Chapter 3 #3
“I would’ve thought sleeping with half the school would ease whatever existential angst he’s experiencing,” I said, before my mind could finish the thought.
“I know it must such a burden, being the richest and most insufferable idiot in school, but he seems to have adequate moral support from the fairer sex, from what I saw.”
I let out a derisive scoff.
“…Then again, I suppose I can’t comprehend the absolute travesty that is his birthright. It must be so very difficult to be him, with all his money and good looks and connections and perfect bloodline and endless opportunities.”
When I looked at Alaric, he raised an eyebrow so expressively, I felt myself flush.
“I know.” I took the wineglass from his fingers and stole a large swallow before handing it back.
“I know he’s your friend. I know I should keep my mouth shut.
But honestly, Alaric, he really is the most unapologetically entitled prat.
You’ve said yourself he only demands you go out with him so that he doesn’t do something insanely stupid while he’s inebriated.
Which isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement for either him or his company. ”
Alaric’s full lips pursed.
He didn’t speak at first, but I could almost see the thoughts swirling through his aura as he leaned an arm on the back of the couch. His centaur primal stood on the couch cushion next to him, its muscular, perfectly-proportioned arms folded.
The centaur aimed a prolonged stare at me, its scrutiny less subtle.
“Right,” Alaric said, as though he’d made up his mind. “Well, I certainly can’t ask him, not without risking severe bodily harm, so I’m just going to ask you, instead.”
“Alaric––” I warned.
“No, really,” he cut in, not to be dissuaded. “What is it between the two of you?”
I rolled my eyes. “You mean besides mutual contempt? And revulsion?”
He grew quiet, and I looked over, in spite of myself.
“What?” I asked. “You can’t possibly think it’s more than that?”
“I know something happened, Leda.” His words abruptly lost their humorous lilt.
“I have no idea what happened, because, honestly, I had no idea you two knew one another that well, not until after it did. But I know whatever his problem is, it started with you. And not only because he went from a seeming inability to shut up about you and how much he loathed you, to pretending you had mysteriously died and threatening bodily harm to anyone who so much as glanced at you or breathed your name.”
I stared at him, briefly stunned into silence.
Then, deliberately, I turned my gaze to the fire.
Alaric continued to stroke Wraith as he waited. In my peripheral vision, I saw Wraith stretch out her limbs, then her individual toes, yawning.
I felt my jaw clench slowly as I considered different ways to answer.
In the end, I didn’t like any of them, though.
“All right,” Alaric said, sighing in defeat when I still hadn’t moved. “But, just so you know, I’m worried about him, Leda. I really don’t think he’s okay.”
My jaw clenched as I leaned over to the table to set my teacup on the tray. I told myself to remain silent, to say nothing, but, like before, I seemed physically incapable of doing that.
“Why?” I asked. “What’s wrong with him?”
Alaric let out a rueful chuckle.
“Well, that’s certainly a question that can’t be answered in the next…
” He pulled out a silver pocket watch with the hand not holding his glass and flipped it open.
He peered down at the time. “…forty-seven minutes. But suffice it to say, I have reason to forgive some of Cal’s less-flattering quirks.
He comes by it honestly. Most of it, at least.”
I managed to stay silent that time.
I took another long drink of Alaric’s bloodwine, maybe to make sure I did.
When I didn’t ask or say anything, Alaric exhaled another frustrated breath.
“Does it really not bother you that I am simply dying of curiosity?” he asked.
“Wouldn’t it make you feel better to end my agony?
Not to mention, I’d let you spend as long as you wanted complaining about him at the top of your lungs, particularly if I knew the entire context.
What if I promised I’d absolutely take your side in whatever it was? ”
I forced a smile, but struggled to mean it.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about––” I began.
“Nonsense,” Alaric admonished. “What in Osiris happened between the two of you? Did he make a pass at you? Did you make a pass at him? Did you have the ill judgement to shag the imbecile while drunk? Is that where you both disappeared to, the night of Eleusínia Myst?ria? I wouldn’t blame you if you had, you know.
He truly is obnoxiously beautiful. And I’ve suspected for quite some time that the depth of his ‘loathing’ likely concealed some kind of masochistic crush. We’ve all made poor decisions when––”
“No,” I said coldly. “Gods, no. Honestly, Alaric––”
A sharp buzzing sound from the front door cut me off.
Alaric and I both froze.
We looked at the door, as if pulled by the same string.
The Keep management and staff never used the buzzer. They always knocked.
My heart thudded in my chest. I told myself it was ridiculous, that there were any number of reasons someone might use the buzzer.
Maybe I’d overdone it with the chimaera and we hadn’t heard them knock.
Maybe they’d hired a new bellhop. Maybe one of the books I ordered got delivered to the wrong door.
Alaric and I both tended to be a little paranoid when it came to locking down the room.
Neither of us had any illusions about what would happen if we got caught conducting our little investigation.
While I had my doubts they’d kill Alaric outright, he was far more certain they would.
He seemed to believe, even if his father stood on the other side of that door, his blood wouldn’t protect him.
The Greythorne patriarch wouldn’t hesitate.
He’d told me, again and again, it was more religion than politics.
I uncurled myself from the couch and started to rise to my feet, but Alaric grabbed my wrist, stopping me. When I looked down at him, he shook his head, eyes wide.
I did my best to give him a reassuring look.
“Whoever it is, they already know I’m here,” I said, soft. “The chimaera’s still over the suite. It can’t be anyone looking at us with magic.”
Alaric didn’t look like he agreed.
“Alaric, I have to go. It will look stranger if I don’t.”
He didn’t look like he agreed with that, either, but he reluctantly released my wrist.
Walking to the door, I opened it without hesitation, maybe to reassure myself as much as Alaric.
No one was there.
Even so, I stiffened. I stood there, frozen, like an animal catching a scent.
Or trying to catch one, maybe.
For the barest second, I swore I felt something, a bare whisper of presence. It was so scarce, so faint, I couldn’t convince myself I wasn’t imagining it. Despite how lightly it touched my magic, it had my heart thumping in my chest, my eyes wide.
I stood there, my breath short, listening with everything in me, straining for it.
I stayed even after his presence faded, leaving nothing but an exhale of air.