Chapter 31 #2
They took their seats. The hall was quiet under Orator Moon’s presence. He smiled at all of them. It made her feel queasy.
“Hello,” said Moon. “I am sorry to have to visit our world’s best and brightest under grim circumstances. However, I am here to tell you that, as Headmaster Elgin already expressed, Vaukore is the safest place you can be right now,” said Moon, “until the situation has been further assessed.”
Maeve crossed her legs and ran her hands over her face. Mal’s frequent glances over at her indicated he had never seen her so ruffled.
“Do you think he’s seen my father?” Whispered Maeve to no one in particular.
Mal remained silent, but Abraxas to her right answered quietly.
“Probably,” he whispered. “But you can bet he’s going to bolt out of here before you make it up there.”
“Shhh!” Hissed the girl in front of them as she turned around to Abraxas.
Her face turned hot pink when she realized who she was shushing and turned a deeper red as she met Maeve’s glare. Maeve held up a finger and made a circular motion. The girl slouched over and turned back to the front without another word.
Maeve’s leg started shaking, bouncing nervously on the ball of her foot. Mal’s hand inched closer to her leg, and she pressed her foot into the floor. His hand slowly retreated.
Abraxas had been correct, for when Moon finished his speech, of which Maeve heard none, he was immediately whisked away before Maeve could even stand.
“Damn it,” said Maeve. “I want to get out of this bloody realm.”
She produced a bright blue flame silently that hovered ahead of them as they walked.
Maeve hadn’t argued when he’d insisted on walking her to the West Tower.
The walk was silent, but Mal and Maeve never had an issue with being quiet together.
When they reached the large ivory double doors to her Common Room and Dorms, they simply clicked open.
Maeve placed her hand along the wooden frame.
The magic was there, but weak. Like a dwindling flame.
The castle’s magic was being depleted.
“Do you feel that?” She whispered.
Mal moved slowly and placed his cool hand over hers, their breathing in sync. He lingered there only for a moment before removing his hand. Maeve turned towards him, her voice shaking.
“I can’t-”
He hushed her. “Come with me,” he said, wrapping her hand in his. He walked her to one of the new secret entrances to Serpentine Common Room and Dorms. The common room was occupied by students sitting in groups. Their voices were hushed and dull.
Mal lead her across the circular room and to the stairs that led above ground where their dorms were. They climbed the black marble silently, all the way down the hall to his room. His private room as Head Boy.
Maeve walked inside without hesitation. Mal closed the door behind him. She turned towards him and buried her head in his chest. His arms snaked around her, one hand gently tracing up and down her back.
His scent was intoxicating, taunting her with every breath she took.
“Whatever happens, promise me you’ll listen to me,” he said softly. “If I tell you to run, you run. If I tell you to-”
Maeve couldn’t wait any longer. She pushed up on her toes and gripped his shirt, slamming her lips into his.
He kissed her back gently. His hands found her face, and he pulled away from her.
“Maeve,” he started softly.
“I don’t want to think about anything else,” she gasped. “I just want you to kiss me.”
She pressed her lips desperately into his once more. Her hands traveled down his shirt and her fingers slipped through his belt loops, grinding him against her.
She wanted what she had been denied by all this. Before something came for their magic. Her hands traveled lower.
Mal snatched her hands swiftly in his own, holding her wrist apart, breaking their kiss and putting space between them. “Stop it,” he said sternly. “Or you’re going to get yourself more than kissed.”
“So?”
Mal tightened his grip, keeping her body from his as she pushed forward. Maeve’s brows pulled together.
“Is this how you really want it our first time? Is this how you think I want it? A distraction from your fear? So that you don’t have to think about if your father is even alive or if the fabric of our society has completely crumbled?”
Her vision went blurry.
And his grip loosened as she fell into his chest.
Tears fell silently down her cheeks, dripping into his shirt. Her pride swallowed the sobs in her throat, desperate for release.
Mal’s arms wrapped around her back, but Maeve shoved off him. She hastily turned her back on him. Wiping the wet from her face.
Mal crossed in front of her.
He tilted her chin up with his knuckle.
“Don’t you dare run from me,” he said quietly.
Cooly.
Like always.
Emotions in check.
Maeve’s were always the opposite.
He looked down at her, studying her, his lips pursed slightly.
“I am unaccustomed to feeling fear from you,” he whispered, his thumb traced over her bottom lip.
“I’m fine.”
His hand traveled to the back of her head. “Don’t lie to me.”
“Why? You always know anyway,” she said with a small cry.
“I don’t want you to lie to me,” he said, “only for me.”
Maeve laughed for the first time all day.
Mal offered her a small smile in return, one that didn’t meet his eyes. “It’s late,” he said. “You need sleep.”
Maeve didn’t argue. Mal pulled her close and laid them on his bed.
They were a tangled mass of arms and legs.
Mal’s hands traced up and down her back, making soothing circles at the base of her scalp.
She tucked herself as close to him as possible, and let the cool magic radiating from him lull her to sleep.