Iridea returned to the table where her friends were laughing and chatting, their voices a welcome distraction from the scene she had just witnessed.
"Was that Nullen?" her best friend, Zephyra, asked, her emerald eyes narrowing as she glanced toward the rooftop.
"Nope," Iridea said, forcing a light tone. "Didn't see him. Maybe I followed the wrong guy."
Zephyra tilted her head, eyebrows furrowing. "Really? I could've sworn it was him."
"Guess you saw wrong," Iridea said with a shrug, reaching for her glass. She took a long sip, the cool liquid easing the tightness in her throat. She wasn't about to share what she had seen ,not now, not ever.
Before Zephyra could press further, a ripple of voices and laughter swept through the crowd. Cassian and Nullen strolled back to their table, their expressions as casual as ever, as if nothing had happened.
Nullen didn't even look in Iridea's direction.
Fine, she thought, eyes drifting back to her friends. If he could pretend nothing happened, so could she.
Ignoring Nullen's presence, Iridea threw herself into the conversation, forcing laughter, her smile just a little too bright. But Zephyra's watchful eyes lingered on her, suspicion clouding her gaze.
What Iridea didn't know was that the moment Nullen returned to their table, his gaze scanned the room, searching for her.
His eyes flicked over the crowd, pausing when he caught a glimpse of Iridea sitting with her friends. Unintentionally, his gaze lingered in her direction.
Cassian noticed and smirked. "Looking out for your princess?"
Nullen scoffed, leaning back in his seat. "She's not a princess, according to her."
Cassian chuckled, but the laughter died down when Celest, who had been sitting with them the whole time, rose to her feet. There was a tightness in her expression, her eyes glancing briefly at Nullen, as if waiting for him to say something.
"I'm heading out," Celest said, her voice forced casual. "Got things to do."
Cassian tilted his head. "Already? The night's just getting started."
Celest's eyes flicked to Nullen. He said nothing, his gaze fixed on his glass.
"Take care, Celest," Cassian said, offering a warm smile.
Celest forced a smile back, but it was tight, strained. She walked away, her shoulders tense, feeling Nullen's gaze burning into her back , except it wasn't. His eyes had wandered back to where Iridea sat, laughing with her friends.
---
In Iridea's Table:
Laughter echoed around the table as Iridea and her friends played a lighthearted game of truth or dare. The group's charms glowed with bright yellows and soft pinks, reflecting the joy and amusement they felt.
But Iridea's Emotex Watch remained hidden under her sleeve, its colors swirling with mixed emotions she didn't care to reveal.
"Irid, truth or dare?" Zephyra asked, her grin mischievous.
"Truth," Iridea said, leaning back in her seat.
"Ugh, boring!" one of the girls groaned, and the group laughed.
The game continued, each turn more daring than the last. When the bottle pointed back at Iridea, she hesitated for a moment before saying, "Dare."
Her friends exchanged devious looks. Zephyra leaned in, eyes gleaming. "Alright, I dare you to sit on the lap of the most attractive guy in the room for five seconds."
Iridea's eyes widened. "What kind of dare is that?"
The group burst into laughter, their charms glowing a bright yellow.
"Oh, come on! It's just five seconds!" Zephyra said, nudging her playfully.
"But who's the most attractive guy here?" another friend teased, her eyes scanning the room.
At the other table, Cassian chuckled. "Looks like they're having a lot of fun over there."
Nullen's jaw tightened. He wasn't watching his table anymore; his gaze had shifted to where Iridea sat, surrounded by her laughing friends.
Iridea stood up, her eyes scanning the room for a suitable target. Her friends watched her expectantly, some giggling, some whispering.
She spotted a guy at a nearby table ,handsome, approachable, but not as striking as Nullen. Perfect.
The guy was sitting next to Nullen and Cassian, his posture relaxed but now slightly tense as he noticed her approaching. Orion Mace. He was one of Nullen's friends, a genuinely nice guy who knew exactly who Iridea was ,Nullen's fiancée.
Cassian's brows shot up, a grin spreading across his face. "Oh, this is gonna be good."
Nullen's eyes narrowed as Iridea approached. He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, jaw clenched.
Iridea stopped in front of Orion, her expression calm but determined. "Mind if I sit here?" she asked, her eyes meeting his.
Orion's eyes widened slightly, his gaze darting to Nullen, then back to Iridea. "Uh…" He swallowed, clearly uneasy. "Well, I guess… if it's part of the dare."
Cassian snorted, struggling to contain his laughter. "Oh, man! This is gold!"
Nullen's jaw tightened, his eyes darkening as he watched Iridea lower herself onto Orion's lap.
Orion sat rigid, his hands hovering awkwardly, not knowing where to place them. "Uh, comfortable?" he asked, his grin forced and uneasy.
"One… two… three…" her friends counted, their laughter echoing through the room.
Cassian continued to laugh, nudging Nullen with his elbow. "Dude, she's got guts."
Nullen said nothing, his eyes boring into Iridea and Orion, his grip tightening around his glass.
"Four… five!"
Iridea immediately stood up, brushing her dress as if nothing had happened. "Thanks," she said, her tone polite and cool.
Orion exhaled, a bit relieved, glancing at Nullen apologetically. "Uh, no problem… Miss Solenne."
Cassian burst out laughing. "Miss Solenne? Dude, you're so formal!"
Orion's ears flushed, and he forced a sheepish grin. "Just… trying to be respectful."
Nullen said nothing, his eyes never leaving Iridea as she walked back to her table, her head held high.
Cassian leaned toward Nullen, his grin mischievous. "You okay, man? You look like you're about to kill someone."
Nullen picked up his drink, taking a long, slow sip. "I'm fine," he said, voice flat. But his eyes remained fixed on Iridea's back, his jaw clenched so tight it hurt.
Nullen's eyes followed Iridea as she made her way toward their table. He already knew it was just a dare ,her charm was swirling with vibrant yellows and pinks, typical for playful embarrassment.
Before she could go through with it, Nullen stood up abruptly, his jaw clenched. He strode toward Iridea's table, his presence immediately drawing the attention of her friends.
Iridea looked up, meeting his cold, piercing gaze.
"Outside. Let's talk," Nullen said, his tone firm and unyielding.
Iridea crossed her arms, a defiant look flashing in her eyes. "No. I'm still having fun."
Nullen's jaw tightened, his eyes darkening. "Now, Iridea."
The authority in his voice sent a chill through the group. Zephyra's eyes widened, glancing nervously between them.
Iridea rolled her eyes, letting out an exaggerated sigh. "Fine."
Nullen turned and headed for the exit without another word. Iridea followed, her heels clicking against the marble floor as her friends whispered behind her.
---
Outside - Parking Lot
The cold night air hit them as they stepped outside. Nullen didn't stop until they reached his car. He leaned against the passenger door, arms crossed over his chest, eyes cold as he stared at her.
Iridea huffed, rubbing her arms to ward off the chill. "You're such a party popper."
"What was that inside?" Nullen's voice was low but sharp, his eyes fixed on her.
Iridea shrugged, feigning indifference. "It was just a dare."
Nullen's eyes narrowed. "A dare?"
"Yes, a dare," Iridea said, her tone defiant. "Not like I kissed the guy or anything."
Nullen's jaw clenched. "You just told me to stay 'loyal' and 'clean' in public eyes, yet you're over there trying to sit on some random guy's lap?"
Iridea crossed her arms, her chin jutting defiantly. "Why are you so affected? It's not like we're a real couple. And it's not like you haven't been cozy with Celest."
Nullen stepped closer, his eyes dark and intense. "You're my fiancée. Act like it."
"Why? You certainly don't," Iridea shot back. "You can do whatever you want, but when it's me, suddenly I have to behave like your obedient little doll?"
"Behave, Iridea Solenne," Nullen said, his voice dangerously calm. "Or do you want me to tell our families that their precious princess is busy playing truth or dare, sitting on other men's laps?"
Iridea's jaw clenched, her eyes flashing. "Go ahead. Tell them. See if I care."
The tension between them hung heavy in the air. Neither of them moved, neither willing to back down.