Page 24 of Alchemy of Souls

I can scent Eloise’s nervousness from across the room, and given my uncle’s damning speech, I’d guess Adrien is currently asking her about the raid. Nosy prick.

Before I can think not to, I cast a wind spell to tip his drink. Sparkling lemonade splashes satisfyingly on the table and Adrien jerks backward.

“Something you find interesting over there?” Naomi asks with a tilt of her head and an assessing gaze.

I’m saved from answering because one of the professors takes the podium. I lift my drink to Naomi and smile as Adrien dabs his napkin on his lap.

Over the next hour, our professors take turns rambling about their rigorous plans to teach us magical and physical weaponry. And when they finish, Akari gives a short speech about how she’s looking forward to seeing us all in the training room first thing in the morning.

Bring it on.

“Dessert?” a server asks as Akari sits and the room once againbooms with conversation. The server offers me a wooden plate of rich chocolate cake.

“Thanks,” I reply, even though I’m already plotting my exit. Not only because I scent Eloise’s nervousness return at whatever prying question Adrien just asked, but because the clock above the door reads 10:00 p.m. Curfew is eleven. If we’re going to accomplish anything tonight it has to be now.

Bas nudges me in the ribs with his elbow, and I realize Naomi must have said something I didn’t answer, given that she’s staring at my face.

“Seriously, Gray, where is your mind tonight?” Naomi asks in her nonchalant way that sounds like an insult.

“Told you. He’s acting weird as hell about Labor girl,” Ivy says, rolling her eyes.

“Don’t be an idiot. He’s not looking at her. He’s assessing Adrien because he was marked Gifted,” Naomi replies as she takes a dainty bite of her cake.

I give Naomi the same calculated smile I give my family.

“Speaking of which, what happened there, mate?” Bas says. “We all saw the four symbols appear above your head—”

“You mean before Labor bitch sabotaged him?” Naomi interjects, and my jaw tenses without my permission. “How the hell is it okay that she got admitted and you got demoted?”

“Working on that,” I say, and redirect the conversation. “There are students missing.” I glance around the room. Maggie O’Donnell for one, who’s usually glued to Eloise’s side. “I’m not seeing everyone from the American Academy.”

Naomi shrugs and Bas coughs.

“Interviews,obviously,” Ivy says while she chews.

“They questioned everyone,” Bas explains, and I can scent hisdiscomfort. “After the raid. Probably delayed some arrivals. Word has it they laid into the Labor kids to try to root out what happened.”

Shit.

“As they should,” Naomi says with emphasis. “Everyone knows someone from an upstanding Mage family would never aid the Lawless.”

You sure about that?

“But getting back to what I was saying—” Naomi starts, and this time I don’t wait for her to finish.

I push away from the table. “I’ll catch up with you guys later.”

Ivy groans. “Déjàfreaking vu.”

For a flash of a second, Naomi’s grip tightens on her fork. “Really, Gray? Mid-conversation you just up and run? What could be so important?”

I smile. “Like you said, I feel the sudden need to assess Adrien.”

Naomi’s annoyance is obvious, but I’m not going to sit here listening to her shit on Labor families for the next ten minutes.

Bas, however, gives me a questioning look that I have no time to answer.

“I’m holding you to that ‘catch up later’ promise,” Ivy calls after me, and I’d normally be concerned about that, given my current inability to leave Eloise alone. But right now, I’m more preoccupied by the scent of Eloise’s discomfort, which is so strong that my shoulders tense in response.