Eva rolls her eyes. “Are you going to tell us what’s going on?”
Nat nods. “Yes, but not in the corridor.”
“Where, then?” I ask.
“We’ve all got a free period, right?” Nat asks.
We all nod in response.
“Then let’s head back to the dorms for this.”
Eva and I exchange concerned glances, as Nat seems oddly serious.
“You can’t tell us in the common room?” I ask.
Nat shakes her head. “Too many people about.” She links her arm with mine. “Come on. You want to find out? Stop stalling.”
I let Nat drag me back toward the dorms and in through the carded entrance, Adrianna and Eva following close behind. Once we’re in Nat’s room, she turns to us and lets out a long sigh.
“What is it?” I ask, eager to find out.
She nods to the sofa in the corner. “You might want to sit down for this.”
I clench my jaw and take a seat, Eva and Adrianna following and sitting down next to me.
“Spill it, Nat,” Adrianna says.
“I’m engaged.”
My mouth practically drops to the floor. At least, it feels like it does. “What the fuck?”
Nat’s brow furrows. “I think the normal reaction is congratulations.”
“To who?” Adrianna asks, shaking her head.
“Elias, of course,” Eva says, as if we’re both being dim.
I shake my head. “No way, she may have slept with him, but marrying him…” I trail off when I see the look on Nat’s face.
“Eva is right. I’m engaged to Elias.”
“Are you insane?” I ask.
“Yeah, the guy has been a total asshole to you the entire time he’s attended SA,” Adrianna says.
She sits down on the edge of her bed and shakes her head. “A lot has happened that you don’t know, but he promises to make it up to me.”
“Right,” Adrianna says, unable to keep the sarcasm from her tone.
“I mean, he gave up his crown to Finn for me and my family. To protect us from something I can’t explain to you without putting them in danger.”
My brow furrows. “I wondered what the fuck that was all about.” I shake my head. “Although no one is listening to Finn, though. They don’t respect that asshole.”
“I think it is wonderful news, Nat. Congratulations,” Eva says.
I have to remind myself that until this year, Eva wasn’t here. She hasn’t witnessed the shit we’ve witnessed over the years. “I don’t know you’d say that if you’d attended the academy as long as we have.”
Adrianna nods. “I don’t think the things he’s done and the way he’s treated Nat are forgivable.”