Page 41 of Alchemy of Souls

“Well, onthatnote,” 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’mnotfake dating you. There has to be another way.”

CHAPTER 24Eloise

We’re both silent as we walk toward our punishment. There’s no way in hell I’m fake dating him. He’s everything that’s wrong with Mage society—inherited power, arrogance, disregard for anyone who isn’t in his social circle. How many words had Grayson said to me before I called the Key? Five, maybe?

As we turn the corner, we find Akari at the training room door.

She doesn’t smile or nod. “Belrose, Stone, you broke the fundamental rules of sparring and interfered with my instruction. And for this you must prove to me that you’re worthy of attending my next training session.”

My stomach drops at the idea of being restricted from training.

Grayson opens his mouth, but she gives him a warning look.