Page 26 of Alchemy of Souls

Her expression turns offended. “I’m not planning on telling Adrien anything. You can’t possibly think I would.”

“I’m not saying you would purposely. You just don’t know how these people operate. They’re masters of manipulation.”

Eloise lifts one shoulder in a shrug that might be considered cute if her eyes weren’t screaming violence. “Well, then I’ll just have to get to know them myself so I can form my own opinions.”

This girl is going to be the end of me.

“Left,” I say, changing the subject because we’re talking in circles.

But of course, she doesn’t listen.

“Our room is to the left,” I say again.

“I’m not going to our room,Grayson, I’m looking for the Illusion Wing.”

“We have less than fifty minutes until curfew and an early morning tomorrow. There’s no time to socialize—”

“Maggiewasn’t in that room,” she says. “And while I absolutely feel pressure to fulfill our deal, my best friend didn’t show up for the welcome dinner and I need to know why.”

I exhale. “She’s probably not here yet,” I say as the campus navigation spell creates an illuminated orb for her to follow.

“Why on earth wouldn’t she be?” Eloise asks in surprise.

“Bas said everyone at the Academy was questioned. I don’t think they’ve all arrived yet,” I tell her, leaving out the part where Labor kids got the brunt of it.

She chews on her bottom lip, her worry filling the air with the scent of burnt apple pie. Even her uncomfortable emotions smell wholesome.

“All the more reason to go and look for her,” she says definitively, and starts following the blue orb.

I open my mouth and close it. “Let me get this straight. You’regoing to check on your friend, who I just told you probably isn’t here, even though you’re in a time crunch to save your own life?” It’s not a judgment; it’s a real question. Because her behavior is completely foreign to me. People in my life put themselves first.

“You’re damn right I am,” she says, and I have no choice but to follow.

CHAPTER 16Grayson

I follow Eloise through the Illusion dorms where she asks anyone and everyone who’ll listen if they’ve seen Maggie. And with each additional “no” the scents of her worry and guilt get stronger.

When there’s no one left to ask, and the sconces dim in warning of curfew, her eyes drift to the ceiling and she drags her teeth over her bottom lip. Then without a word she turns and marches back toward our room.

“Don’t you dare say anything,” she warns.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I reply, which is only partially true.

“Yeah, well, I can see it in that smirk of yours—that you know you were right,” she says on an exhale.

“That doesn’t mean I want to be,” I say, and she shoots me a doubtful look.

“Look, I’m the first to admit that I’m a dick. But what you did was… admirable in a way.” Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise. What I don’t say is that my brother would have done the same and that recognition is making me do stupid things, like carry around a plate of chocolate cake for an hour. But because I’m me, I add, “Admirable and also unhelpful that you used up all our time before curfew.”

Right on cue, her scowl returns. “Wow. For a second there Iwas starting to think you were human. My mistake,” she says as she walks into our suite.

“So, what—you think I’m superhuman? You wouldn’t be the first,” I reply. Maybe I know she needs a distraction or maybe I just really am a dick. Tough call.

I put down the slice of cake on our coffee table, and she frowns at it like it’s further proof she has no idea what to make of me. Same, I want to say.

“Let’s just do this spell,” she says.

“No argument here.”