Page 99 of Malcroix Bones Academy

I decided maybe I did like it.

“You’re not wrong about that,” I muttered. I looked around the bar, frowning. “Why are you here alone, by the way? Where’s the rest of the gang? I didn’t think any of you traveled anywhere in public except as a pack.”

Alaric rolled his eyes. “You’re one to talk,” he said, glancing pointedly at the bar, where Draken not-very-subtly peered over his shoulder at the two of us. “And why are you so sloshed? Why take shots from that boy-man who’s obviously infatuated with you?”

I rolled my eyes back. “You’re going to police my drinking now?Andmy company? Really, Alaric? I could spend hours cataloguing all the things I’ve noticed aboutyourlittle group of friends.”

“Please don’t,” Alaric said, grimacing. “Besides, maybe I’mslightlyoffended you’ve replaced me so quickly. Brand new best drinking mates, seemingly the instant you walked off the carriage to Bonescastle.” He made his lower lip into an exaggerated pout. “And you’re drinking the hard stuff with them.You never once let yourself gettrulyobliterated with me this summer. And not from my lack of trying.”

“You really only tried thatonenight,” I reminded him.

“Not true. I triedat leasttwo nights. And here you are, drinking demon shots with our resident celebrity.” He squinted in Draken’s direction. “He really is quite beautiful. It’s too bad he’s no where near your equal in any other respect.”

I scoffed. “Snob. I’m only half La Fey, remember.”

“It’s not that.” He gave me an offended look. “It’s theinternalqualities, darling. He’s just such a puppy. You’d have him on a leash the first time you consented to?”

“Alaric.” I gave him a warning look, stealing another sip of his goblet. “Should I leave you alone? Tell me the truth.”

He exhaled, and folded his arms over his chest.

The pose made him look faintly like the centaur.

“No,” he said decisively. “No, it’s too late now. And I’ve missed you, you sharp-tongued little harpy. No one else will argue with me like you do.” He smiled at me sadly, then sighed, glancing at my monocerus. “I see you worked that bit out, then?”

“Yeah.” My voice stiffened. “I had help.”

“Forsooth took you on as his little prodigy-slash-project, then?” Without waiting for an answer, Alaric smiled, raising his goblet in a toast. “I’m not surprised. You’re obviously going to be our star pupil this year… to everyone’s surprise but mine. And maybe Forsooth’s.” Alaric met my gaze seriously. “As for why I’m alone tonight, the rest of my ‘gang,’ as you so venomously put it, is still on campus. There’s a bonfire party out on the Skyhunt grounds. The nobility set is all there.”

“Oh.” Had that been what Caelum meant? He couldn’t come to Bonescastle because of some stupid party? Why hadn’t he just saidthat?

Did he think, if I knew about it, I would try to gate-crash?

What a delusional, self-important arse he was.

“Why aren’tyouthere?” I asked, puzzled. “And why would you be so worried about us being seen together, if everyone who might object isn’t even here?”

Alaric shrugged again.

“All reasonable questions,” he conceded, lifting the goblet.

“Are you going to answer them?”

“As we’ve already established, Malcroix Bones has eyes and ears everywhere, love,” Alaric said somberly. “Those eyes have definitely noticed you,” he added, taking another swallow of his drink. “And not just whichever one tried to end your life that night.”

He set the goblet back on the aged wood.

“Why didn’t you go to the party?” I pressed.

“I wasn’t in the mood.”

I studied his face. It occurred to me only then he looked more than just dramatically melancholy, or even genuinely sad. He looked depressed. I reached over and clasped his hand, a little alarmed at the expression I saw there.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, soft.

He shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

“It’s obviously not.”