Page 43 of Architecti
15
Lucy
Ispot Midnight the minute she walks through the doors of the Hall of Unfinished Business.
She made it.
Thank the seven devils.Though I think it would be easier for me if she hadn’t.But my stomach tightens at the thought.My father might not want me to go near her, but a woman can window-shop from afar.
I lean against the wall, taking the pressure off my knee.I’m fairly certain the bone has healed now, but there’s an ache living its best life in my joints.
Midnight’s wearing black leathers because she rode here, I assume.They’re snug around her ass, her muscular thighs press against the fabric.Her hair is shaved close to her scalp and longer on top.It flops as she pulls her hand through it.
Her shirt, like all the successful candidates is ripped.
I hate that my body reacts to her presence.Perhaps dabbling is worth the risk.Father’s only concerned about my magic, and the only way I lose that is if I fall in love, and there’s no chance of that.I’m far too busy.
Thalia appears by my side; she nods at Midnight.“I thought you said you didn’t have a nice young woman keeping you entertained.”
I tut at her.“I don’t.She’s just a new student.”
“Mmmhmm, and one you seem to be admiring.”
“Thalia,” I scold.“Can you imagine?I’m not risking my tenure for a student.No matter how attractive they may be.What was that professor’s name?”
“Jorsin.”She nods knowingly.
“That was it.”
“Banished to the underworld on top of losing his magic to the mortal.And then she broke it, too.Didn’t have control when she used his power, and it shattered his crystalline heart.Just awful.”
I kick off the wall, instantly regretting it as my knee buckles and Thalia catches me.Her eyes meet mine, she doesn’t say anything.She doesn’t have to.She knows what my father is like.
“It’s fine,” I mumble.
“Is it?”She growls under her breath.“I could rip open the Veil, shove him through.Get Alistair to stitch it up tight enough he can’t get back through.”
I stifle a laugh.“You’re terrible.He’s not that bad.”
“Lucy…” she says and lets me go once I’m stable.Thalia has always found my father to be difficult.She sees through the charm and allure unlike most female professors.
I clasp her hand.“I did this to myself.The contract…”
She waves me off.“You can’t move against him.Blah blah blah.The point is you shouldn’t have to.You shouldn’t be put in a position where you need to defend yourself and certainly not significantly enough you end up injured.”
I cup her cheek.“I appreciate you.”
She huffs but leaves me be.In my periphery, I catch sight of Midnight and my stomach drops.Another student with curly ginger hair and pale, freckled skin gesticulates at her.Midnight’s eyes seethe with a coldness that could kill.
Who is she?And why does she make Midnight react that way?
My stomach turns.
It has no right to.Midnight is nothing to me.And even less now I know she’s Father’s reaperanda student.I stand a little taller.I’m about to encourage the professors to sort the students when Midnight notices me.
“Fuck you, Aurelia.Bastien, Lex, excuse me a moment, I’ll be back.”
She strides over to me, thank the gods, because it’s definitely easier resting against the wall.I hobble back but tuck myself under the shade of an archway where we can’t be seen by the growing cluster of students.
