Page 17 of Balance

I loved that there were people in my life who cared about me, but sometimes it was nice to just have your own space. Outside. In nature. The tree-lined pathway to the Psychology building was particularly picturesque.

“Mistress,” Xavier’s voice reached me the instant before I spotted him: long, white hair low in a ponytail, all black filled uniform (in a school that didn’t require uniforms), angled face tilted in my direction as he leaned against the tree, right foot braced against the trunk. He moved, stepping away from the tree and swooping up his leather satchel from the ground.

So much for my alone time.

“H-hello…” My heart pounded with a sense of foreboding, throwing my nervousness into overdrive. I hadn’t seen him since the last French class we shared together.

I couldn’t shake this feeling of nervousness in his presence. First, there was the questionable reading material he’d given to Jiayi, and then his unsettling absence. I was supposed to be avoiding him, or something like that. The boys had said he might try to trick me.

But it wouldn’t really work if I was aware of the deception, right?

“I’ve been waiting to talk,” he said, reaching my side and swinging his bag over his left shoulder. “Bryce has been determined to keep me away. Where are you going? I’ll walk with you.”

Wouldn’t the others get upset about this? Xavier was supposed to work under me though, so, really, should I care what they thought?

‘No,’ I shook my head. It wasn’t like I was personally insulting them by stepping into my rightful responsibility. I’d never catch up to the others if I didn’t change myself first. And to do that, I had to be more independent.

“No?” Xavier asked, actually stepping back a short distance. “You don’t want me to go with you?”

“No!” The word rushed from me—even though he’d still had the same darker feeling as the first time I’d met him, I wasn’t afraid. It would be horrible of me to reject someone who clearly just wanted to impress me.

Besides, he wasn’t allowed to hurt me anyway. “Yes, p-please walk with me.”

He frowned, thin brows furrowing with confusion. “But you just said—”

“It’s fine,” I interrupted, holding up the white paper cups. “I-I’m going to Damen’s. Come with me?”

We had things to discuss anyway. There was the issue with the sort of books he lent out to others. Sure, I was curious about the subject matter myself—if only for the sake of knowledge, which was never a bad thing. But, mostly, I was troubled at the fact he even owned a book on advanced demonology that also happened to be bound with human skin and written in blood.

Why were such extremes necessary for a publication? Did it, magically, make the book more legitimate?

I doubted anyone else would answer these questions, so that left Xavier.

“Gladly.” Xavier half-bowed with a graceful flourish, and his pale mouth curled in the corner. “I am yours to command,” he said, falling into step beside me. “I knew stalking the Dubois idiots would pay off eventually, although I did think you’d have been with Bryce.”

“Why?” I paused, turning to face him. My flower-patterned skirts rustled around my knees, and even my thick white tights weren’t enough to protect me from the October chill. I hadn’t dressed to stay outside for a long discussion, but I also didn’t want to risk someone interrupting this conversation.

“Well, because you’re married to him,” Xavier answered, cocking his head as his pale eyes ran over my form appraisingly. “Because you’re brother and sister. Because he’s your Er Bashou, which makes him your confidant, and it’s his job to take care of you. He’s a terrifying warrior and relentlessly stubborn. He acts foolish, but it’s a façade to throw off his enemies. I’m surprised he’s not demanding to be at your side every second.”

My skin heated—all of those things were true. But I was so used to seeing Bryce in a different light, that the disconnect between the man I knew and the man that Xavier was describing, was jarring.

Besides, who would act ignorant to lull their foes into a false sense of security? That wasn’t normal behavior.

“But even though he’s the best, he’s not perfect,” Xavier finished, frowning. “I knew he’d eventually let down his guard and I’d be able to contact you. Which means I need to make this quick.”

My heart began to race, the boys’ warnings echoing through my thoughts. I already knew what he was going to say before his mouth opened.

And sure enough…

“Mistress.” His expression was apologetic at least, complete with a worry-line in the middle of his forehead. “Please, youneedto visit the Unseelie court.”

Oh no.

My throat closed, and I blinked at him, my fists tightening around the paper cups.

His gaze lingered on my white fists for a moment. The sharp angles of his jaw tightened and his gaze flashed at mine. “It’s yourresponsibility.”

I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry—why did he have to say it like that? Of course, it was my responsibility to help! Though I had no idea what that even meant at this point.