Chapter 15. Grayson
Grayson
Of course, that jackass Adrien went straight for Eloise. She’s smart. She’s strong-willed. And, well, she’s beautiful. Obviously, that’s not what annoys me about him talking to her. These are just facts.
I can scent Eloise’s nervousness from across the room, and given my uncle’s damning speech, I’d guess Adrien is currently asking her about the raid. Nosy prick.
Before I can think not to, I cast a wind spell to tip his drink. Sparkling lemonade splashes satisfyingly on the table and Adrien jerks backward.
“Something you find interesting over there?” Naomi asks with a tilt of her head and an assessing gaze.
I’m saved from answering because one of the professors takes the podium. I lift my drink to Naomi and smile as Adrien dabs his napkin on his lap.
Over the next hour, our professors take turns rambling about their rigorous plans to teach us magical and physical weaponry. And when they finish, Akari gives a short speech about how she’s looking forward to seeing us all in the training room first thing in the morning.
Bring it on.
“Dessert?” a server asks as Akari sits and the room once again booms with conversation. The server offers me a wooden plate of rich chocolate cake.
“Thanks,” I reply, even though I’m already plotting my exit. Not only because I scent Eloise’s nervousness return at whatever prying question Adrien just asked, but because the clock above the door reads 10:00 p.m. Curfew is eleven. If we’re going to accomplish anything tonight it has to be now.
Bas nudges me in the ribs with his elbow, and I realize Naomi must have said something I didn’t answer, given that she’s staring at my face.
“Seriously, Gray, where is your mind tonight?” Naomi asks in her nonchalant way that sounds like an insult.
“Told you. He’s acting weird as hell about Labor girl,” Ivy says, rolling her eyes.
“Don’t be an idiot. He’s not looking at her. He’s assessing Adrien because he was marked Gifted,” Naomi replies as she takes a dainty bite of her cake.
I give Naomi the same calculated smile I give my family.
“Speaking of which, what happened there, mate?” Bas says. “We all saw the four symbols appear above your head—”
“You mean before Labor bitch sabotaged him?” Naomi interjects, and my jaw tenses without my permission. “How the hell is it okay that she got admitted and you got demoted?”
“Working on that,” I say, and redirect the conversation. “There are students missing.” I glance around the room. Maggie O’Donnell for one, who’s usually glued to Eloise’s side. “I’m not seeing everyone from the American Academy.”
Naomi shrugs and Bas coughs.
“Interviews, obviously,” Ivy says while she chews.
“They questioned everyone,” Bas explains, and I can scent his discomfort. “After the raid. Probably delayed some arrivals. Word has it they laid into the Labor kids to try to root out what happened.”
Shit.
“As they should,” Naomi says with emphasis. “Everyone knows someone from an upstanding Mage family would never aid the Lawless.”
You sure about that?
“But getting back to what I was saying—” Naomi starts, and this time I don’t wait for her to finish.
I push away from the table. “I’ll catch up with you guys later.”
Ivy groans. “Déjà freaking vu.”
For a flash of a second, Naomi’s grip tightens on her fork. “Really, Gray? Mid-conversation you just up and run? What could be so important?”
I smile. “Like you said, I feel the sudden need to assess Adrien.”
Naomi’s annoyance is obvious, but I’m not going to sit here listening to her shit on Labor families for the next ten minutes.
Bas, however, gives me a questioning look that I have no time to answer.
“I’m holding you to that ‘catch up later’ promise,” Ivy calls after me, and I’d normally be concerned about that, given my current inability to leave Eloise alone. But right now, I’m more preoccupied by the scent of Eloise’s discomfort, which is so strong that my shoulders tense in response.
“Tell me—what exactly happened during your spell?” Adrien asks.
Eloise tucks a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “Uh, well, it’s kind of hard to describe?”
“I have time,” Adrien says, just as I clamp a hand down on his shoulder.
“Haven’t seen you in a while, Adrien. You still dating Maya or did she dump you like I told her to?” I say with a cold smile.
“Ah, Grayson. I was just talking about you,” Adrien replies, leaning back in his chair. “And to answer your question, I’m completely single.”
Adrien winks at Eloise and I consider knocking another drink on him.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m being rude,” Adrien continues. “Eloise, you must know Grayson, since you were at the American Academy together?”
“We’re roommates,” she says on an exhale.
Recognition dawns on Adrien’s face and he laughs, long and loud.
Which is when my eyes flit to Eloise and I lift an eyebrow. But she’s suddenly very interested in her cake.
“I’m a little surprised to see you in white,” Adrien says offhandedly. “I thought your family would have insisted on Gifted. Must have been one hell of a botched exam.”
My jaw tics. “Luckily that won’t stop me from besting you on the mat,” I say like a promise. “Or anywhere for that matter. Which reminds me, Eloise and I have plans.”
For a flash of a second, she looks at me like she might stab me with her fork. But I can also scent her relief that I’m stopping Adrien’s prying questions.
“If you’re not ready,” Adrien says, “or if you want another piece of that chocolate cake, El, I’d be happy to walk you back to your room later.”
I don’t like his scent even a little bit. Also, he calls her El now? The fuck?
I flick my wrist and a slice of cake floats from a server’s wooden tray, the small plate landing in my palm. “Problem solved.”
Eloise rolls her eyes at me, but when she turns to Adrien she says, “Thanks for the offer. But I think I’m gonna call it a night.”
Through a great feat of will, I squash my desire to smirk.
But then she adds, “Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow?” and my amusement falters.
“Breakfast?” Adrien asks with enthusiasm as she stands.
“Deal,” she says with a smile he doesn’t deserve, and we walk away.
But the moment the dining hall door closes behind us, Eloise rounds on me. “What the hell was that?”
“Adrien’s not to be trusted,” I say matter-of-factly.
“He’s nice,” she argues.
“You mean smooth and tactical.” I’d bet good money he saw me walk in with her and that was half his motivation. But I’m not stupid enough to say that.
“Well, good thing no one is asking you to hang out with him,” she says.
“Thank god, because he’s a clown,” I reply.
“Seems pretty gifted to me,” she says, which only frustrates me more.
I think she knows it, too, because there’s mischief in her expression. “You know I can spellwork you a ruler and you two can just get the measuring over with,” she says. “Save us all a lot of headaches.”
“Look, all I’m saying is that the last thing we need is Adrien poking into what we’re doing. My uncle made it clear that we need to keep it to ourselves,” I say.
Her expression turns offended. “I’m not planning on telling Adrien anything. You can’t possibly think I would.”
“I’m not saying you would purposely. You just don’t know how these people operate. They’re masters of manipulation.”
Eloise lifts one shoulder in a shrug that might be considered cute if her eyes weren’t screaming violence. “Well, then I’ll just have to get to know them myself so I can form my own opinions.”
This girl is going to be the end of me.
“Left,” I say, changing the subject because we’re talking in circles.
But of course, she doesn’t listen.
“Our room is to the left,” I say again.
“I’m not going to our room, Grayson, I’m looking for the Illusion Wing.”
“We have less than fifty minutes until curfew and an early morning tomorrow. There’s no time to socialize—”
“Maggie wasn’t in that room,” she says. “And while I absolutely feel pressure to fulfill our deal, my best friend didn’t show up for the welcome dinner and I need to know why.”
I exhale. “She’s probably not here yet,” I say as the campus navigation spell creates an illuminated orb for her to follow.
“Why on earth wouldn’t she be?” Eloise asks in surprise.
“Bas said everyone at the Academy was questioned. I don’t think they’ve all arrived yet,” I tell her, leaving out the part where Labor kids got the brunt of it.
She chews on her bottom lip, her worry filling the air with the scent of burnt apple pie. Even her uncomfortable emotions smell wholesome.
“All the more reason to go and look for her,” she says definitively, and starts following the blue orb.
I open my mouth and close it. “Let me get this straight. You’re going to check on your friend, who I just told you probably isn’t here, even though you’re in a time crunch to save your own life?
” It’s not a judgment; it’s a real question.
Because her behavior is completely foreign to me. People in my life put themselves first.
“You’re damn right I am,” she says, and I have no choice but to follow.