Everyone looked at the guy who called himself Gary Benson.
"So why did you swallow a Speedy Dash Fish? Was it raw, or did you cook it first?" Sasha’s voice broke the silence. She took a step forward, her brow pulling into a tight line as her lungs pulled in a sharp draft of cool air.
"I swallowed it as instructed, and yes, it was raw, and very much alive." Gary Benson answered quickly.
"They made you swallow it?" Faye asked..
"No. I swallowed it on my own terms. After all, I bought it with my own money." Gary clarified, his voice trembling slightly as he pulled in a terrified gasp under her glare.
"The guy that sold it to you... how much did you give him?" Malo asked with a hint of curiosity.
Faye smacked the back of Malo’s head. Her hand swung fast through the air, the loud slap echoing off the mirrors as her breath burst from her nose in pure frustration.
"Ouch..." Malo whimpered, rubbing his sore spot while his shoulders slumped forward, his lungs letting out a soft, defeated huff.
"Are you stupid? You are supposed to be asking him how to spit out the fish he swallowed. Instead, you’re more worried about how much he paid. I swear on the Moon Goddess, if you say another word related to money, you will feel my wrath," Faye scolded him. Her voice cut through the room like a whip, her chest heaving with wild, furious gasps as her fists curled tight at her sides.
"I’m already feeling the wrath," he muttered softly. He kept his head down, his pulse hammering against his neck as his breathing stayed small and quiet.
Faye glared at him one more time, and Malo immediately shut up.
"Sasha, that Beast Morph book you created... does it have anything about removing a Beast after it merges with someone?" Faye asked, turning back to her beta, her jaw setting firm as her heart beat a rapid, anxious rhythm.
"No, it doesn’t."
"Now we have to ask Kiara if her so-called private vault has any books about the Beast Morphs." Faye muttered through her teeth, her lungs expanding with a tight, frustrated breath as she ran a hand through her hair.
Since it was late and everyone was heading home, they chained Gary up and locked him inside the gym’s storage room while Sensei kept watch over the gym.
When Faye got home, she found Princess playing a game on her computer. The pups were already asleep. The soft glow of the monitor lit up the dark room, Princess’s fingers tapping rapidly against the keys while her chest rose and fell in a steady, peaceful rhythm, the nursery completely quiet down the hall.
After taking a shower together, Faye noticed two new dresses hanging in the closet.
They hadn’t been there that morning.
"You went shopping today?" Faye asked as she climbed into bed. The mattress dipped softly under her weight, her lungs letting out a long, quiet exhale as she pulled the blanket up over her legs.
"No. Why do you ask?" Princess said, turning off her computer screen and stepping toward the bed, her eyes shining gently as her heart beat in a calm rhythm.
"I found two new dresses in the closet." Faye pointed out, turning her head on the pillow, her eyes watching her girlfriend with a soft curiosity.
"Oh, those are matching gowns for both of us. I ordered them a week ago, and they arrived today." Princess explained with a sweet smile, her posture relaxing completely as her chest swelled with a warm, easy breath.
"Wow, babe. Any special occasion?" Faye asked softly.
Faye immediately assumed Princess wanted to take her on a date. Her heart jumped a fast, joyful beat in her chest, her lungs pulling in a light, excited breath at the thought of a quiet night out.
"Yes. My grandfather’s birthday is this Saturday." Princess revealed smoothly, sliding under the heavy covers beside her.
Faye’s expression changed instantly. Her posture locked up straight in a single second, her breath catching violently in her throat as her eyes widened in complete shock.
"Don’t tell me you forgot," Princess said. She sat up slightly, her eyes locking onto Faye’s face as her pulse picked up a fast, sudden speed.
"Of course I forgot. Why would I have that information stored in my head? I’ve never even met that man, and I already hate him more than I hate pineapple on pizza," Faye said angrily. She sat up beside her, her lungs heaving with short, heated gasps as her jaw clamped tight.
"Well, we have to attend. I made a deal with Adam, and we’re both going." Princess insisted firmly, her voice dropping into an unyielding tone that made her chest expand with a sharp breath.
"Can’t you just go alone? After all, he’s your grandpa, not mine." Faye grumbled, her throat going dry as her pulse thuffed loudly in her ears, her arms crossing tightly over her chest.
"No. We’re going together as a couple. It’s not just about the birthday. It’s about showing him that I’m happier than I was after he cast me out." Princess declared, her eyes flashing with a deep, resolute heat while her heart hammered a strong beat against her ribs.
Princess turned off the bedroom lights and cuddled against her girlfriend. The dark room engulfed them, Princess’s arms wrapping securely around Faye’s waist, her face burying into her neck while her lungs pulled in a deep, comforting draft of air.
"I don’t want to go," Faye muttered. Her body slowly softened against Princess’s touch, her chest letting out a long, defeated sigh that relaxed her rigid shoulders. "But for you, I will."
"Thank you... I love you, babe." Princess whispered softly against her skin, her heart thumping a steady, content beat as her breathing slowed down.
"I love you too. By the way, your friend Kiara wants to be part of my inner circle." Faye added softly into the dark, her eyes staring up at the ceiling as her lungs worked in a slow, steady cadence.
"What does that mean?" Princess asked, still cuddling Faye. Her breath brushed warm against Faye’s collarbone, her pulse giving a small, curious jump in the quiet room.
Faye told Princess everything. Since they had agreed never to keep secrets from each other again, she left nothing out. Every word Kiara had said, Faye repeated. Her low voice filled the dark bedroom, her chest rising and falling in smooth, continuous waves as she spilled every single detail of the interaction at the gym.
Princess didn’t say much. She simply told Faye to get some sleep. Her body remained soft against Faye’s, her breath coming out in long, quiet exhales while her mind processed the heavy news.
The two girls slept peacefully through the night, side by side.
The next morning, Princess woke up with a cold. Her chest heaved with a heavy, raspy breath, her small nose completely blocked as a quiet, miserable groan escaped her throat, her body shivering under the thick sheets.