Chapter 15

“I don’t have to take orders from you!”

Mark exchanged a puzzled glance with Ria. What the hell is going on? A knot of unease tightened in his stomach. He picked up on the strain in his aunt’s voice as they got closer, and his protective instincts kicked in.

He burst through the front door, Ria close behind, and was met with chaos. Lida stood in the middle of the living room, her face flushed, eyes brimming with unshed tears, locked in a heated argument with a tall, imposing man.

The stranger, catching sight of them, snapped his mouth shut and bowed towards Ria. Mark frowned, even more confused now. Who the hell is this guy?

“What’s going on here?” Mark asked, stepping towards his aunt.

Lida quickly brushed away a stray tear, forcing a smile. “It’s nothing, Mark.”

Mark didn’t buy it. He studied the stranger, a man in his late fifties, with neatly slicked-back salt-and-pepper hair, sharp, intelligent eyes, and an expensive-looking suit. This isn’t just a friendly visit.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Vizi,” the man replied, his voice a deep baritone. “And I’m here on behalf of—”

“You need to leave,” Lida interrupted, her voice cold and dismissive.

Vizi, however, refused to be dismissed. “The Crescent Association has uncovered a traitor in their midst,” he said, his gaze shifted to Ria. “Council requests your presence, Lady. Immediately.”

Mark’s eyes widened. Association? Council? What the hell is he talking about? He looked at Lida, hoping for an explanation, but she remained silent, her gaze fixed on the floor. Why is Ria being summoned? What’s going on?

His mind raced, trying to piece it all together. He glanced at Ria, who seemed strangely calm, her expression unreadable.

“Why are they asking for Ria?”

“The investigation into the attack a few weeks ago has yielded ... unexpected results,” Vizi explained. “We’ve uncovered evidence of a traitor within the association. It seems their target was Lady Ria.”

“That attack wasn’t aimed at Ria,” Lida countered sharply. “It was Mark they were after.”

“Is that so?” Vizi’s brow arched slightly. “Regardless, the Crescent feels it’s imperative that we safeguard her. The council has agreed that she should remain at headquarters, under protection, until we can identify and neutralize the threat.”

“Right,” Lida scoffed. “They just want her away from Mark.”

Vizi shrugged, his expression carefully neutral. “Perhaps. But wouldn’t this be the best course of action? If they know it was Mark they were after, the questions will never end. This way, at least your boy stays out of it.”

Just how much does this guy know? Mark wondered, his unease growing.

“It’s not that simple,” Lida argued, her voice rising in frustration. “Ria is bonded to Mark. You can’t just separate them.”

“Come now, Lida. Don’t make this more complicated than it needs to be. Surely you understand the situation. The association is concerned, the Council is demanding action. This is the simplest solution, for everyone involved.”

“Easy for you to say,” Lida retorted. “It might be simple for you, but what about Ria? What about her feelings?”

“The council feels her judgment is ... clouded by the bond. They believe she’s not thinking clearly and I also...”

“Enough!” Ria stepped forward, her voice sharp. “You’ve been talking long enough, Vizi.”

“My apologies, Lady,” Vizi said, bowing his head slightly. “I merely express the concerns of the Council. They are deeply worried for your safety.”

“That doesn’t give anyone to right to make decisions for me, does it?”

Vizi opened his mouth to argue, but Lida interrupted. “Ria, would you be willing to stay here, with us? At least for a while, until things settle down?”

What? Mark stared at Lida, stunned by her sudden offer. What is she doing? He could see the surprise flickering in Ria’s eyes, mirroring his own. This was happening fast, too fast.

“I ... I wouldn’t mind,” Ria said hesitantly, glancing at Mark, then back at Lida. “But my parents...”

“I’ll deal with them,” She turned to Mark. “Why don’t you go with Ria and get her things?”

“But—”

“Mark, please,” she pleaded. “Just trust me on this. Go.”

He hesitated, his gaze flickering between Lida and Vizi. He didn’t want to leave her alone.

“Go on, Mark,” Lida said, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. “I’ll be fine. Just go.”

He nodded, still unsure. “Come on, Ria.”

She followed him out of the house, a puzzled frown on her face. As they walked towards his car, Mark couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had settled in his gut. He glanced back at the house, the windows dark and silent.

Mark still had a million questions swirling in his mind. Who was Vizi? What was his connection to his aunt? How much did he know? Why was the Crescent Association so interested in Ria? He still wasn’t sure about anything but decided to trust in Lida’s judgment. I hope she knows what she’s doing.

He glanced at Ria, who seemed lost in thought, her brow furrowed, her usual vibrant energy dimmed. He could tell that she had questions of her own. The night, which had started with such promise, had taken a sharp turn into unsettling territory.

The drive was tense and silent. Despite his aunt’s reassurances, Mark couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. He gripped the steering wheel, his mind replaying the scene at the house.

That guy, Vizi...

“You okay?” Ria’s voice broke through his thoughts.

“I’m fine, just a bit overwhelmed.”

“You don’t have to pretend with me. I can tell you’re worried about her.”

“I am. I’ve never seen her so ... rattled.”

“I understand,” Ria said, squeezing his hand. “But she seems strong, Mark. She can handle herself.”

“She is but I can’t help but worry. Something’s not right.”

“I get it, trust me, I do,” Ria said, her voice soft. “But sometimes, the best thing you can do for someone is just be there for them. Let them know you support them. Give them the time and space they need to process things.”

Mark considered her words, “Yeah, maybe you’re right. It’s just ... that guy ... he gave me the creeps.”

“Just give it time. Don’t push her. She’ll tell you when she’s ready.”

Her words cleared his mind a bit, loosening the tight knot in his chest. Yeah, she’s got a point. Badgering Lida won’t do any good. He just had to have faith in her, knowing she’d confide when she was ready.

They drove in silence for a few more minutes, the city lights blurring past, each lost in their own thoughts.

Mark started to turn towards Ria’s neighborhood, but she stopped him. “Not that way. My stuff’s at the dorm.”

“Right...” he frowned, changing direction. “But I thought your parents lived nearby. Why not stay with them?”

“I like it better there,” she shrugged. “My parents can be a bit... too much.”

Mark nodded, understanding the need for space. He kinda wanted to dig into her past, her family, all that coven stuff before they hooked up, but decided against it. Something told him it would only lead to more questions than answers, and honestly tonight had been eventful enough.

“Are you really okay with this?” Ria asked after a while, breaking the comfortable silence.

“With what?”

“With all this,” she vaguely gestured between them. “Me moving in. It’s happening fast.”

Mark chuckled. “Honestly, with everything going on, it hadn’t hit me until now.”

“Well, now that is has...” she prompted, her eyes searching his. “What do you think?”

“What about you?” he volleyed back. “How do you feel about it?”

“I don’t know. It’s all happening so fast. “ she admitted, her brow furrowing slightly. “It’s crazy, right? We met just few days back, and yet...” She paused, her eyes searching his. “It feels right. Natural, somehow.”

He thought about the past few weeks with Ria – the laughter, the passion, the whirlwind of emotions, the easy companionship, the way she made him feel.

“You know what?” he said, a smile spreading across his face. “I feel the same way.”

“Are you sure? You don’t have to say that just to make me feel better.”

“I’m sure,” he insisted, meeting her gaze. “I still have doubts, about the bond, about everything. But ... it feels good, Ria. Being with you. It feels right.”

“I’m glad,” she said, a soft smile gracing her lips.

“So, does this make us a dysfunctional Brady Bunch? You, me, and my crazy aunt?”

Ria swatted his arm playfully. “You’re such a dork.”

Mark followed Ria into her dorm room, surprised by how ... normal it looked. It was small but cozy, with a brightly colored rug on the floor and posters plastered across the walls. As he’d expected, the room was tidy, everything in its place, a stark contrast to his own messy den. Just as I pictured it.

“Make yourself comfortable,” Ria said, dropping her bag onto the floor. “Give me ten minutes to pack, and I’ll be ready.”

Mark nodded, his gaze drawn to the posters on the wall. He recognized them from his visit to her parents’ house.

“These look cool,” he commented, walking closer to get a better look. “Who are they?”

“Just some of my favorite bands,” she replied, pulling clothes from her closet and stuffing them into a duffel bag.

“Never heard of them.”

“They’re classic rock. From the sixties, seventies ... the good stuff.”

“The old stuff,” he corrected, grinning. “Your music taste is ancient.”

“Hey, there’s a reason they call it classic rock,” she retorted. “These guys made some epic music. Timeless hits. They are legends.”

“Yeah, legends who are six feet under. Along with their fans. Except for you, apparently.”

She threw a T-shirt at him. “You have no taste.”

“Ouch,” Mark said, clutching his chest dramatically. “That hurts. At least I can understand the lyrics without needing a hearing aid.”

“You’re impossible,” she shook her head, grinning. “Now, are you going to help me pack, or are you just going to stand there making fun of my music?”

“Both?” Mark grinned, but he moved to help her fold clothes and pack them neatly into her bag. As he worked, his gaze fell on a framed photograph on her dresser.

“Whoa, look at you,” he chuckled, holding up the picture.

It’s a family picture of a younger Ria, standing between her parents, all three smiling broadly. Ria was barely recognizable, her hair styled in pigtails, her smile bright and innocent.

“Oh my god, put that away.”

“When was this taken?”

“High school graduation,” Ria mumbled, trying to snatch the picture from his hand.

“You look so cute,” he teased. “I bet you were a real troublemaker back then.”

“I’ll have you know I was a straight-A student.”

“Sure you were. And I’m the King of England.”

“Just pack, Mark,” Ria said, snatching the photo back and placing it on the dresser. “Let’s just finish packing and get out of here.”

But Mark wasn’t ready to let go just yet. He sneaked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, nuzzling his face into her hair.

“I bet you miss wearing that school uniform.”

“Not really.”

“Come on,” he teased, his fingers tracing the curve of her hip. “Short skirt, tight blouse, knee-high socks...”

“It was itchy and uncomfortable. And the skirt was way too short. I was always worried about flashing someone.”

“That’s the best part,” Mark said, his grin widening.

“You’re shameless,” Ria laughed, shaking her head. “I’ll wear whatever you want. Just let me pack.”

“Promise?”

“Promise,” Ria replied, turning to face him. “Now, get out. You’re distracting me.”

“I can help...”

“You’ll just end up distracting me,” she said, rolling her eyes. “And then we’ll never get out of here. Go wait outside. Five minutes.”

He gave her one last squeeze, his lips brushing against her ear. “Hurry up,” he whispered. “I’ve got plans for you.”

Ria giggled, pushing him away playfully. “Go! Pervert”

Mark stepped out into the hallway, a smile playing on his lips. Mark leaned against the wall, his mind a jumble of thoughts. Someone else living in the house. It’s been just me and Lida for so long. It was exciting, yeah, but also a little terrifying. This whole relationship with Ria was moving at warp speed. He was falling for her, falling hard and fast, but sometimes he felt like he was barely keeping up. Moving in together. That’s a big step. What if it didn’t work out? What if the bond faded, and they were left with nothing but awkward silences and broken promises?

He could already picture the potential chaos.

“Hey, Romeo.”

Mark looked up to see Sarah standing in the hallway, her arms crossed, a playful smirk on her lips. “What are you doing lurking out here?”

“Just getting back from class,” she replied. “What about you? Waiting for your princess?”

“Something like that.”

“Aw, how sweet. Can’t bear to be away from each other for five minutes?”

“It’s not like that,” he said. “She’s just getting ready, and I offered to...”

“To stand guard outside her door like a lovesick puppy?”

“Shut up, Sarah.”

“Just messing with you,” she laughed. “But seriously, you two seem really happy. It’s kinda cute, actually.” She glanced at Ria’s door, then back at Mark. “So, when’s the wedding?”

“We just started dating, Sarah.”

“Details, details,” she said, waving her hand dismissively. “Just give me a heads-up so I can start shopping for bridesmaid dresses.”

“And why do you assume you’ll be the bridesmaid?” Mark teased.

“She better pick me, or I’ll kill her.”

“Seriously?”

“Of course. It’s a matter of principle.”

“You’re a terrible friend.”

“Priorities, Mark, priorities.” Then, leaning closer, she lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Hey, if you ever get tired of Miss Perfect, you know where to find me.”

Just then, Ria emerged from her room, a duffel bag slung over one shoulder, a backpack on the other. “Sarah, will you stop trying to steal my boyfriend for five seconds?”