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Chapter 20: The Black Fox Will Stay "Fine," Iris concedes, standing up and stretching with deliberate slowness. Her tight witch outfit clings to her in distracting ways, and she knows it. She offers me her hand with a smile that’s all mischief. "Need help getting up?" "Uh, yeah." I awkwardly maneuver myself while supporting Luna, finding myself sandwiched between them again as soon as we’re upright. Luna steadies herself on my arm, her warm body melting against my side. Iris tugs me forward, dragging me along at her pace. "Let’s get you two back to the academy before Luna melts into a puddle," she says with a wicked grin. We leave the ravaged training grounds behind, the magical aftermath slowly fading as we make our way through the forest. Luna is silent beside me, her head resting against my shoulder while Iris struts ahead, humming contentedly to herself. "So, where are you staying?" I ask Luna once we’re closer to the academy buildings. She blinks up at me, genuine confusion in her eyes. "Staying?" "Yeah," I say slowly. "Your dorm room?" She looks at me like I’ve just asked her to solve a complex puzzle without any pieces. "Not...sure." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚 I stop dead in my tracks. "You mean—wait, do you even have a place to sleep?" Luna tilts her head slightly, and I can see her mind working through what seems to be a puzzle. "Forest," she finally declares, her voice matter-of-fact. "I sleep there." I stare at her, trying to process the statement. "You mean...you’ve been sleeping outside? In the forest?" Luna nods, as if this is the most normal thing in the world. Iris lets out a snort of laughter. "Your dedication is impressive," she says, genuine amusement lacing her words. "But I guess that explains the wild-animal vibe." I picture it: Luna curled up in the cold, dirt for a mattress and sky for a blanket. I shiver at the thought. "No way you’re sleeping out there again," I say firmly. "You’re staying with us tonight." Iris’s head whips around so fast I think she might sprain something. "Excuse me?" she squeaks, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "We have plenty of room," I tell Luna, ignoring the murderous glare from Iris. "It’s just until we figure out something more permanent." Luna blinks, processing my offer with wide eyes. "With you?" "It’ll be fun!" I say, trying to sound more confident than I feel under Iris’s impending wrath. Luna’s lips twitch like she’s about to smile, and she nods in agreement. Her tail gives an involuntary swish of excitement. Iris stomps back to us, her expression a stormy mix of outrage and disbelief. She plants herself firmly in front of me, arms crossed and eyes blazing. "You’re inviting her to stay with us?" she fumes, sounding like I’ve just suggested setting the place on fire. "With us?" I give her my best placating smile. "Just for one night." Iris’s ears twitch with irritation, and her tail puffs out like an angry cloud. "You realize she’ll never want to leave, right? We might as well adopt a stray." Luna holds tighter, like she’s already claiming her spot, and Iris’s jaw tightens. "She’s in trouble," I say calmly, trying to coax some understanding into Iris’s stubborn head. "We should help her." Iris’s eyes narrow to slits, and her voice drops to a dangerous whisper. "Help her? Or let her steal you away?" Luna’s ears perk up at the accusation, but she stays glued to my side, unflinching. "No one’s stealing anything," I try to assure Iris, though it sounds weak under her fiery gaze. "She’s already latched on like a tick," Iris snaps, gesturing at Luna with a furious wave. "You think she’ll stop there?" Luna looks between us, her face calm but her grip ironclad. "Not a tick," she states, as if clarifying a simple fact. Iris lets out a sharp laugh, void of humor. "She doesn’t even deny it! Luke, she’s playing innocent so you’ll lower your guard." "Next, she’ll say she’s not trying to fuck you," Iris growls, her ears flattening against her head. Luna stays silent, pressing closer against me with an innocent look that only fuels Iris’s rage. "You hear that?" Iris continues, her voice shrill with accusation. "She didn’t deny it! She’s totally planning on seducing you with this damsel-in-distress act!" I squirm under the intensity of her glare, but Luna’s unwavering presence keeps me from collapsing into a puddle of panic. "She thinks if she clings to you long enough, you’ll bend to her every whim," Iris asserts, eyes flashing with fury. "I bet she’ll crawl right into your bed!" "Or yours," Luna says quietly, finally breaking her silence with a jab that makes Iris’s mouth fall open. Iris sputters for a moment, clearly not expecting any resistance. Then she narrows her eyes and leans in close, her voice dripping voice a venomous hiss. "You think I’m going to let you worm your way into our lives that easily?" Luna’s golden eyes meet Iris’s unwaveringly. "Yes." I hold my breath, waiting for the explosion. But instead, Iris lets out a strangled sound, somewhere between a growl and a sigh, and backs off slightly. "Luke!" she protests, as if I’m her last line of defense against this invasion. "She’s coming with us," I say, bracing for impact. "Like it or not." Iris stares at me, open-mouthed and furious, but something in my expression makes her pause. Her eyes flick to Luna, who still clings to me like it’s a life-or-death situation. She lets out an exasperated noise and throws her hands up in defeat. "Fine!" Iris snaps, spinning on her heel. "Luke. You’re mine. You’ll always be mine, no matter how many strays you pick up." Luna stays silent this time, her grip steady and her eyes holding a quiet confidence. I half expect her to argue, but she just presses against me with determination. "Let’s just get home," I say, hoping to defuse the tension before Iris decides to explode again. The walk back is a strange blend of tense and surreal. Iris stalks ahead like an offended cat, her tail flicking in irritation as she mutters under her breath. Luna clings to me, her silence somehow louder than all of Iris’s complaints combined. By the time we reach our place, the air between us is thick with unspoken words and unresolved tension. I fumble with the keys while trying not to trip over my own feet—or theirs—and finally manage to get the door open. Iris storms in first, throwing her coat onto a chair with dramatic flair. "Make yourself at home," she says, a poisonous sweetness in her voice. "Luke’s already done that for you." Luna follows me inside, her eyes sweeping over the place like she’s assessing new territory. She takes everything in with an expression that’s just this side of wonder. "Couch or...?" I start to offer, but Luna cuts me off with a decisive shake of her head. "With you," she repeats, making it sound like an immovable fact of nature. Iris lets out another strangled noise, somewhere between a scream and a laugh. "You see this? You see what I have to deal with?" She throws herself onto the couch, arms crossed, muttering about strays and divine punishment as if they’re one and the same. Luna tilts her head at Iris’s sprawling form but doesn’t say anything. Instead, she turns to me and states, "Bed." I sigh, sensing the storm that’s about to break. "Let’s get you some spare clothes first," I say, hoping to stall the impending meltdown. Luna nods. Iris doesn’t. "Spare clothes?" Iris echoes, her voice a mix of outrage and disbelief. "You’re really going all out, aren’t you?" "It’s just for one night," I remind her, trying to inject some calm into my frazzled nerves. "One night too many," Iris mutters, but she stands up anyway and stomps towards the closet. She rummages around and throws a t-shirt and some shorts at Luna with a look that says ’die’ Luna catches it effortlessly, holding it like a trophy. Her unwavering expression almost makes me laugh—almost. "This way," I say, leading Luna toward my room before Iris can escalate into full-blown war mode. Iris’s footsteps thud behind us. Luna enters my room, and her eyes fall on the bed with a look of pure wonder. She stands there, hypnotized by its comfiness, like it’s the first time she’s ever seen anything softer than dirt. It’s cute, and I can’t help but smile. Without warning, Luna starts taking her clothes off, her movements steady and unashamed. "Whoa, wait a second!" I yelp, trying to avert my eyes as fabric hits the floor. My heart does this weird flip-flop thing when I glance back and see her standing there completely naked.