Chapter 21
The sound of shuffling papers on the other side of the door goes quiet, and it feels like an eternity for his dull, heavy footsteps to reach the door.
Alaric cracks the door slightly, peering out with apprehension rather than opening it fully, and I can’t help but wonder who he might’ve been expecting with such a wary greeting. Candlelight flickers behind him, casting his figure in a dark silhouette.
When he realizes it’s me, he opens the door wider, his brow furrowed as he takes in my disheveled appearance.
Shivering slightly, I flash him a sheepish smile but also can’t help but rake my eyes over him.
Instead of his usual slacks and button-down, he’s wearing a T-shirt and gray sweatpants that give me an eyeful of something I should definitely not be looking at. Dear god…
“What are you doing?” he asks in a tone I can’t quite identify.
Hoping he’s referring to me showing up at his office and not me staring at the bulge at the front of his sweatpants, I answer, “I got caught in the rain.”
“Why were you out so late?”
My words come out in a rapid jumble. “I was at a party and brought Max and tried Fae wine for the first time and it was going so well until some guy was a total dickhead, so I was walking around campus to give Max some space and now I’m here.
” I’m vaguely aware that my words don’t make much sense without context, but the fuzziness around the edges of my thoughts makes it impossible to relay the story in a thorough, precise manner.
“Did someone hurt you?” There’s more urgency in Alaric’s voice this time, and I notice his fist clenching at his side.
I shake my head. “No, but someone was an asshole to Max, and I didn’t like the guy the last time I met him either.”
“Come in.” Alaric steps aside, inviting me into the small office, and his tone is carefully neutral when he asks, “So who’s Max? Your boyfriend?”
I laugh harder than I should, given the circumstances. “Nooo, she’s my roommate, silly.”
“Ah. And I suppose, given your current state of inebriation, that you’ve had more than one glass of Fae wine?”
“Yup. Three, actually.”
He sighs, closing his eyes for a couple seconds and pinching the bridge of his nose. “Well, you can’t keep those clothes on.”
“What do you propose I do? Get naked?”
He sighs again before moving to reach into the cabinet behind his desk while I stand there dripping and shivering, not wanting to sit and ruin his furniture.
“Here.” He hands me a folded pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt that he’s procured from the cabinet. “These should fit. I’ll turn around so you can change.”
He does, turning to face the back corner where bookshelves are stacked against the wall, and I fight to hold back laughter at the image. He looks like a child who’s been put in time-out.
I drop my heels on the floor and reach back to unzip my dress, but my arms refuse to stretch enough to reach it.
“Um, sorry to be a bother, but… could you help with my zipper?” I ask.
Sighing, he turns back around and answers, “I suppose.”
He makes his way over to me, and I turn around to give him access. A shiver runs down my spine as he brushes my long hair over my shoulder, and the heat of his body radiates, warming me slightly with the proximity.
He unzips my dress slowly, and my heart stutters at the sensation of his finger trailing behind it, warm against my bare skin.
He lingers for a moment in the silence, and I swear I hear a hitch in his breathing before he steps away, making his way back to the corner without another word.
I manage to peel the wet fabric from my body, goosebumps rising on my arms as the air cools my skin. I stumble in an attempt to put the sweatpants on, and Alaric jolts at the sound, almost turning around before he thinks better of it.
“I’m okay,” I mutter as I pull the T-shirt over my head, entirely too conscious of the fact that I’m not wearing a bra. “You can turn around now.”
He does, and he sinks back down into the chair behind his desk while taking in my appearance.
I realize my face probably looks ridiculous with my smeared makeup after being caught in the rain, but I can’t bring myself to care.
“Well, you’re welcome to have a seat.” He gestures to the couch behind me that sits against the wall.
To my surprise, there’s a large quilt folded across the arm and a pillow leaning against it.
“Do you sleep in here?” I ask, sinking down onto the plush pillows.
“Rarely, but sometimes. Occasionally, I get caught up in whatever I’m working on and don’t care to walk back to my house in heavy rain.”
“That makes sense. You have a nice office,” I add.
It’s a small room, but it’s cozy. The walls are painted a deep, dark green, and massive bookshelves with neatly arranged books line the entire back wall behind his desk, broken up only by a small window looking out toward the edge of the forest. The flickering candlelight in addition to the low, warm glow of the lamp in the corner casts long shadows that make my tired eyes droop even more. Still, I fight to stay awake.
“Thank you. I try to make it comfortable to suit my needs since I spend so much time in here.”
“Do you not prefer to spend more time at home? Or in the staff housing, I mean.”
He shrugs. “Sometimes I just don’t care to lug all the books and paperwork across campus only to carry them back the next morning. My house is the furthest one from campus, near the cliffside, so it’s nearly a mile one way.”
“I see. Well, I’m glad you happened to be here,” I yawn.
His lips quirk up in a small smile. “I suppose I am too. Hold on one moment,” he says, standing and leaving me alone in the office.
He returns a minute later with a full glass of water.
“You should drink this. I forget sometimes how much Fae wine can affect those who have never had it, so I imagine you’ll feel pretty awful in the morning.
But I did a quick enchantment on this to minimize the effects of your impending hangover. ”
“Thank you.” I sip the water and watch him as he settles back into his seat. “I’m sure I’ll probably hate myself in the morning, but at least it was kind of a fun night, right?” I ask with a jokingly hopeful tone.
“If you say so. Tell me about this party you went to,” he prompts, resting his chin on his hand with his elbow propped on the desk. His gaze bores into me, and I shift on the couch to get more comfortable.
I tell him about the party, describing the situation with Max and telling him about how, despite the night turning sour, I was enchanted by the atmosphere. My cheeks flush as I relay what the party had devolved into by the time I left, something bordering the line between sensual and obscene.
He’s quiet for a moment after I end my story, staring at me with curiosity sparking in his dark eyes.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I ask.
He considers his words carefully before answering, “Because I am endlessly intrigued by you.”
I snort a laugh. “Me? Why? I’m possibly the dullest person on this campus.”
Shaking his head, Alaric says softly, “You’re more extraordinary than you realize.”
“Whatever you say.” But despite my dismissive words, I can’t help the sense of contentment that washes over me at his statement.
Does he really believe that? I’m not sure why he would, considering he’s had to tutor me just to get me caught up with everyone else, but there’s also no reason for him to lie.
We talk for a while longer about the more mundane aspects of life here at the academy.
He tells me that he feels lucky to have the house furthest from campus because it overlooks the coast and is bordered on one side by the forest, and I tell him about the things I’m finding most interesting in my classes.
It’s a calm, comfortable sort of conversation, and I find myself drifting as the night wears on.
I’m not sure how long I’ve been asleep when I’m awoken by the soft click of the door closing. Opening my eyes, I’m confused by my surroundings for a moment before last night’s events come back to me. I’m in Alaric’s office.
At some point, he must have draped the quilt over me because I remember it still being folded before I fell asleep, and the thought makes me smile despite my pounding headache. It’s such a small, simple thing, but he cared enough to cover me with the blanket.
My head pounds and there’s an acrid taste in my mouth, but whatever Alaric had done to my water has significantly lessened the effects of my hangover.
The watery gray light of dawn illuminates the room ever so slightly, and I watch as Alaric makes his way from the door to the desk.
He must’ve left at some point, though I’m not sure when, because he’s changed clothes and is carrying two to-go cups of coffee, which I only know because the aroma is permeating the small room.
“Morning,” I mutter. “Please tell me one of those is for me.”
“Good morning. And yes.” He walks over and hands me one of the cups as I sit up on the couch. I take a sip and savor the rich flavor, letting it warm me from the inside out.
“God, this is good.”
“I’m glad you like it.” Alaric settles back into his desk chair, and it’s then that I notice the bags under his eyes.
He looks exhausted, and I realize it’s probably my fault.
Guilt gnaws at my stomach. I took the couch he was planning to sleep on, which means he probably slept in his office chair, if he slept at all.
“I’m sorry I took your couch. I feel like an asshole.”
“It’s quite alright. But as much as I’d love to spend more time in your company, I think it may be best if you head back to your dorm.”
Mortification sinks like a stone in my stomach. Maybe this is more of an issue than I thought it’d be. “Oh, of course. I’m sorry, I never meant to—”
Alaric cuts off my erratic rambling. “Vivian. It’s okay. I just don’t want anyone seeing you leaving my office in the state you’re in this early in the morning. It might look… untoward.”
“Oh. Right. That makes sense.” I stand, then realize I’m wearing his clothes. “Should I…?”
I’m not entirely sure how to phrase the question, but thankfully, he understands. He rummages around under his desk then procures a plastic bag. “You can put your dress in here to carry it back. You’re welcome to keep the clothes you’re wearing for now.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I don’t want to worry about you needing to sneak clothing back to me at some point. It’s fine. But campus will be waking up soon,” he adds, the hint clear. I need to leave.
“Well, thank you. See you in a few days.”
I leave the room, taking the back door and the long way through campus, around the backs of the buildings, to avoid anyone who may be walking the main paths. I’m sure I look like absolute trash after the night I’ve had.
I need a long, hot shower and to spend the rest of my Sunday recovering from last night. But first, I need to check on Max and hope that I haven’t destroyed the fragile bond of friendship that’s developed between us.