Concealed Love

Chapter -44 " Men in love are all dogs"

         After Iri and Jace left, Ella and Al were left alone in the living room. The room was warm and they were sitting comfortably.

With their hands clasped together Al rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb and said, " Ella? What do you think of fighting the demons? "

Ella thought that he was asking for her plan and casually replied to him, " I'm fine with whatever you guys planned on."

Al frowned a bit and said a bit worriedly, " Then what do you think of fighting your brother, you know we'll have to fight him right? "

She knew and had already made up her mind, she wanted to understand her brother even though she don't know the first thing about him, she wanted to talk to him about the days when they were together and also about their parents but she also knew that she had to choose a side and if it come to it she knew that she'll always be on Al's side, she'll always be on the opposite side from the demons.

She knew she was also a demon and that she'll have to fight her own race, her only brother even though it's only in name and not by blood but she just couldn't overlook all the things they had taken from her, the kingdom where she called home, the humans she considered a family and even her mother and her most beloved Al.

And now that he's back safe and sound she was not going to risk losing him ever again. If it means securing his future in place of a brother who is fighting for her throat than her choice was obvious to her.

After a short silence she spoke, " I know the risks but if it can guarantee even a small amount of higher safety chances for you and Iri than I'm ready for whatever and whoever I have to go against. "

Al smiled and said, " Thank you for caring for me and if that's your decision that I'll go with that but Ella I want you to know that you are important to me, to us so your safety also matters a lot, you should consider your safety above all else okay? "

She smiled and nod her head, " I will. "

" Good. By the way do you have any plans for the day after tomorrow? " Al asked her looking down at her face, they were sitting side by side, hands intertwined.

Ella also looked up at him and said, " Not any that I know of, why? "

Al raise both of their hands on their elbows and said with a cheerfully tone, " Than do you wanna go out with me? We can let them have the house for themselves in the mean time. "

She smiled with her eyes squinted and said, " Wow aren't you just good at making opportunities."

He made a worried face and said, " You don't wanna? "

When he made that face Ella could never say no nor tease him further so she gave in, " I'd love to. Where will we go? "

He happily kissed the back of her hand that was bound with his and said, " Leave that up to me. "

Ella chuckled and said, " Yes big baby."

Al pretended to pout and Ella laughed looking at him acting like a child, " Oh the guys are coming tomorrow right? Are there some things I can help with? "

He smiled and said, " Well since you offered can you show them around the house? I don't think I can entertain them. "

She looked at him and said, " And you think I can do a better job? " Honestly both of them weren't much of a talker.

They both chuckled at themselves and Al said, " Well than shall we do it together? "

Ella liked the idea better, " Well we can do that. " They agreed upon it. Ella was a home person and she'd been staying at his place long enough that she knew the way around the house like it was her own.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The next day the usual friends arrived at his place, Simon had visited before but it was the first for Dane and Minerva but while giving the house tour Simon also followed them.

Iri was helping Sira in the kitchen and Jace offered to help them there.

While showing them around the house Simon commented, " Ella has properly become the mistress of the house hasn't she. " And they all tease her and laughed.

She blushed a little and act unaffected but they all knew she was shy and just pretending to be tough making her more adorable for them to tease.

Minerva asked, " By the way Ella are you still searching for a place? I know a great place with a good deal nearby here but if you are planning to stay here than pretend you didn't hear me. " She joined in the teasing and the others laugh along.

The thought about searching for a home had completely left her mind, these days she had been feeling so comfortable and so at home that she didn't even remember to search for one.

She shook her head at her own clumsiness for getting so cozy that she even forget that it was not her place and spoke up stuttering a bit, " I.. I will look at it later. You can show me. "

Simon reach out to pat the head of the adorable woman trying so hard to appear tough but before he reached her head, unknown to anyone but Dane and Simon Al slapped his hand away softly and lead the others away.

Simon looked at Al with a stunned face and then turn to Dane and whispered, " Did you see that? How can he get that possessive? "

Dane answered back, " Well it's your own fault for trying to touch his woman. "

Simon glared at him for taking the others side and said with a pout, " Men in love are all dogs loyal only to their own lovers and forgetting their friends. How can he change that much, before he would not even look towards a woman and spend all his time with us. "

When he finished Dane had already went towards the others and said, " Are you coming? "

Simon pouted further and said, " Yes yes, all men are dogs, except for me. " He mumbled to himself and followed them along.

It was late evening and they were having barbecue out in the garden. The guys took turns preparing them and the girls sat on the chairs and chatted.

Minerva asked Iri, " Hey Iri, is Jace okay these days? "

Iri felt bad for lying to her but she could not talk about it so she said, " Yes he's okay, he was sick with a fever recently so his mood hasn't come back much yet. "

" Oh, so that's why, he just hasn't been around lately and doesn't look his usual cheerful self so I thought something happened. But hey, are you guys dating? " She quickly turned to Ella and asked her as well, " You and Aldrich too, is something going on? How can you not share anything with me? " Minerva acted mad.

Iri quickly denied and said, " We're not dating, i was just looking after him because he was sick and had no one to take care of him so I took pity on him. " She tried to defend herself from being exposed and the other two laughed making her feel even more bashful.

Minerva said, " Okay, okay, what about you Ella? "

Ella was much calmer and said absentmindedly, " We are not going out yet. "

Iri and Minerva both got closer to her and grinned, " Yet? So you guys are gonna soon? "

" What's gonna happen soon?" Al came up with a plate full of grilled meat and paced them up front.

The girls turned to him and Ella quickly said, " None, nothing. "

Al got more suspicious, he leaned down towards her grabbed her chin softly making her look up at him and asked, " Why are you acting so suspiciously. "

Ella retorted, "I'm not, it really was nothing important. " She refused to meet his eyes and looked away.

Al let go of her and said while patting her head gently, " Okay, eat them while they're hot and fatten yourself up for tomorrow. "

She glared at him and he smile ruffling her had and walked away.

As soon as he was far enough the two girls pooped up in front of Ella's face and asked, " What was that, flirting so openly, are you sure you're not dating? " And Iri added, " Yeah yeah, and what's that for tomorrow about tell us Ella. "

Ella pushed the two girls away and grumpily said, " Nothing is going on, we're just going somewhere tomorrow. "

They looked at her suspiciously and said, " Fine, we'll let you off for today but tell us everything when you get back. "

The didn't move before she said, " Okay okay, I'll tell you guys if something happens. "

They smiled and said, " Good. "

After that the guys joined them and they talked all day.