Page 23 of Alchemy of Souls

“Tell me, Eloise, what guild are you?” Adrien asks as I reach for the wooden dish of butter.

“Alchemy,” I tell him. “You?”

“Gifted,” he says, and my eyes whip up.

“That’s incredible,” I say. That also explains his gray belt.

He shrugs nonchalantly. “I’m not saying I’mnothappy, but I also don’t love all the one-on-one time it earns me with Chancellor Stone.”

I choke on my buttered roll so hard that he grabs the pitcher of water and fills my glass.

“Thanks,” I say, catching my breath.

“Was it something I said?” he asks with a grin.

“I just wasn’t expecting you to—” I stop short, not wanting to say anything publicly against the Chancellor.

But Adrien doesn’t hesitate. “Talk shit about the Stones?”

I quickly glance to either side, worried someone might overhear, but the room is buzzing with excited conversation loud enough to drown us out.

Adrien chuckles. “While I have to admit your look of surprise is adorable, you don’t need to worry. Everyone who grew up in Europe knows that family is—”

But he doesn’t finish his thought before the arched wooden doors open and Chancellor Stone walks in, flanked by Akari and a handful of professors.

I tense, but Adrien doesn’t.

“To be continued,” he says with a wink.

All the first-years fall silent as the professors take their seats at the elevated table. The Chancellor approaches the platform and Akari remains standing a couple of paces behind him.

“Welcome, first-years,” Chancellor Stone begins, magically projecting his voice in a somber tone. “I’d say good evening, but it isn’t good, is it?”

I once again look for Maggie, who’s still nowhere to be seen.

“For the first time in thirty years, the Lawless breached one of our school wards, raiding the entirety of the American Academy’s greenhouse,” he says, and students gasp. I understand he’s getting in front of this before gossip runs wild, but I also didn’t expect it to be the first thing he said.

“This was not the welcome I planned on giving you,” he says like he could hear my thoughts. “But the threat to our community is very real. If an Academy ward can be crossed by the Lawless, it’s not a far cry from the University wards being breached.” The tension inthe room levels up. “And so, I ask you to be vigilant. Not only with your training, but with each other. Because the threat is more than just the criminals on the outside, it also exists among you.”

I inhale sharply, and even from a distance, I notice Grayson tense.

“We have not ruled out that someone may have aided the Lawless during the raid,” he continues, while students look around the room like they might spot the culprit. “Report anything suspicious to the Guardians, and as always, mind your curfew.”

The Chancellor scans the crowd. And when his gaze falls on me, I feel it like the tip of a dagger.

“You’re the best students from the Academies,” Chancellor Stone says. “And I’m counting on you to become the best Mages.” He looks pointedly at Grayson. “Within these walls, you’ll learn complex magic. Strategy. Battle techniques and how to outsmart your opponent. From you, we need nothing short of extraordinary. And I will make you just that.”

I’m not sure if that’s a promise or a threat.

“Welcome to the most important four years of your life,” Chancellor Stone says. “May you be the class who finally defeats the Lawless.”

Cheers sound around the room, and while I absolutely agree with him in principle—I can’t bring myself to clap for a privileged Mage who’s not above threatening my six-year-old sister.

Laborers serve food and I once again search the room for Maggie. Where the hell is that girl?

CHAPTER 15Grayson

Of course, that jackass Adrien went straight for Eloise. She’s smart. She’s strong-willed. And, well, she’s beautiful. Obviously, that’s not what annoys me about him talking to her. These are just facts.