Page 72 of Alchemy of Souls

And while I’m happy for her that she can remain so focused on the details, I’m struggling to remember my own name. In fact, the feel of her in my arms has my fingers tightening of their own accord. But when her fresh spring scent wafts my way, I panic and pull back.

The moment her arms drop from my neck I grab a cup of spiced beer, downing it in one go. “Wine?” I ask her, but she’s already reaching for it and staring at me.

“What?” I say as I grab another drink.

She shrugs with one shoulder. “Oh, nothing,” she says, rubbingher finger along the outside of the glass. “I just didn’t realize you flustered so easily.”

“I do not fluster,” I reply, because I don’t.

“Uh-huh,” she says.

And for some unfathomable reason, I tell her the truth: “I didn’t pull back because I was flustered. I pulled back because I was going to kiss you. And you told me you didn’t want that.”

She chokes on her wine.

But before she gets to reply, Maggie’s suddenly there, bowling Eloise over with a hug.

“There you are! I can’t believe you fecked off on getting ready with me,” Maggie says indignantly. “I thought you might not show up at all.”

“My fault,” I say quickly, and I scent Eloise’s gratitude. “She was thinking about going back to Uni when I offered her clothes from my family’s closet.”

Maggie holds Eloise out by the shoulders and properly inspects her. “Great. Now I can’t even be mad. Yer the hottest thing I’ve seen this side of the ocean.”

I’m inclined to agree, except the thought doesn’t fully form before my gaze snags on someone in the distance. Over Maggie’s shoulder, stepping into the house, is a girl with silky black hair and light green eyes. And once again my pulse starts moving rapid-fire, only not in a good way.

I don’t know what Eloise says in response, because I quickly excuse myself and speed walk through the crowd.

I skirt around a group of second-years and through the door into the spacious living room. The couches have been pushed aside to create a dance floor, which is currently packed. I scan the room only to find Sage by the far wall.

I was really hoping I was wrong.

I stride across the room, but before I can reach her, she turns and saunters up the staircase to the second floor, leaving me no choice but to follow. If I thought things couldn’t get worse, Adrien watches me with a smirk. Thankfully Sage’s back is to him, but the dipshit clearly makes assumptions and gives me a salute as he turns toward the patio. If he’s headed where I think he is, I’ll murder the bastard.

Sage opens a door to a small bedroom and I follow her inside. She locks it with an aggressive spell. Only when she turns around, it’s not Sage at all, but Naomi.

She laughs. “Wow,” she says. “This reaction ispriceless.”

“The hell?” I say, my mind spinning because while Naomi’s Elemental magic is some of the strongest in the school, she’s not even quasi-capable of an illusion spell that complex.

“Oh, come on. It’s funny,” she says, grinning at me. “Who did you think I was? The spell was supposed to make me someone you were shocked to see. A girl, maybe? Someone I know?”

I groan. I can’t believe she illusion-tricked me. I pride myself on being better than that. “I’m leaving,” I say, more than a little pissed.

“Wait,” she says, reaching for my wrist.

I pull it from her grasp. “You want to talk to me, then just say so. You have no idea what—”

“It was ajoke, Gray. Lighten up,” she says.

But I can’t because everything I do right now has consequences. I turn around to leave but she beats me to the door.

“Naomi, move,” I say, frustrated.

But the way her face falls has me hesitate. Her hurt is genuine. I can scent it. “Okay,fine. You win, Grayson. Will you talk to me? Please?”

“Now isn’t a good time,” I say.

“It’snevera good time,” Naomi huffs. “You hang out for two seconds, ask me the questions you’re interested in and then you leave.”