Page 78 of An Arcane Education
Eventually, AJ’s shift ended and he set off to find Mitchell, who was apparently supposed to meet him for lunch and never showed, and I went back to my dorm.
After hours of driving myself crazy, I know I can’t stayin my room any longer. There’s only one person I want to talk to right now about this, and I technically shouldn’t even have the chance to see him until tomorrow.
Before I can second-guess myself, I’m pulling on my jacket and boots, tucking the letter into my pocket, and making my way across campus and toward the staff housing.
My stomach twists itself in knots as I pass through the housing area hoping nobody will see me. I’m not supposed to be over here uninvited, and I’m not sure how Alaric will react to me showing up to his home so suddenly.
I remember him mentioning once that his house was the furthest one from campus, overlooking the coast, and after following the winding path past the small cottages, I spot one lone house on the edge of the cliff.
It’s made of the same dark stone that most everything on campus is built from. Ivy climbs one wall, and a dormant garden sits off to one side. Warm light glows from the windows against the gray evening sky.
I knock, and footsteps sound from the other side of the door before it swings open. Alaric stands there in jeans and a dark sweater, his brow furrowed in confusion when he sees me.
“What are you doing here?” he asks, though he steps aside to let me in.
“I found some information about my dad,” I blurt out as he takes my jacket. “I'm sorry for just showing up like this, but I needed to talk to someone, and I couldn't wait until tomorrow.”
“I see.” Alaric leads me deeper into the house, and the warmth is a welcome comfort after my long walk in thecold. The space is cozy, with a fire blazing in the hearth, dozens of books filling the bookshelves, and plants scattered throughout the living room. “Can I get you something to drink? Tea, coffee, something stronger?”
“I’m okay, but thank you.”
He gestures to the worn leather couch near the fireplace, and I sink into it, pulling the letter from my pocket. Alaric settles beside me, close enough that our knees almost touch, and waits patiently for me to find my words.
“Remember how I told you I only had one photo of my dad that I kept with me?”
He nods.
“Well, on the back he’d left me a little note, and underneath it was a number. I never knew what it meant and sort of just assumed it was an unrelated thing that he scribbled on the nearest piece of paper. But apparently it wasn’t.” I explain to him how AJ identified the numbers and how we found the hidden book with the letter inside.
Then I hand Alaric the letter, watching his expression as he reads. His jaw tightens, and he blows out a slow breath as he hands the letter back to me.
“Any idea what he’s warning me about? Or who he might be referring to?”
Alaric shakes his head. “The warning is incredibly vague, and those are very common names. I’ve only been teaching here for a little over a year, so I’m sure a lot has happened that I’m unaware of on this campus.”
Disappointment washes over me. “I didn’t figure you’d know, but thought it might be worth asking.”
Alaric drapes an arm around my shoulders and pullsme in close to him. “Well, I’m here for you however you need me.”
Leaning into his warm chest, I whisper, “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me. I care about you a lot, Vivian.”
My heart flips. “I care about you too. More than I probably should.”
I realize in this moment that, for the first time, he and I are completely alone without any chance of interruption or getting caught. Not only that, but the tension that’s been building between us for so many months has shifted, still just as sexual but underlaid with affection.
“Can I see the rest of your house?” I ask, needing to move, to do something with the restless energy zipping through my body.
Alaric stands and offers me his hand. “Of course.”
He gives me a brief tour of the small house. There’s a narrow kitchen with jars of various herbs lined up along the countertop, a cozy bedroom with minimal decor, and, of course, the firelit living room. Multiple books about mushrooms and the effect of magic on various life forms lay scattered on the table.
The far wall of the living room captures my attention the most. On either side of the fireplace are two massive floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the churning sea beneath the cliffside. One of the recliners has been shifted to face out the window, and I can imagine Alaric sitting here writing in his notebook while drinking a cup of coffee in the evenings.
“This is beautiful,” I breathe.
“It’s why I chose this house. Most people want to becloser to campus, but being out here gives me more personal space and an incredible view.”
