Sauter (Ironside Academy, #3)(25)

Moses: I’ve got Carter.

Moses: Someone bring us snacks.

Theodore: What’s the damage?

Elijah: Who has eyes on Eve?

Mikel (admin): I do. She’s with her friends, trying to find a spot near the stage. I don’t think she’s going to try anything. The story they’re pushing now is that Eve was forced by Aron. They’re saying he’s the one with the illegal drugging power. Apparently, it slipped out of him when the officials were questioning him, but Eve was also in the room.

Isobel: It’s not true. I felt her power while I was here in the academy. She’s used it on me before.

Mikel (admin): We know.

Kalen (admin): We won’t take our eyes off her until the movie night is over. Keep acting unaffected. You’re doing perfectly.

Isobel: Okay.

Theodore: What snacks do you want?

Moses: Whatever you’re getting.

Moses suddenly looked up. “What were those chocolates you were inhaling?”

“Something with caramel. I don’t know.”

Moses: And caramel chocolate, whatever types they have.

Theodore: They have like seven types.

Moses: It’s for Carter.

Theodore: I’ll get them all.

Oscar: Get some for me.

Theodore: No.

Oscar: Why the fuck not?

Cian: You aren’t cute enough.

Isobel smirked at her screen, casting a quick look around to make sure Sato wasn’t anywhere near her.

Isobel: It’s true. You aren’t.

“It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt,” Moses singsonged, a note of warning in his voice.

“Why is everyone so terrified of Sato anyway?” Isobel seized the opportunity to get more information on him from the Alpha who seemed to spend the most time with him, and to take her panicked mind off Eve. The guys were remarkably good at keeping cool heads in stressful situations … unless ferality was involved, and then all hell broke loose.

It was easier to mimic their forced ease—to distract herself with their interactions—than it was to confront what had just happened and what it meant for her moving forward.

Moses smirked, shaking his head. “I’m sure the fans appreciate your subtle attempt at gossiping for the cameras, but you’re going to have to try a little harder if it’s Oscar you want to gossip about.”

Her phone announced a new message, and she returned her attention to the screen.

Theodore: Oscar took the fucking snacks. I have to go back and get more.

Oscar: Flattery will get you everywhere.

Isobel: We’re sorry about before. You’re incredibly cute, Sato.

Moses: Incredibly.

Theodore: Gag.

Isobel: Can we have the snacks?

Oscar: Say please.

Isobel: Please.

Oscar: One more time.

Isobel: Please?

Oscar: Again.

Elijah: Stop it.

Gabriel: Are you two flirting?

Isobel: No.

Oscar: Yes.

Isobel: NO. Why would you even ask that?

Oscar: Because he doesn’t know what flirting looks like.

Elijah: What does flirting look like, Oscar?

Elijah: Here’s a hint: it doesn’t begin with “tor” and end in “ment”.

Moses: From here on out, I will be calling Oscar “kettle” and Elijah “pot”.

Gabriel: Moses has a point there.

Elijah: All three of you can shut up.

Isobel glanced up to find Moses biting back a smirk, his dark grey eyes swimming with humour as he read the messages. Cian stepped onto the platform before Isobel could glance back down at her phone, and he gave her a slight smile. His dusky golden skin was a little paler than usual, his hair pulled into a messy knot, his mouth tightening back into a hard line after attempting to smile at her.

“All good?” he asked her, dropping into the seat on her other side, even though it had Kilian’s name on it. His fingers played across her forearm, a gentle brush along the outside of her scar before his hand dropped to rest on his own thigh. It was almost like he wanted her to know that everything was normal with them, that all the tension in his expression wasn’t aimed at her.

She nodded, darting her attention over his shoulder for a brief moment, trying to catch sight of where Eve had situated herself. Instead, she saw Kilian and Niko trying to make their way through the crowd.

“It’s not that big of a deal,” Isobel lied, her eyes darting back to Cian’s sharp, sapphire gaze. “She’s back. Whatever.”

“Let’s not waste any time on her,” he agreed, a spark of satisfaction flashing across his angular features. “I’m sure the officials punished her suitably.” His eyes narrowed just slightly, several of the micro muscles in his face twitching before he wrestled his expression into something calm and unbothered. Despite all the effort, he couldn’t smooth out the deep dimple etched into his cheek, showcasing his displeasure. “And how about your bond? You haven’t been asking us to surrogate lately.”

She reared back an inch, wondering why he would bring that up with a camera staring at them head-on and microphones taped to the chairs.

“I’m surviving,” she hedged.

“You’re paler than usual, skinnier than usual, and Gabriel and Elijah both said you aren’t fulfilling all of your practice time. You keep leaving early like you don’t have the energy to keep going.”