The next morning I could barely pay attention in my charm speak lecture. All my attention was on the Keltcher and how to infiltrate them.
"Eveline," said Guardian Silverwing standing over my desk looking slightly annoyed.
"A...aye?" I asked.
He cleared his throat in frustration. "How do you start charm speak if your target isn't secure?"
"You must have their attention before you start or gain it. Sometimes its easier to touch their shoulder before you start trying to dig into their subconsciousness."
He nodded being alright with my answer.
The rest of class was a blur and I left trying to get out before Neil. I needed to talk to Alistor about last night. He luckily hung back with the rest of the boys. Alistor was already almost done with breakfast when I sat down.
"Morning," I greeted.
He smiled weakly.
"You remember our mission together?"
He nodded. "Why? Are we going back for more information?"
I could tell he was interested already.
"Maybe.." I said.
"Tell me everything."
So I told him about last night- about Adam meeting with the other two Nephilium and seeing the mark on the back of their necks of the Keltcher and even about allowing Neil to court me.
"Wait you're with Neil?" he asked.
"Alistor the point is-"
"That's great... I'm happy for you," he mumbled.
"Alistor!" I groaned. "Back to the point at hand."
I regretted telling him about Neil, but I needed to tell someone. Alistor was my best friend. Why did was he so stuck on the thought?
"Right... right," he mumbled.
"What?" I asked.
"I didn't know you'd date anyone here," he mumbled. "That's why I started seeing Sasha."
"Is that why you've been missing evening meals?" I asked curiously.
We were off subject- way off subject. We needed to focus this was important.
"Aye," he said.
I saw Neil enter with the rest of my Nephilium classmates and I groaned. I knew he would ask me to join him probably and I really needed to talk to Alistor about Adam especially if he was seeing someone from the Lower City.
"Has she said anything about the Keltcher?"
"Not more than we already knew. Just the usual raids and the King still not doing anything to help- some are leaving nightly with their family's, but most are too scared to leave."
I was still trying to wrap my head around him dating Sasha.
"Morning my love," said Neil placing one hand on my shoulder.
I saw the cool unreadable look on Alistor's face. What was wrong with him?
"Morning," I said tilting my head up to see his freckled spattered face.
"Mind if we join you?"
Alistor shrugged and Neil sat down with the rest of the Nephilium. Adam looked more tired than usual and wasn't at all his normal chipper self. I saw Alistor notice the same thing.
"Cat got your tongue Adam?" teased Alistor.
If looks could kill, Alistor would have died on the spot with the look he shot him.
"I'm tired, mortal. After all, we have two more classes then your kind."
There was minor chatter between us, but mostly just Neil sitting as close as possible.
"Neil," I said quietly under my breath as a warning.
He moved away slightly, but for the first time, I felt his presence to be overbearing. Had I made a mistake?
The bell rang over head and I followed Alistor to dump our food after telling Neil I would see him later.
"What was that pissing contest about?" I asked as we walked to our next class.
He chuckled. "Neil was just trying to show you're with him is all. He'll settle down here in a few days."
I shot him a quizzical look. "What do you mean?"
"He's liked you for quite some time. He just thought... well he thought I was a problem."
"A problem how?"
"Everyone assumed I was courting you," he mumbled.
"Wait what?"
"Don't act so surprised, Eve," he said halfheartedly. "We did spend a whole month "sneaking" into the lower city every night."
The way he said it was full of feeling- like he had liked me too at one point. I felt my chest tighten for a moment and my heart flutter. Alistor ap Renn had possibly liked me at one point?
We walked into or next class and Alistor sat across the room when we usually sat next to each other, but I assumed it was more to do with Neil than anything. What had I been thinking?