge and drank a large amount of wate, straight from the bottle.

— What happened?

— Do you know who just called me?

— No… — Gray replied, crossing his arms and looking at her. — And your face makes me care more about what was said than who said it…

— It was Gus.

— Ah, Gus Rothery… — Gray rolled his eyes and stood up, cleaning the table and walking past her towards the sink. — His silence until now has been like heaven to my ears… — he said, jealous, which made Moon approach him and hit him hard on the arm. — Ouch! I already have to put up with Ace; don’t expect me to like that guy too…

— That guy has a name; he’s my friend. Never mind. I won’t tell you. And don’t act possessive towards me. — she replied in a serious tone.

— I’ll try. What did he want?

— To tell me some things… Good things. Unexpected things. And really bad things… — she replied, leaning on the counter. — But I need a shower first… — she shook her head and left.

— I would love one too…

— No… — she kissed his cheek briefly before returning to the room.

Gray decided to wait for her in bed while trying tirelessly to find out Ada’s whereabouts. Even though he knew many people from every city from the South to the East, no one had the slightest idea where she could be.

Time was passing, and Hux wasn’t getting any better.

He sought out Evanora, but ironically, being a guardian did not mean having all the answers; the old lady, however, promised that she would try to find anything that could help them.

When a heavy, wet towel hit his head, he was pulled from his thoughts.

— Daydreaming?

— So what did he say?

— What news do you want to hear first? Good, bad, or unexpected?

Gray sighs.

— The bad ones. Let’s get over the bad ones first.

— Ada is with Patricia… Zane is already working on it, but everything leads him to believe that Ada is under the influence of some magic…

— That’s bad.

— Very. — Moon says and sits on the edge of the bed, facing him. — Good news, at least for me, is that Bailey and his family have been exiled from the South and East. Gus also told me that he heard from Zane that his father fired a lot of Council members. And do you know Nahkti?

— Nahkti? Barlow’s niece?

— Soon your sister-in-law. A good combination… she’s like a black cat and Reese, a big puppy…

— Seriously?

— Uh-huh…

— Well, as for the Byrd family, it’s about time. But Arthur must be feeling overwhelmed now. Griffin needs to go back and—

Moon smiled.

— Want to know the unexpected?

— What is it?

— Gus… and Arthur… — Moon grimaced and moved her index fingers towards each other. — Threaded to each other.

Gray paused for a second; his face was unreadable ,and Moon thought for a second that she might have made a mistake in telling. But then he started laughing to the point that he laid down and covered his stomach with his hands.

Moon looked at him.

— That’s… unusual. Why are you laughing?

— Oh, my love… Your friend is so screwed. So, so screwed…

— Why? — her expression darkened. — Gus is such a nice guy…

— We’re talking about Arthur here… If Griffin was difficult, Arthur will be impossible. The guy is adamant about his decision to never have a relationship. — Gray added, rubbing his eyes and getting rid of some tears. — Oh, man, I wish I was there to see when our family finds out…

— Gus is a nice guy… Arthur will fall for his charms…

— Did you fall? — Gray sat up straight and approached her, holding her hand.

— You’re here with me, and you’re still asking me this? Seriously?

— It’s always good to be sure. You’re unpredictable. — he smiled and hugged her.

He had a question to ask, but fear was all he felt at the moment. Moon hugged him back, tightly.

— I’m not saying it’s bad, but… you’re being too sweet. What happened?

— Don’t ask me how… It must be because we’ve been so close lately, or… — Gray looked at her, unable to speak any further as the words got stuck in his throat. Moon just kept hugging him, now slowly stroking his back, silently, as if encouraging him to keep talking. — It’s been a while since I arrived here in Mendraria. And most of the time, we’ve been together.

Gray slowly released her embrace, stepping back to lean against the bed frame and look into her eyes.

— When I wake up, you’re the first thing I see. We eat together, I take you to work and then I pick you up, and then we come home, and even if we do something different like hang out with our friends, we’re still together. And then we sleep next to each other.

— Where are you going with this?

— At this point, I probably know you better than your uncle, your brother, or even Ace… I know you. And that means, unfortunately, that I know when you’re lying or hiding something.

— You just described a relationship between two people. — Moon shook her head, laughing.

— You’re leaving. — he declared. — I know you’re going to leave me soon and I’m mad that you’re keeping this from me because, fuck, Moon, I don’t keep secrets from you anymore, so why would you… — he closed his eyes, feeling frustrated.

— Are you scared?

— Should I be?

Moon holds his hands, caressing them.

— No matter where I am, this war will happen. But I can make it less destructive…

— How?

— He doesn’t expect me to show up. He thinks I’m hiding. And I was, but not from him… I need to get Ada back too… — Moon looked at him, disapproval written all over her face. — I’m going back to Berkshire. Before you guys. But I was going to tell you. — Moon went to him, lying down next to him and laying her head on his chest.

— You are cruel…

— Sorry…

— No… You probably have a good reason for doing things the way you do. It’s just… No more secrets, okay?

— Okay…

— And please be careful. Even though I’ve marked you, I’m sure Caelan will definitely try to do something…

— How can you be so calm about me leaving? Why aren’t you saying things like you’ll come with me? Or, I don't know, trying to stop me?

— If you wanted me to go, you would ask me to go. I will stay and try to convince Josiah to help us. And then, if by the time I convince Josiah to help us, you still haven’t come back, I will drag everyone back to Berkshire…

— Ok, that sounds good…

— You’re the one who’s too calm about everything…

— How could I not be? My brother is in good hands, and Ace has you to protect him. plus, Josiah will certainly help. My powers are back… It’s okay…

— You don’t have to pretend to be so tough.

— And you don’t need to worry so much.

— There’s a lunatic, obsessed man after you.

— He’s your biggest concern in this whole story, isn’t he?

Gray said nothing, shaking his head slightly as if giving up on arguing with her.

— We should make the most of the little time I have left here, shouldn’t we?

•

 — Okay, let me get this straight… — Gus said with one hand on his hip and the other holding the folder he received earlier. — You told me to stay here, that she was safe out there, and that everything was under control. You call this fucked up mess a situation under control?

— Well, we thought—

— You don’t have to think… Being who you are inside the Velum, you need to know. — Gus’s voice was loud, as he felt angry and guilty for not following his friends. — I should be there with them…

— Now that’s what I call loyalty… — a deep, calm voice caught his attention at the front door. — Go ahead. Go after them.

— Hey, Arthur, don’t you think you’ve been rude to Gus lately? — Casey asks, sitting in the chair while his broken, cast-covered leg rests on another.

— Me? Rude? It’s just you, isn’t it? — Arthur walked towards them and pulled up a chair, sitting down and propping his feet up on the table. — So, Rothery, go after your friends. The way is clear, you’ll be safe and you’ll be able to help them. Go. — he moved his hands towards him.

— This has nothing to do with you, Arthur. And I don’t understand why it bothers you so much…

— Be honest: you hate that it’s me, right? As much as I hate that it’s you…

Casey watched them in silence, sipping his coffee slowly, savoring it, trying to make the conversation last throughout, one of the few entertainments in his life lately.

“So, these two, huh… Hmm, interesting… I wonder if the family already knows about this?”, he thought, looking at the young people.

— Okay, you want honesty? You hide your true self. You’re mean, rude, arrogant, narcissistic, impulsive, selfish… — Gus stopped talking suddenly, pursing his lips and shaking his head. — I don’t think you’re a good person. You’re not what I expected, and honestly, we have nothing in common. There’s no way this can work, so—

— I understand. And as I said, you are free to go. — Arthur spoke calmly as always. He then stood up, straightened his clothes, and left, leaving behind a terrible silence.

— I know you want to go after them, but if you don’t go after Art now… Without trying this relationship… I think you’ll regret it… — Casey comments.

— Shit… I forgot you were here…

Casey smiles.

— Don’t worry, my lips are sealed.

— You’re on his side because you’re friends…

— I’m not on anyone’s side... But Art is… a complex person. He’s good, but complicated... And he deserves to be happy.

— Don’t count on me for that…

— That’s a shame. I really think you two would be a good match.