Page 52 of Alchemy of Souls

“Showtime, Claws,” I reply, stepping forward one last time, leaving no more than an inch between us.

She leans against the wall and I brace my hand on it as though we are having an overly friendly conversation.

I bend to whisper in her ear. “It’ll be more convincing if you look like you actually like me.”

“Didn’t I just tell you I’m not good at lying?” she whispers back.

I smirk. “Then why is your pulse racing?”

“Because I’m intimidated by these pecs,” she says, poking at my chest with her slender finger. “I think you might have bigger boobs than I do, Grayson Stone.”

I laugh so genuinely that the sound takes me by surprise.

Maybe it’s the heat of my breath on her neck or just my proximity, but she suddenly billows that fresh spring scent that has been haunting me.

The girls falter in their conversation, and Willow does a double take. They all blatantly stare, an explosion of whispers erupting as they pass.

I step back from Eloise and her hand drops from my chest. “No going back now, Claws. We’re in this thing.”

“It’s just a shame that you’re so unattractive,” she says with a mischievous shrug. “Or this might actually be fun.”

I would laugh except now I’m starting to worry it’s not her who’s going to struggle with fake dating at all. What the actual hell is wrong with me?

Eloise pushes through our suite door and I close it behind us. But before she can make it to her room, I say, “I was thinking.” I flash her my best casual smile. “Maybe we should see our friends tonight.”

Her eyes widen, then narrow. “Did I just hallucinate or did you say you think we shouldsee our friendstonight?”

“You said Maggie kept asking you to hang out. And my crew hasbeen hounding me. Maybe we make a quick courtesy stop, basically buying ourselves time so we don’t have to do it again soon.”

She half laughs. “No offense, but I really don’t want to hang out with your friends. And Maggie would eat you alive if you tried to tag along with me.”

“I know. I actually meant separately,” I say, and she hesitates.

“What happened to you not letting me out of your sight?” she asks suspiciously.

I shrug. “We’ll make an exception. This once.”

She takes a step closer, her head tilting like a question. “A few days ago, you tell me you don’t trust me at all, and now you’re saying it’s cool if we separate for, what, an hour or two?”

“I just think it’s the path of least resistance. We have way more important things to do than hanging out with our friends. But it also takes up too much time fighting them if we don’t. Not to mention it’s hard to justify. Tomorrow’s Friday and I want to get this out of the way so we can concentrate on the Key all weekend.”

“I don’t disagree,” she says, pursing her lips. “But what I want to know is when you made this decision. Was itbeforeorafterI asked you about fake dating? Because if it was before, then there was no need for us to—”

I could lie of course, but I don’t want to. So, I grin.

Her cheeks immediately flush. “I think I hate you.”

My grin only widens. “And here I thought you didn’t lie.”

She huffs once, opens and closes her mouth, and then turns on her heel, cursing under her breath.

I could say I didn’t enjoy it, but that would also be a lie.

CHAPTER 29Grayson

The North Tower Lounge is a round room with velvet couches and moody sconce lighting that reminds me of a posh club. There’s a bar stocked with alcohol and mixers. And the students currently in it have the strongest magic in our year. Unfortunately, that also includes Adrien.

“I’m surprised to see you here, Grayson. Not trailing Eloise like a pathetic hound tonight?” Adrien says with an oily smile. “Or maybe you just did the gentlemanly thing and warded her into your room?”