Page 36 of Falling Princess

“Raina. She’s afraid you’re failing.”

Tellingly, Lorcan’s gaze cut away from mine. He remained expressionless, but I’ve gotten better at picking up on his subtle cues.

“I’m not failing.”

“It’s a difficult class. Poli sci, right? That’s where you’re having trouble?” He gave the briefest of nods, his hair falling further over his eye. I gripped the strap of my bag, hard. “I can help you study for the exam. If you want me to. It’s meant to be a tough course, to weed out the weak.”

He inhaled sharply, nostrils flaring.Note to self: if you want to nudge Lorcan into doing something, make it a challenge.

Useful to know.

“I...my notes might not be complete,” he said, a bit sheepishly.

“Oh?” I arched one eyebrow. “Distracted?”

A faint rosy tinge touched his cheeks. It’s disgustingly cute when he does that little blush. It’s the only indication that he feels emotions, and it’s one he appears to be helpless to control.

“Maybe a little.”

“Then I am vindicated in my assessment that sports are nothing but a hindrance to a rigorous education,” I declared loftily. “Fortunately for you, I am not so easily seduced away from my studies. Follow me, Knight.”

Lorcan, predictably, said nothing in response. The pink tinge deepened briefly, and I was of half a mind to ask him where he got that thin scar on his cheek. There’s another at the end of his eyebrow. I almost asked about it when we were dancing.

I want to ask about all of his scars, especially the ridged one on his low belly. That, however, would mean admitting that I’ve been looking at his body (not that Lorcan seems to have the slightest sense of shame about nudity) and I’m not prepared to admit any such thing.

Back in the dormitory, Bashir had invited his friends over. They’ve gotten mighty used to appropriating our suite on Friday nights as a party site. The lounge constantly reeks of hash. I wrinkled my nose and exchanged a glance with Lorcan. Even if we were to lock ourselves in my study with the window open, the noise and smell would be bothersome. Plus, then I would have to be alone with him in a small, enclosed space.

“Since the lounge is presently polluted, we’ll use the library.”

It’s better this way. More public. I don’t have to think about doing something embarrassing, such as—

I will never do anything embarrassing; I don’t like him; if only I can remember that fact for more than two minutes in a row.

After dropping off unneeded textbooks and collecting our poli sci materials, we traipsed off through campus in the direction of the library.

“Haven’t seen you practicing your needlepoint, Highness.”

I shot my knight a sidelong glare. Was that a joke? From Lorcan?

“Perhaps I’ll practice my technique by sewing your mouth shut.”

It’s the meanest thing I’ve ever said.

His mouth ticked up at the corner.

I plunked down my backpack at a table made to seat six—the better to keep my distance from Lorcan and his tempting hair. “All right. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

What he’s got is a hodgepodge of barely legible notes, decorated in the margins with sketches of dragons, mouse deer, wolf-bears, and bits of Auralian legend. They’re quite clever; he has some artistic talent.

There are also holes in his note-taking large enough to ride a horse through.

“Where’s the section on representative democracy?” I asked. Lorcan shrugged. He didn’t seem to be particularly focused on this task, leaning his chair back on two legs, balanced with one open palm flat on the table. I pointed at the floor. The chair dropped. Better. “All right, here are my notes. We’re probably going to be tested on patterns of democracy in modern Europe, so focus here. For the final paper, what are you planning to write about?”

“Auralia,” he answered, immediately.

My head snaps up. “You do realize that’s not part of the curriculum?”

Lorcan shrugged as though this weren’t the least concerning. “We’ve lasted five thousand years. I’m not convinced any other country has much to teach us.”

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