28. Meeting After Rain.

"That's why I didn't know whether I liked Elian or I just simply admired him for being the perfect alpha in my eyes." Vincent trails off, looking over to me and interlocking his fingers on his lap, "I realized that I liked him later on."

I sit without moving or even scared to breathe because I may destroy the tranquility around the man in front of me.

Strangely, it feels as though Vincent is coming out to me but with more complicated details like alpha, delta…

And I don't feel so forgiving. I feel constricted inside, something heated swirling inside my stomach. Maybe it's Adian's feeling, somewhere in this body that he is rejecting such talks about his husband.

I gulp, moving my jaw, and suddenly realize that there is a biscuit in my mouth. How long have I been keeping it in my mouth? I clear my throat, which breaks the momentum, and quickly chew the contents of my mouth.

"Then he met his mate? Is it Adian?" I ask.

"No, then I met his mate and I woke up from my dream. It wasn't you. It was Someone else... before you."

"Oh." I mumble, finding no words to reply to the severity of his statement. Joblessly, I look down at the sad crumbling piece of biscuit on the side of my cup saucer.

"It's a complete miracle, all in all, that he has kept you around despite all the secret retaliation The Drane Family has been receiving."

"He is not keeping me around. We live together and I know for sure that I don't care about such talk going on behind our backs."

"I can't possibly agree but I see that he's keeping a tighter leash on you nowadays." He points one lazy figure towards my neck.

Yes, that's right.

Elian had asked me to wear a high winding tie that properly covered my neck even before I stepped out of the threshold and he was very adamant about it.

I set the cup down with a frown,

"I don't know what that has to do with my marriage or with the Earl."

"Do you now? The reason you have not been ousted by society is that perfect story that surrounds you and your marriage. Fated mates and a pretty looking one at that. Would you mind telling me whether you guys are even bonded? Have you guys slept with each other?"

"That's my private matter. Keep your long ugly nose out of it, the boogers would fall in please."

I can see his nostrils flare in anger at my statement and he whips his head away towards the window and his hair moves, falling into his shoulders.

"Thank you." I say suggestively at his snotty rejection and a small laugh arises out of me, "How kind of you."

Vincent gives me the most scratching glare he can manage, shaking his head at my words and then he mumbles, 'I cannot believe this' to himself, fiddling with the handle of his cup.

"You sound a lot like you haven't woken up from your dream though."

This time, it's my turn to taunt as I lean back on the back of my chair.

Behind me, I could hear the soft chatter of Maria and the suited companion that came with Vincent. Their voices are soft, barely distinguishable and their conversation doesn't sound much interesting to me

"Some things take time, Adian. Like your promiscuous habits."

"Well, that's...undeniable but I see no point in hating my guts. I don't think it does anything for yourself or for Elian who is completely fine with me." I snidely remark back at him and down the last gulp of my tea. I set it down with a relinquished smile, "The past may have been bad but I see no point in living in the past."

"Don't act so cheeky, you might get unwanted enemies." Vincent observes as he stands up, putting on his coat, "You always have tricks up your sleeves."

"The rain has stopped." I observe, ignoring his statement and staring out of the window. A few minutes before, I realized the absence of the white noise.

Seeing no need to further linger around, we head out of the shop as soon as we manage to collect our things. A quick flip of the pocket watch that is tucked away in the pocket of my black pants and it has just struck twelve-thirty in the afternoon. Quite early.

The rain clouds quickly slid away after doing what was needed, making way for the bold flashes of sunlight to shine through the teardrops that hang off on the roof of the shops. It glistened in the sunlight unapologetically.

As we get nearer to the market, I realize that the market is back to being swarmed all over again like ants scrambling all over a drop of honey. The street glistens fresh with wetness and we slowly get nearer to the previous place where we were before the rain started.

Near the seafood stall, is a distinct familiar figure. I furrow my brows, squinting among the swarm of people.

"Is that…?" I murmur under my breath as I trudge up the slope of the pavement.

"Elian!" Vincent suddenly exclaims over me, immediately begging the latter's attention.

He is in his work clothes and seems quite alert in his sleek black linen coat which the front stops at his waist and white slacks. The sun falls on his eyes and he squints his eyes at us when he turns to look. Behind him, a familiar-looking guy loads up the fluttering sea animals into a wooden crate.

"Fancy meeting you here." Vincent coos as we reach up to where the vendor is. Vincent receives a distasteful look from the vendor but he brushes it off.

"Yes, very surprising." Elian throws over to his side but rather tilts his head over to me and gently brushes his finger over my right cheek. It's only a red and hardly swollen right now after applying something that Sir Dominic gave but I redden slightly at the contact under the scrutinizing gazes that I could feel on me.

"I thought that Maria went to buy such a hefty grocery without help so I decided to go tag along to see the situation of the town market."

"Liar." I mumble but it's more to myself so he doesn't hear it.

"You haven't written about meeting up." Vincent chides him, pushing a fist into his arm.

"Yes, I haven't. I am deciding how to go ahead with the situation with your brother."

"I will be sent off to a mission soon after a month. At the order of her Majesty's."

"Is that so? That's troubling. I'll think of a way to get around it." Elian reassures, finally turning his attention to me.

In a not-so-subtle way, he silently examines me, abruptly tilting over my neck and running his eyes all over. I redden, even more, feeling absolutely hotter by the second.

"I– I have a plan!" I squeak out in hurry and in embarrassment and Elian frowns at me again, grabbing my chin. I could see his eyes telling me to go on so I decide to just go along with me.

"Let's host a banquet!"