Chapter 131: Idle Chatter

As the minutes turned to hours, there was still no sign of a portal neither did Kai and Jane. 

Some got bored and decided to take a look around, while a few got curious and went up the stairs into the lair of the creature.

Ryu was still thinking of the possibility that Kai and Jane wouldn't make it. Or that they were stuck in the first islet, or maybe they'd already make it out alive, and they were in another sanctuary. 

With many of them in the Lost Islet of Tethy's, it was possible to have multiple sanctuaries to accommodate their numbers. 

Hope ticked in Ryu's heart, and he clung to the idea that it might be the case.

"Here," Seraphina said after the silence. In her hands were blue leather clothes with simple armor on each shoulder. "I ran an inventory check to see if I have clothes that would fit you. This is the only thing I have."

Seraphina ran over Ryu's torn garments. "It's better than being naked for the rest of the travel."

"Thanks," Ryu said and put on the clothes and armors Seraphina gave to him. Though he was fine being bare-chested, having clothes to protect his body from the weather was preferable. He didn't store extra clothes with him since he found them unnecessary. Now he knew how foolish he was. 

Ferris also forgot to remind him.

.. . Ferris. .. Ryu took one giant breath and let out in one long blast. He missed her. .. Right about now, she would pull a prank on him or tease him about going naked because he didn't bring any clothes, only to find out that she had brought everything he needed. 

The corners of Ryu's lips tugged into a small smile.

"Ah. Who are you thinking?" Seraphina asked, with her hands on her chin and eyes flickering like in a dream.

Ryu's eyes drifted onto Seraphina's face before he looked away. "No one."

"Is it Ferris?" 

Ryu's amber eyes glowed intensely, and Seraphina giggled.

"I knew it. Is she your mate? You mentioned her name many times."

".. ." Ryu opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before he shut them tight. 

.. .

.. .

The seconds stretched into eternity, and Ryu answered,

"No." he felt guilty for thinking more about Ferris than Cecily. Of course, he was worried about Cecily, but Ferris was his priority for now.

"Hmm. .. that must be complicated. I heard that beastfolk are devoted to their mate that they couldn't think of anyone else but them. But I guess being a halfbreed, you're not constricted to just your mate."

Whenever Ryu spoke Ferris's name, his eyes were a pool of devotion, bittersweet and salty. He must have been confused because of the mate bond.

Seraphina grinned, pearly white teeth on display. "What say you take me in as a mate too?"

Ryu looked at Seraphina with blank eyes, "Stop joking around." His long fingers ran through his short dark violet hair before it shifted back into place.

Seraphina's smile faltered. Looking at Ryu inside view. He had prominent cheekbones and a well-defined chin and nose. His sharp lips, which were always pressed tight, were very attractive and captivating. Backing up his lean muscles were his speed and strength. Every twitch and every contraction of his biceps and chest made her throat dry. 

His rugged features were alluring, and when he matured. .. Seraphina wet her parched throat. She wished she could be by his side when that time came.

Whoever was his mate, Seraphina couldn't help but be envious of having Ryu all to herself. But it wasn't entirely hopeless yet. If Ferris could swim in his heart and made a permanent residence there, then maybe, she too can. . .

Seraphina leaned and planted a soft whisper near Ryu's ear. "I'm not joking, though."

Seraphina knew Ryu held his breath, for she heard it ceased as he looked at her with his round amber eyes. His eyes were pools of warmth, inviting her to bathe in them. She leaned until she was just a breath away. . .

But the sound of metallic shoes against the stone floor brought their attention to the Demons and Elves who came down from the staircase.

Ryu pulled away and stood to his feet while Seraphina blinked with a face sprinkled with hues of red glitter. That was too close! What was she thinking?! She was here to find an item. Not to flirt around!

.. .

.. .

There was an awkward silence that hung between them, thick and hard to ignore. Seraphina wanted to hit herself for making it that way. Now what? 

Seraphina slid an eye at Ryu and found him looking around with the tip of his ears red, and her heart thumped hard against her chest.

Maybe it wasn't wishful thinking after all. .. perhaps she and he could really be. .. Seraphina shook her head and bitterly smiled at herself for thinking that way. There was no way that would happen because Ryu had already found his mate, and she, too, was destined to be with someone else.

"Should we go upstairs and take a look?" Ryu reached a hand to Seraphina. His face was back to being stoic, and his ears were no longer red while his lips were pressed tight.

Seraphina took his hand and beamed, though there was a tight feeling in her chest. "Yes. Let's go," she said in a jolly voice and faked a smiling face. 

This was what their relationship should be. This was for the best.

For both of them. . .

Ryu and Seraphina approached the stairs with quiet feet. They didn't mind the rambling of the others of how the things upstairs were just a bunch of junk.

The two demons who came down from the stairs took a second look at Ryu and Seraphina when they were gone. The both of them then looked at each other with a warped grin on their faces.

Since they were the most powerful beings in this Sanctuary, no one could stop them if they wanted to do something. It had been a long time since they tasted human flesh and a halfbreed as her only guard made her an easy prey.