A Dance Of Crowns & Thrones | Book I

Chapter 99 | October 15th | The Gracie Effect

Timeline - October 15th | ( 4 days later)

The frustration that had been simmering within Eko for the past four days showed no signs of abating. Seated next to Jesse and Mya in the classroom, she was ostensibly there to assist the third-year cadets. However, her real intention was distraction, a desperate attempt to escape the relentless churn of her own emotions.

With her AirPods securely in place, Eko turned her focus sharply away from the classroom activities. Her phone became a portal to another world filled with whispers and reported gossip from Adelaide Spencer, Cadence White, Dakota Dalton, and Claire Burton. Known for their sharp insight into the city's most tantalizing stories, these four women hosted a live show that was a vortex of everything Eko was trying to distract herself with.

As the quartet's voices flowed into her ears, they spun a tapestry of rumors and secrets during their show. Eko hoped that immersing herself in their stories would wrap her thoughts in a cocoon, insulating her from the cold grasp of her depressive feelings. It was a temporary shelter, but one that she clung to, allowing the familiar cadence of the show to momentarily dissolve the boundaries of her personal anguish.

Host 1 (Adelaide Splendor): Adelaide's voice took on a playful lilt. "Alright, let's dive into some lighter news—have you all heard the latest about Kiara from Neptune? She was spotted cozying up to none other than the so-called ' Mr-Superhot-Butter-Could-Melt-Off-His-chest Prince of Mein' at the Winthrop Gala last night, right?"

Host 2 (Cadence White): Cadence's excitement through the roof. "Yes, they were the picture of romance, snuggled up like two lovebirds! Just thinking about it makes you believe in fairy tales again. Love always finds a way, doesn't it?"

Eko's expression tightened, a pang of irritation flaring up. Why now? she thought, dismayed that even her escape into gossip couldn't avoid the topic of love—a reminder of her own fucked up feelings for Matthew.

Host 2 (Claire Burton): "I doubt that's love, honestly. She's probably just with him to spite her father. Did you hear he married someone the same age as his daughter? She's like twenty-three! How is that love?" Claire half-faked a gag, her tone dripping with disbelief.

Host 3 (Dakota Dalton): Dakota laughed, teasing Claire in return. "Whatever you want to call it, Claire Bear. Given you've dated men nearly double your age, it's really just about the choices we make. You're either in love or you're not. There's no halfway in true romance."

Eko muttered under her breath, "You have no idea," her words tinged with resentment and introspection, reflecting on Dakota's blunt assessment.

Host 4 (Claire Burton): Claire rolled her eyes at Dakota, her voice calm but firm. "He was not double my age; he was like ten years older. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Are we really going to start this debate again on age-appropriate relationships? You get what you can, considering 75% of them are so fucked up in the head— you find a good one and you take what you can!"

"For fuck sake," Eko muttered snapping louder then intended.

Jesse and Mya, absorbed in aiding the younger cadets, were doing their best to help Eko navigate her recent depressive spell. She was visibly struggling, groaning in frustration as the four women on her podcast erupted into a competitive debate over some of the men that they had dated. 

"I just can't handle this right now!" Eko exclaimed, her irritation evident as her frustration peaked. "The universe is just kicking me when I'm down!"

Seeing her friend's distress, Jesse gently took the phone from Eko's trembling hands. "Thanks, Jesse," Eko sighed, removing her AirPods and setting them on the countertop with a small clatter.