“You skipped my second question,” said Mal, as he walked her to the fifth floor.
“That is because I do not know the answer,” said Maeve.
“How old was he?”
“Freshly twenty-one, and freshly engaged on his birthday, December twenty-first. A year early for a Sacred Engagement.”
“That must have been terribly sad,” said Mal, his voice businesslike.
Maeve was silent for a moment as they walked.
“Does your father have brothers?” Asked Mal.
Maeve shook her head and let out a hollow laugh. “Not alive. They only had girls anyway. It’s a rather large deal, actually, to lose a Pureblood line. The Sinclair name is effectively gone, and will die with me.” Maeve spoke in a way that indicated this was not her first time realizing this fact.
“Forgive me,” started Mal, but Maeve cut him off.
“There’s no need,” said Maeve. “It actually feels good to talk about it. Not what I would have expected, but good none the less.”
They made it to the second floor and turned the corner.
Walking towards them was Roswyn, Phineas, Abraxas and Kash. They were laughing heartily. Maeve knew well enough that these boys needn’t worry about being out past curfew. Not only were they in Mal’s inner circle, but the Head Boy was a Serpentine himself, who looked up to Malachite just like them.
“Out for a stroll?” Asked Maeve playfully, glancing at her ivory watch. “At this hour?”
They stopped a few feet short of Mal and Maeve, and exchanged looks with Mal.
“Umm,” said Kash, with a chuckle. “Mal?”
Mal smirked. “I believe the Volaticus Paragon asked you gentlemen a question.”
Roswyn bust out laughing, stepping towards Maeve. Her smile faltered and faded at his demeanor.
“I’ve known this one long enough to know she’s all bark and no bite.”
He shoved past her, slamming his shoulder into her and knocking her to the ground.
“What the hell?” Exclaimed Abraxas, stepping towards Maeve. “She was obviously just messing around.”
Abraxas helped her to her feet and picked up her bag. Maeve’s mouth hung open in disbelief.
Roswyn scoffed and turned to walk away.
“Roswyn,” said Mal, whose voice had suddenly become low.
Maeve looked at Mal, rubbing her shoulder. His smile had vanished and had been replaced by an unnervingly void expression.
Roswyn turned towards him slowly. Mal stared him down intensely.
Roswyn glanced at Maeve, his jaw clenched tight. She was expecting an apology, but Roswyn swallowed hard and averted his eyes back to Mal with a defiant look on his face.
Mal was still staring him down, unblinking.
“Abraxas,” said Mal smoothly without breaking his stare, “continue accompanying Sinclair to her dorm.” He paused. “Roswyn, let’s take a walk.”
“I should demerit you for that-” Maeve started at Roswyn but Abraxas took her arm hastily and dragged her in the opposite direction.
Mal didn’t give Maeve another glance. Roswyn held his silent focus.
