39. Chapter 39
Arwen
Since I’m already in the general wing, I decide to drop in to visit Professor Gabriel. I haven’t seen him around since returning to SinVail, since I don’t have any classes with him this year, but I should make sure our deal still stands.
My face heats and I cringe at the memory of the drunken disaster in his office. The morning’s been full of drama though, so what’s one more awkward encounter? At least I’m not under the influence this time… or sporting pigtails.
Entering the classroom, I find it blessedly empty. My boots echo against the marble as I make my way through the room to his office. I can feel the small tug in our bond that tells me he’s inside.
It almost feels foreign now, compared to the blaring, completed proximity bond that links me to Maddox and the uncompleted, but much stronger bond to Atticus.
The polished oak door stares back at me. For a second, I consider turning around. I lift my hand anyway and knock.
A few seconds later, the handle turns.
Professor Gabriel opens the door, sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms, dark vest immaculate as always. Surprise flickers across his face for the briefest moment before it smooths away into something warm and composed.
“Arwen,” he says. “I didn’t expect to see you.”
His voice remains as steady as always. He removes his glasses and tucks them into his pocket. How do such cool grey eyes smolder so hot?
“I, uh…” I clear my throat. “Can we talk?”
One dark eyebrow lifts, but he steps aside. “Of course.”
The office smells of old paper, cedarwood, and tea. It smells like him. Books line every wall from floor to ceiling. I step inside and close the door behind me while he moves around the desk with effortless grace.
“Sit,” he says.
I sit across from him, folding my hands tightly in my lap so he doesn’t see them shake, and for a moment neither of us speaks.
I exhale. “I’m sure by now you’ve heard about my bonds.”
Gabriel leans back in his chair with smooth, infuriating composure. “Ah. Yes, the rumor mill had made it my way regarding the two recent additions.”
His nonchalance is prickling. I glare at him. “…And?”
“Well,” he says pleasantly, “congratulations seem appropriate. Proximity bonds are rather rare.”
Heat crawls up my neck. I study his face, trying to read through the calm polish of his expression. He sounds normal. Too normal.
Like hearing I’m suddenly bonded to multiple men doesn’t bother him at all.
Which somehow bothers me.
“So you have no other feelings about it at all?”
He exhales and runs his fingers through his wavy hair. A piece still flops down on his forehead, and it’s so adorable I have to look away. “You know I can’t have feelings about this, Arwen.”
I twist my fingers together in my lap and swallow. “And what about our deal? Does… this change anything?”
His gaze settles on me fully now, sharp and attentive in a way that makes it difficult to breathe normally.
“No,” he says without hesitation. “It changes nothing. I have no intention of announcing our connection to the academy.”
Relief unfurls through me so quickly it almost makes me dizzy. Something unreadable flickers across his face before his expression smooths again.
Gabriel watches me for a moment before asking, “Have you mentioned our bond to Maddox or Atticus?”
Guilt punches me.
“No,” I admit. “There just… hasn’t been a good time.”
A tiny crease forms between his brows, though his tone stays even.
“Ultimately,” he says, “whether you tell them is your decision. But the more people included in this situation,” he continues carefully, “the more variables we create. More people to account for. More opportunities for mistakes.”
“I know,” I whisper.
Gabriel holds my gaze for a long moment. “Your secret is safe with me, Arwen. I have your best interests at heart.”
The sincerity in his voice makes something ache in my chest. And that’s an ache I can’t act on. I’ve gotten what I came for.
“Right. Okay. Thank you.”
I stand slowly. He inclines his head once, already reaching for a stack of papers on his desk.
I should leave. Instead, I linger awkwardly near the door.
“You still have something on your mind,” he says without looking up.
I hesitate, then decide we already have one secret. What’s another one added?
“I had one question…”
I take a few steps back towards his desk. “Only someone with a Sloth sin power could use Sloth relics… correct?”
Everything about him stills. His fingers stop against the edge of the paper. His gaze lifts slowly to mine.
“That’s correct,” he says. “But use of Sloth relics beyond the few sanctioned by the Council is strictly forbidden.”
I nod.
“So hypothetically…” I start, “someone who already had another faction’s sin power shouldn’t be able to activate or use one, right? Even if they had access to one?”
His expression darkens. “Where this is going, Arwen? If you’re in possession of a Sloth relic, that could be extremely dangerous.”
He folds his hands together. “Just tell me what’s happening. You can trust me.”
Something about the way he says it makes my chest tighten. I exhale and sit back down. I tell him about how I came across the relics during the kidnapping. How I had them with me when I was kidnapped by Councilor Blaise. How I could use one to heal myself and stay alive.
Professor Gabriel listens without interrupting once. By the time I finish, his expression has gone unnervingly blank.
“How were you able to activate one? That’s… impossible,” he says.
“Yeah,” I mutter. “That seems to be a recurring theme in my life.”
He ignores the joke. Leaning forward, he studies me like he’s trying to solve a puzzle.
“Do you still have them?”
I freeze. “…I do.”
“Where are they?”
“They’re hidden, I promise. No one will stumble across them.”
His jaw tightens faintly.
“Schedule a private appointment with me,” he says quietly. “Bring the relics, and do not tell anyone else you possess them.”
His gaze holds mine. “I won’t be able to protect you if they're found in your possession. It will be much safer for you if you give them to me.”
I nod and stand, feeling a little better than before at the thought that he still cares enough to protect me…
Unless this is just to get them out of my possession.
I reach the door before stopping again.
“Professor?”
“Yes?”
Asking this feels humiliating, but I have to know.
“When I was exiled…” My voice comes out quieter than intended. “When I disappeared…”
I finally look back at him. “Were you worried about me at all?”
The question hangs there between us. Raw feelings exposed.
“Did you even care?” I whisper. “Did you feel it?”
His composure cracks. Pain flashes across his face so quickly that I almost think I imagined it.
His voice drops softer than I’ve ever heard it. “More than you know, Arwen.”
My throat tightens, but I nod and slip out the door before he can see how badly that answer affects me.
***
Nikolai Gabriel
Arwen leaves, and I have to hold myself in place forcibly to keep from going after her. The bond urging me to comfort its other half.
Instead, I force myself to the bookcase and pull out five books before removing the brick behind them. The burner phone falls into my hand. I type in the number from memory and send a message.
Unknown: We need to talk. She’s getting stronger.
I click send and then delete it. Then reset the phone to factory setting for good measure before putting everything back.