Chapter 92
The change did not stay hidden for long.
It could not.
Not when it was this obvious.
Alvira walked beside Zack through the main corridor later that day, their steps unhurried, their shoulders brushing lightly every now and then as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Because now—
It was.
Their hands were not tightly held.
Not constantly.
But every now and then, their fingers found each other without thinking.
And neither of them pulled away.
Servants noticed.
Guards noticed.
But most importantly—
Their friends noticed.
Hiccup was the first.
Of course he was.
He leaned lazily against one of the pillars in the training yard, Lisa beside him, both of them mid-conversation when his eyes landed on the two approaching figures.
And then—
He went completely still.
Hiccup said, "Wait."
Lisa blinked.
Lisa said, "What."
Hiccup straightened slowly, squinting slightly as if he needed to confirm what he was seeing.
Hiccup said, "No… no way."
Lisa followed his gaze.
And the moment she saw them—
Her expression changed immediately.
From confusion—
To realization.
To something close to excitement.
Lisa said, "Oh."
Hiccup let out a short breath, running a hand through his hair.
Hiccup said, "Oh."
They were close now.
Too close to deny anything.
Zack's hand brushed against Alvira's again.
She did not move away.
Instead—
Her fingers curled lightly into his.
Natural.
Effortless.
Hiccup let out a quiet laugh under his breath.
Hiccup said, "So this is happening."
Lisa nudged him lightly.
Lisa said, "It has been happening. You are just slow."
Hiccup said, "No, I noticed. I just did not think it would—"
He stopped himself as Zack and Alvira finally reached them.
Zack raised a brow slightly.
Zack said, "You did not think it would what."
Hiccup crossed his arms, a grin forming despite himself.
Hiccup said, "Become this obvious."
Alvira felt a small warmth rise to her face.
Lisa stepped forward immediately, her eyes moving between the two of them with clear curiosity.
Lisa said, "So are we going to talk about it or are we pretending nothing changed."
Zack glanced at Alvira briefly.
Not asking permission.
Just… checking.
She gave the smallest nod.
That was enough.
Zack said, simply, "She is my mate."
Silence.
A full second of it.
Then—
Lisa's hands flew up slightly.
Lisa said, "I knew it."
Hiccup let out a louder laugh this time.
Hiccup said, "Of course you did."
Lisa shot him a look.
Lisa said, "Do not act surprised. You felt it too."
Hiccup shrugged.
Hiccup said, "I suspected. I just did not want to say it out loud."
His gaze shifted back to Zack, then to Alvira, something more genuine settling in his expression now.
Hiccup said, "So it is real."
Zack nodded once.
Zack said, "It is."
Lisa stepped closer to Alvira, her voice softening.
Lisa said, "And you are okay with it."
Alvira smiled.
Not forced.
Not uncertain.
Just real.
Alvira said, "More than okay."
Lisa's expression immediately softened into something warm.
Lisa said, "Good."
Without hesitation, she pulled Alvira into a quick embrace.
Lisa said, "I am happy for you."
Alvira returned it, her voice quiet.
Alvira said, "Thank you."
Hiccup watched them for a moment, then shook his head slightly.
Hiccup said, "Well, that explains a lot."
Zack glanced at him.
Zack said, "Such as."
Hiccup smirked.
Hiccup said, "Such as why you have been acting like you are trying very hard to stay calm."
Zack gave him a look.
Zack said, "I am calm."
Hiccup raised a brow.
Hiccup said, "Sure."
Lisa laughed softly.
Lisa said, "Leave him alone."
Then her expression shifted slightly, something more thoughtful replacing the excitement.
Lisa said, "Have you told Ray."
The question changed the air immediately.
Alvira's smile softened.
Alvira said, "Yes."
Hiccup's grin faded slightly.
Hiccup said, "And."
Alvira's voice grew quieter.
Alvira said, "He needs time."
Lisa nodded slowly, understanding immediately.
Lisa said, "That makes sense."
Hiccup exhaled.
Hiccup said, "He took it better than I expected."
Zack's gaze shifted slightly, more serious now.
Zack said, "He handled it with control."
Hiccup muttered lightly.
Hiccup said, "That is what worries me."
Lisa glanced at him.
Lisa said, "Hiccup."
Hiccup lifted a hand slightly.
Hiccup said, "I am just saying. Ray does not react loudly. He thinks. And when he thinks too much—"
He stopped.
Not finishing it.
But they all understood.
Alvira's fingers tightened slightly around Zack's.
Zack noticed immediately.
His thumb brushed lightly against her hand.
Grounding.
Steady.
Lisa softened her tone again.
Lisa said, "He will come around."
Alvira nodded.
Alvira said, "I hope so."
A small silence followed.
Then—
Hiccup clapped his hands once, breaking the tension.
Hiccup said, "Well. This calls for something."
Zack narrowed his eyes slightly.
Zack said, "Do not."
Hiccup grinned.
Hiccup said, "Too late."
Lisa already looked amused.
Lisa said, "What are you planning."
Hiccup gestured between Zack and Alvira.
Hiccup said, "We are celebrating."
Zack sighed slightly.
Zack said, "It is not an event."
Hiccup said, "It is absolutely an event."
Lisa laughed.
Lisa said, "He is not wrong."
Alvira looked between them, a soft laugh escaping her.
Alvira said, "It does feel like one."
Zack glanced at her, his expression softening despite himself.
Zack said, "You are encouraging them."
Alvira smiled slightly.
Alvira said, "Maybe."
Hiccup pointed at her immediately.
Hiccup said, "See. I like her already."
Zack shook his head faintly.
But there was no real resistance in it anymore.
Because for the first time—
Everything was out in the open.
Clear.
Accepted.
Real.
—
But not far from them—
Ray stood at the edge of the corridor, unseen.
Watching.
Not with anger.
Not with jealousy alone.
But with something quieter.
Something deeper.
He saw the way Zack stood closer to her.
The way her expression changed when she looked at him.
The way everything between them…
Fit.
Ray exhaled slowly.
Ray said under his breath, "So this is what it looks like."
He stayed there for a moment longer.
Then turned.
And walked away again.
This time—
More quietly than before.
But not gone.
Not completely.