“Did you tell her you still wanted to be a champion?”
I turned around to find Alex standing in the same place I’d left him. His face was hard and his lips tight. I hadn’t realized that he’d been waiting for me.
“I told you I wanted to do it, babe. Why are you so surprised?”
“I thought . . . after our discussion—ourproclamation, you might’ve changed your mind.”
My lips formed an O. “Babe, I never said that I’d changed my mind. I said that I love you.”
“People who are in love take each other’s feelings into account, Odie,” Alex said. “I thought you would understand that.”
“Excuse me?” I blinked. “What does that even mean?”
“I just—”
“Class starts in one minute. Get yer arses into my classroom now.” The thick Scottish brogue of Professor Thrax cut through me, and I twisted to find him walking toward us. “Just because it’s the first day dinnae mean you get a break.”
“Yes, Professor Thrax,” Alex and I said together.
As soon as the professor had vanished down the stairs, I caught Alex’s gaze again. “Can we talk about this later—like,reallytalk about it? Maybe tonight?”
Alex didn’t respond, just disappeared down the stairs.
My lips parted in surprise. Since we’d been dating, Alex had never turned his back on me. That single gesture told me how pissed off he really was.
During Advanced Battle Magic, Alex’s anger only seemed to intensify. Professor Thrax divided us up into groups, and while Alex was not in my group, I watched him closely, and winced as he pummeled José Valdez, Kira Johnston, and Dakota Wily with a ferocity I’d never witnessed before.
If all three of them weren’t among the people shunning me for daring to earn the rank of spymaster, I would almost feel bad for them.
“What happened? You’re not performing well, and he . . . ” Eva gestured to Alex, who was brooding on the far side of the room while we stopped to get water. “Seems like he wants to tear down the classroom.”
I released a sigh. Professor Thrax had already commented on my use of shoddy spellmanship twice. And Jasmine Sahni, another Odie-hater and one of my sparring group members, had also remarked on my lack of prowess with a smug smile. Maybe if I told Eva what was bugging me, I’d be able to concentrate better.
“He doesn’t want me to be the champion.”
“But I thought you guys worked through that?”
I hadn’t mentioned that Alex and I had said the “L” word, but I could see why Eva would think things were all good. We’d been affectionate and carefree the last couple of days. Apparently, because Alex had thought I intended to give in to what he wanted.
“Well, we fought over the games, but ended the fight by saying ‘I love you’. I guess, in Alex’s mind, that meant that I wasn’t taking part in the Spy Games anymore. Even though Ineversaid that. It was more that neither of us brought it up again because things were good.”
“Oh shit.” Eva shook her head.
“Yeah. A classic case of not talking through our issues.” I facepalmed myself. “Anyway, Headmistress Wake asked me if I was still up for the Games right before class, and Alex heard.” I gestured to where Alex had started fiercely sparring again. “Now he’s taking it out on his group.”
Eva winced as one of Alex’s sizzling spells swept past Kira, and singed off a thin black braid.
“He’s definitely being more aggressive than usual.” She shook her head and then turned back to me. “Do you want Hunter to talk to him? He remembers last year and sees how people are reacting to you now. He thinks you should compete. Maybe he can work some cousin magic.”
My lips tilted up in a smile. “That’s sweet, but—”
“I’m serious, Odie. We were there when everyone was treating you like shit. It’s notsobad this year, but it feels similar.” She nodded to Alex. “I think that might be why he doesn’t understand. He wasn’t there at the start. He was one of the people looking down their noses at you. And even though he loves you now, I don’t think he comprehends how hard those first few months were. Or how badly you want to cement your reputation in this society.”
Eva was right. How could Alex understand completely? The moment he’d arrived at Spellcasters, he’d been the top student and very popular.
“You think Hunter can smooth it out a little before we talk?” I didn’t need him settling my relationship problems, but if he could calm Alex down a bit, I would be grateful.
Eva waved her hand to indicate it would be a piece of cake. “They get each other, you know? I’ll tell Hunter to talk to him at lunch.” She wrapped her arm through mine. “You and I will find those two girls you wanted to introduce me to, and we’ll have some lady time.”
