"Do your friends know about your glowing arm?" Chris asked as they walked towards the coffee shop where Nadel and Jai were waiting.
"No. I used to tell my dad about the weird things that were happening to me but he did not believe any of it and I felt stupid. He is a doctor and I understand that he only believes in science so I did not tell others as well." Elsa clarified.
"OK, good. Keep it that way. Don't tell anyone, except me. I want to know everything that is happening to you, including those two." Chris is not well-versed in magic since he is a werewolf but he is sure that the woman doctor is using some form of it.
Even though his main goal is to find Princess Hera, he is also determined to ensure the safety of his mate. He was prepared to protect her no matter what.
"I never had any intention of sharing it with anyone, not even you, but you witnessed it yourself. But why do you want to involve my friends?"
"I don't trust them. Nadel resembles someone very powerful and dangerous in my world. And as for Jai, I simply dislike him for his interest in you," Chris explained before courteously opening the cafe door for Elsa.
Elsa couldn't help but notice the small gesture. She offered a faint smile that she quickly cleared before turning her attention back to her friends. It didn't escape her notice that Nadel's gaze remained fixed on Chris as they settled into their seats.
"I went ahead and ordered for both of you, hope that's alright," Nadel mentioned as she handed the Iced Latte to Elsa. However, before Elsa could reach for it, Chris snatched the drink and downed it in one go.
Elsa's jaw dropped, stunned by Chris's brazenness. 'He's truly something else. Is he trying to embarrass me in front of my friends?' she wondered.
Meanwhile, as Elsa glanced at her two friends, Nadel appeared less surprised than she did, in contrast to Jai, who had wide eyes as he observed Chris empty the glass.
"Thank you. I was really thirsty," Chris remarked, setting the empty glass on the table.
Elsa tilted her head, casting a questioning look at Chris. He exchanged with a similar look and used slight eye signals to relay something about Nadel.
Jai cleared his throat, noting the non-verbal talk between the two, and inquired of Chris, "So, when do we get to witness the wedding?"
Chris reclined against the back of his seat, arms crossed, and replied, "You won't. It's going to take place in my hometown."
"And where might that be...?" Nadel asked swiftly, prompting Chris to raise an eyebrow.
"Arcanis," he responded tersely.
Nadel offered a smile, while Chris smirked, maintaining an intense gaze on Nadel.
Elsa observed the exchange between the two, feeling the awkwardness in the air. It was as though there was an invisible battle happening between them, that they didn't know about.
"It's far. But you are welcome to come. I'd love for you to witness it," Chris remarked with a hint of sarcasm.
"I'll certainly make an appearance then, dressed in my finest gown. Just make sure you remember you invited me," Nadel retorted in a similarly sarcastic tone.
Elsa sensed the conversation veering toward an argument and decided to intervene. "Alright, I think we should put that topic aside for now. It's not happening anytime soon," she suggested, hoping to prevent any potential conflict.
"You never did answer my question from earlier. What brings you two to Santa Fe?" Elsa inquired.
Nadel and Jai exchanged glances as if silently communicating in pushing one another to speak up.
"We're considering to move to Santa Fe," Jai began explaining. "We applied for a job here, and we've been accepted."
Elsa expressed her concerns, saying, "Are you certain about this? The town's hospital is quite small, and you may not gain as much experience as you would at city hospitals."
Nadel responded, "There's a large hospital currently under construction here. It's expected to be completed in six months, which syncs with the end of our residency program."
A furrow formed on Elsa's brow as she sensed there was more to the story. "Why didn't I hear about this from my dad? What's the name of the hospital?"
Jai and Nadel, in the midst of sipping their coffee, swallowed hard upon hearing her question. They exchanged another meaningful glance.
"The hospital is named 'Katherina Hera Morgan Memorial Hospital,'" Jai sighed.
Elsa and Chris exchanged puzzled looks.
"The HR department told us not to inform you yet because your father wanted to surprise you. I suppose he'll be quite upset when he finds out we spilled the beans," Jai added.
"That's quite a lengthy name for a hospital," Chris casually remarked.
"That's Elsa's mom's name, which you should be aware of, considering she's the mother of your future wife," Nadel pointed out.
"You're correct, but where did 'Hera' come from? My birth certificate lists her as 'Katherina Morgan,'" Elsa asked in confusion.
"I inquired with HR about that too, and they told me it's your mom's full name. I guess you'll have to confirm it with your dad. By the way, speaking of your dad, could you check if it's okay for us to stay at your house just for tonight? We need to submit more documents to HR tomorrow," Jai requested.
"No need to ask him. It will be my house too once Elsa and I get married. Of course, you can stay," Chris replied with his characteristic confidence.
Elsa felt a wave of embarrassment as Chris made such a bold statement. "H-He's right. You're welcome to stay at our house anytime," she added. "Chris, I'm not sure what you like. Would you like to join me in ordering some coffee?"
Chris didn't need a second invitation; he understood that Elsa wanted to have a private conversation. He got up and followed Elsa to the cashier. His mind was full of questions and he just hoped the information Jai had informed them was something that could potentially tell him the location of Princes Hera Van der Aart.