Page 25 of Alchemy of Souls

“Tell me—what exactly happened during your spell?” Adrien asks.

Eloise tucks a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “Uh, well, it’s kind of hard to describe?”

“I have time,” Adrien says, just as I clamp a hand down on his shoulder.

“Haven’t seen you in a while, Adrien. You still dating Maya or did she dump you like I told her to?” I say with a cold smile.

“Ah, Grayson. I was just talking about you,” Adrien replies, leaning back in his chair. “And to answer your question, I’m completely single.”

Adrien winks at Eloise and I consider knocking another drink on him.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m being rude,” Adrien continues. “Eloise, you must know Grayson, since you were at the American Academy together?”

“We’re roommates,” she says on an exhale.

Recognition dawns on Adrien’s face and he laughs, long and loud.

Which is when my eyes flit to Eloise and I lift an eyebrow. But she’s suddenly very interested in her cake.

“I’m a little surprised to see you in white,” Adrien says offhandedly. “I thought your family would have insisted on Gifted. Must have been one hell of a botched exam.”

My jaw tics. “Luckily that won’t stop me from besting you on the mat,” I say like a promise. “Or anywhere for that matter. Which reminds me, Eloise and I have plans.”

For a flash of a second, she looks at me like she might stab me with her fork. But I can also scent her relief that I’m stopping Adrien’s prying questions.

“If you’re not ready,” Adrien says, “or if you want another piece of that chocolate cake, El, I’d be happy to walk you back to your room later.”

I don’t like his scent even a little bit. Also, he calls her El now? The fuck?

I flick my wrist and a slice of cake floats from a server’s wooden tray, the small plate landing in my palm. “Problem solved.”

Eloise rolls her eyes at me, but when she turns to Adrien she says, “Thanks for the offer. But I think I’m gonna call it a night.”

Through a great feat of will, I squash my desire to smirk.

But then she adds, “Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow?” and my amusement falters.

“Breakfast?” Adrien asks with enthusiasm as she stands.

“Deal,” she says with a smile he doesn’t deserve, and we walk away.

But the moment the dining hall door closes behind us, Eloise rounds on me. “What the hell wasthat?”

“Adrien’s not to be trusted,” I say matter-of-factly.

“He’snice,” she argues.

“You mean smooth and tactical.” I’d bet good money he saw me walk in with her and that was half his motivation. But I’m not stupid enough to say that.

“Well, good thing no one is asking you to hang out with him,” she says.

“Thank god, because he’s a clown,” I reply.

“Seems prettygiftedto me,” she says, which only frustrates me more.

I think she knows it, too, because there’s mischief in her expression. “You know I can spellwork you a ruler and you two can just get the measuring over with,” she says. “Save us all a lot of headaches.”

“Look, all I’m saying is that the last thing we need is Adrien poking into what we’re doing. My uncle made it clear that we need to keep it to ourselves,” I say.