“I’ve never done that to you. What was that?”
“That was me,” said Mal piously.
He strode towards her. He grasped the ring hanging from around her neck, incidentally pulling her closer.
“Oh,” whispered Maeve as it made complete sense. Part of him was inside that ring. “You.”
His smirk turned to a wicked smile. “I wondered if that would work.”
His face was inches from Maeve’s. She was quickly becoming addicted to being this close to him. She looked down at the ring in his hand. An idea struck her-
“Do you think I could duel Arianna like this?” Maeve asked, her eyes wide.
“You don’t need me to beat her.”
“I don’t want to beat her,” said Maeve. “I want to demolish her.”
Mal smiled down at her in a feline way.
“That’s my girl.”
That weekend, the Sinclair’s hosted an intimate dinner party for a few of their friends. Mal and Maeve spent the days prior dueling non-stop as Maeve adjusted to the power of Mal’s newest Vexkari hanging around her neck.
They were careful to never discuss Mal’s heritage. Magic was a tricky thing, and there were few secrets that stayed secrets in Magic houses. But Mal devoted all his spare time to reading, studying new Magic, and experimenting with his abilities.
Dinner was filled with lighthearted conversation. Clarissa always ensured the wine flowed heavily at her functions. Maeve and Mal politely declined the alcohol.
“I heard you’ve had quite the year, Maeve,” said Egor Rupertill, a Professor at a primary school for Magicals, who had a short-lived career teaching at Vaukore . He was one of Ambrose’s closest friends.
“Says who?” Asked Maeve charmingly.
“Larliesl,” said Rupertill. “Told us you made top ranks in the Dueling Club. Finished second in the whole year.”
Maeve smiled. “I had a good teacher.”
“Of course,” said Egor. “Everyone knows that!”
The men laughed. And Egor continued.
“Malachite Peur. Youngest Supreme in a millennium, top of the class in every subject and the heaviest recruited third year I’ve ever seen. Who hasn’t offered you a job yet? Quite an achievement. Larliesl doesn’t shut up about you.”
Mal smiled with pride. “That’s very kind.”
“And rumor has it a Maeve Sinclair has been added to the list of recruits for the Bellator.” Egor eyed Ambrose with a grin. “Bet you never imagined your youngest in those ranks.”
“But surely Larliesl is just being biased,” said Ariana quickly. “And The Double O.”
Maeve looked across the table at her sister. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Asked Maeve.
Ariana smiled at Maeve with pity. “You know exactly what that means. A year ago, you couldn’t even block a stunning spell. Now I’m supposed to believe you’re second best to him?” She pointed at Mal, who was seated next to Maeve. “Offers of Bellator. Since when are you a soldier?”
“Would you like to see for yourself?” Asked Maeve, cooly.
“I would actually,” said Arianna with a scoff.
“Oh now, ladies-” started Egor, but Maeve cut him off.
“Shall we?” Maeve asked her father, turning sharply across the table towards him for approval.
