Chapter 23. Grayson
Grayson
Naomi sips her iced tea and leans back in her chair.
“I doubt you’ve read your messages, Grayson,” she says, referring to our text thread.
“But there’s a very select group of first-years meeting in the North Star Tower tomorrow night.
Apparently, there’s a lounge whose door only admits people with strong enough magic. It cuts out all the Labor riffraff.”
It’s not a mystery why Eloise hates us.
“And since you bailed last night,” Ivy continues, “we expect your stupidly handsome face to make an appearance at this one. Got it?”
Naomi’s eyes flit to me, waiting for my response.
I hesitate and Bas kicks me under the table. His message is clear—play along so Naomi tells us what she knows about that raid.
In addition to providing much-needed intel, this group is also an integral part of the image I’ve cultivated, one that keeps my uncle from suspecting me of anything worse than a hangover and an illegal cell phone.
And yet, I have zero time for this.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” I say with a smile, which seems to be the right answer because Naomi smiles back.
“Has anyone seen their parents since we arrived?” I ask.
“Mine flew in today and I’m supposed to meet up with them for lunch in town on Saturday,” Ivy says cheerily. “What about you?”
I shrug. “My uncle hasn’t said a word to me since I got here, even though he’s in the same building. And I rarely know where my mom is. She didn’t tell me if she was staying in America or flying over.”
“I’ll trade you. My mom is here but I wish she wasn’t,” Naomi says, and we make eye contact. Because this is where we have common ground.
Bas opens his mouth to join in, but Naomi cuts him off.
“Oh, hell no,” Naomi says lifting her hand in protest. “Don’t you dare tell us about how you’ve already had some beautiful bonding experience in matching outfits where your parents told you that you were their perfect child.”
Bas snorts. “Are you trying to say you need a hug?”
Naomi rolls her eyes.
“She really does,” Ivy says with a grin, and Bas opens his arms.
“You’re all idiots,” Naomi quips, and pushes back her chair. “Also, Ivy and I have somewhere to be.”
Ivy stands. “Lounge. Tomorrow night, Grayson. Don’t screw it up.”
I give them a smile as they walk off.
Bas leans his elbows on the table across from me. “Good.”
“Good what?”
“You and Naomi not trying to kill each other,” he says.
“I take it that means she hasn’t told you whatever her mom knows?” I say.
“Is that even a question?” he says. “You know how she is.”
“You mean calculating as shit?”
“That’s the one,” Bas agrees, pushing back his long hair.
“The minute she realized you found that interesting you knew she’d dangle it over your head.
Besides, it’s a big ask”—he lowers his voice— “telling us about an ongoing Council investigation. It’s going to take more than you casually mentioning her mom over dinner. ”
I exhale, frustrated, because he’s right. “I’ll get it done.”
Bas grins as I stand. “Just bat those baby blues. Maybe wear a tight shirt? One that shows off those guns and—”
“Not helping,” I say as I walk away.
“Or better yet, no shirt at all!” he calls after me.
I hear Bas belly laugh as I head for Eloise’s table by the windows.
Maggie spots me first. “Well, if it isn’t the prince with the gilded knickers and a reputation as long as my legs,” Maggie says, and I smile.
I brush imaginary dust off my chest. “I didn’t know you thought so highly of me, Maggie. I’m flattered.”
“Ye usually are.” She crosses her arms like she’s sizing me up. “And while there are some very specific things I’d say on that matter, you got your backside handed to you on Eloise’s account today. So, I’m giving you a pass.”
“Mags,” Eloise says with a healthy dose of objection. “I did not need his help—”
“Need? No. But did you need smashed bones and a dagger in the gut? Also no,” Maggie says, and I’m liking her more by the minute. “It’s a shame yer both getting punished for it.”
Eloise glares at her friend.
“I don’t know what Akari has planned, but I’m guessing it’ll be a right mess. You got her into this, prince.” Maggie points a finger at me. “And now I’m charging you with getting her through it. Do not disappoint me or I’ll use my invisibility to light your man bits on fire while you sleep.”
I laugh. “Given I’m fairly attached to those bits, you have yourself a deal.”
Which is when the dipshit decides to chime in. “Doing charity work now, Grayson? Because ‘nice guy’ isn’t really your brand.” Adrien’s words are so smooth, they almost don’t sound insulting. Almost. “Unless maybe you have something to gain here?”
I tense, because it echoes what Eloise accused me of earlier. But before I respond, Eloise stands.
“Well, on that note,” she says, “I’m going to my room to shower before we have to meet Akari. Want to walk back with me, Grayson?”
I gesture for her to lead the way.
“Mags, I doubt I’ll be able to find you later. Rain check on alone time?” Eloise asks, and when Maggie nods she turns to Adrien. “Also, I get that you two don’t like each other. But when you insulted Grayson, you insulted me. I’m no one’s charity case. Don’t imply that again.”
Eloise turns on her heel and leaves with me trailing behind her, not bothering to suppress my grin.
“I can feel you gloating,” she says as we enter the hall.
“Did I imagine it, Claws, or did you just defend me in there?” I ask.
Eloise huffs. “I didn’t defend you. I defended myself. Adrien’s already asking questions about why we’re spending so much time together. He’s smart and I’m afraid he’ll start to realize something’s going on.”
“My friends are asking about you as well,” I agree.
She glances at me and frowns. “How do we handle this?”
“We don’t,” I say. “It’ll all be over soon.”
“If people are noticing twenty-four hours in, they’re going to think we’re … you know,” she says.
“Is that a problem?” I reply.
She fixes me in a stare. “Of course it’s a problem.”
“I’m not following,” I say as we turn into the staircase.
“We don’t give off any outward signs of dating.
Hand-holding. Flirting. Casual touches.” The words stick in her mouth.
“And pretty soon people are going to realize that we’re not.
But they’ll also realize that we’re spending every waking hour together.
People like Adrien will suspect an underlying reason.
After your uncle’s speech and suspicions running high because of the raid, it’s not safe. ”
Her reasoning is more valid than she realizes.
My uncle was definitely setting up the idea that a student helped the Lawless.
Meanwhile he gave us a task that has us acting strangely, knowing people are already suspicious of Eloise because of her entrance exam.
He’s leaving himself an easy opening to eliminate her if he chooses.
“I guess that leaves us with only one option,” I say.
“Meaning what?” she asks.
“We’ll date.”
“Excuse me?” she says in a high-pitched tone, embarrassment rolling off her like fresh rain as we exit the staircase.
“We’ll confirm what people already suspect. Make it simple,” I say, opening our suite door for her.
She rounds on me as she enters. “You can’t be serious.”
“Can you think of a more straightforward solution?” I ask, clicking the door shut.
“I—” she starts and stops. “I’m not fake dating you. There has to be another way.”