"-take care I have to go now.
-wait…it's early to leave and add to that….we didn't spend a lot of time together." Miranda said pulling Ray's arm pouting, and she started drawing invisible circles on his arm, but he hid his disgust with a charming smile.
"-sorry Mira, I have a lot of things to do and trust me… I would never have enough from your company all day…you are really addictive." He said playing with one of her falling hair locks.
Miranda smiled widely, she caressed his cheek and tried to kiss him but he pushed her lightly and said:
"-That's too early babe, and its better if you miss me. See you." He said running away before watching her reaction. He muttered to himself with annoyance:
"-It was close. I need to wash myself otherwise Ellie is gonna kill me."
He went inside the castle and kept looking around for Mal but she wasn't in her room.
Luckily, he found Ayana talking with one of the maids.
"-Hey! Ayana!
-oh? Hi Ray! You shouldn't be running around or you could fall.
-sorry…do you know where Mal is?
-she is in the library. By the way, did you saw Miranda?
-Miranda I left her in the garden.
-ok thanks Ray…..before I…" but before she could inform him he was already gone.
Ray was running in the long hallway but he stopped when a sudden thought hit him
"-wait…I don't know where the library is!" he stopped, ruffling his hair in frustration.
Two maids were walking to his direction and he stopped them:
"-excuse me girls. Can you tell me where the library is? I am kind of lost here." He said rubbing his neck, before one of the girls answered him shyly:
"-it's the third door on the left.
-Thank you. Have a good day." He said bowing at them and making his way to where the girl told him. She was jumping with her friend, hiding their screams of happiness since the charming hunter talked to them.
Mal was in the library, sitting on the red velvet chaise longue, surround by different books with different content, reading more about incubus and hoping she could find something her necklace. A while ago, a maid brought her a cup of herbal tea, to ease her mind and enjoy her fruitful time.
Suddenly, the door is kicked wide open and Ray got in quickly. He sat on the edge of the chair; he put one hand on his chest and pointed his finger in front of Mal's face telling her to wait, he was catching his breath and he saw the cup on the small table next to her. He took a big gulp and said:
"-it's the best hot fragrant tea I have ever drunk!
-Thanks!" Malin said snatching back the rest of her drink to find nothing, she sighed in disbelief, shaking her head before that her friend commented:
"-it's even better than Andrew's disgusting shit that he boils every day.
-He'd better not hear that… Anyway, why are you here?
-what? Can't I visit my dearest friend?
-Ray! If you don't have anything to say you can leave. I have a lot of things to do." Mal answered sternly and reopened the book that was lying on her lap to continue reading it.
Ray felt a little bit hurt but he kept thinking what did he do wrong? , because Mal even in her worst she would never ignore him. Then a sudden thought hit him.
"-Can I know, why are you mad with me?
-Where have you been since you left me?
-ohh…I have been with Ellie.
-and
-and a maid named Miranda. Oh Mal! You should meet her. She is the nicest and prettiest girl I have ever met. Also she is very smart and cultured about a lot of things.
-really?...I think she should maybe teach you something about LOYALTY.
-Hey, you don't have to be aggressive. And my heart beet every time I look at her mesmerizing eyes." Ray said lying down holding where his heart is and smiling like an idiot, earning an eye roll from his friend.
"-ok when you finish fantasizing about your sweetheart Miranda, get your ass up I have something to tell you." Malin didn't bother to look at him in the eyes. Ray straitened up and leaned a little a bit and bent down the book to see Mal's face who responded at his genuine smile with a mischievous grin. She flicked his forehead making him groan in pain and rubbing the red spot:
"-Hey! You know I hate it…and it hurts.
-well…you deserve it.
-what did I do?
-you made Ellie's cry, broke her heart and ignored her all day.
-so a forehead flick is just enough as a payback.
-I am not in the right condition to kick your stupid ass and open my stitches again…And I honestly don't have the nerve to hear a whole ear-bleeding lecture from Kieran about how careless I am about my health.
-Wow…Mal the willful huntress who lives by her own rules is listening to someone, a male and he is Kieran. Did I miss something?
-You are gonna miss your life if you are not gonna start speaking.
-oh yeah I remembered. It's about Miranda." Mal raised her eyebrow at him shooting death glares at him but he continued:
"-she is a succubus and…
-What!
-Calm down girl. As I was saying, I think someone sent her for us and maybe she could be our link to the one who planned for that party attack.
-But, what about Ellie?
-you think I am gonna leave her for such an annoying girl and who is be a succubus. No way. You'd better kill me if I am gonna do such a thing.
-then…what you said earlier. What was that?
-Nuh. I just wanted to tease you a little bit." He said unbothered checking his nail before looking at Mal smirking. The girl laughed and elbowed him feeling at ease finally
"-I thought you fell for her trap and you become her slave.
-well, she tried though to kiss me but my heart belong to a one woman only.
-Listen, I had enough hiding your love for her. Why can't you just confess to her? , you both love each other.
-well I was waiting for you because you are like a sister to us and I need you to be present in my wedding. Otherwise, she won't get married to me.
-did you…said MARRIAGE!
-DUH…I really want to settle, have a normal life and maybe a small family with the love of my life… and for that; I need the blessings of the moody obstinate girl next to me. Otherwise I will stay the single charming hunter or maybe I will end up as a slave for a succubus who knows?" Mal hit him playfully and they both burst in laughter.
"-Does Ellie know that Miranda is a succubus.
-No, and please don't tell her. She will undoubtedly stub her to death and burn her corpse and throw her ashes in the sea.
-you are overreacting.
-she is sweet and innocent but when she got mad, she will be the devil himself.
-yet you love her.
-that's why I actually love her for. Her paradox personality drove me crazy.
-you should tell her not me lover boy.
-ok just try to keep it a secret as much as you can, when we finish everything, get our money I will make sure to make her the happiest woman in the world." Ray said putting his arm behind his head staring at the roof with a big smile on his face.
Mal smiled at him, feeling happy that her two friends, her second family are planning for their future together, in good or bad fighting together to the end.
"-By the way, we are gonna spend the night together in my room.
-who we?
- Me, you, Ellie, Ayana and Kieran.
-ok I need to go get ready then. Are you not coming?
-I am gonna stay here for a little bit more.
-ok as you wish. And Mal… thanks a lot you are the best." She nodded at him with a warm smile on her face but he turned around to add before stepping out of the big room.
"-I can hook you up with Kieran if you want. You make the perfect couple girl.
-Hey!" Ray ran outside closing the door behind him before Mal could reach him.
She sat comfortably on the chair, laughing to herself and she continued reading her book.