And Gods. He was captivating. His features were so bold, his lips perfectly sculpted and full.
“Come,” said Mal, causing her to startle slightly. He dropped both his hands and crossed around her. “I promised to return you safely to your dorm, Miss Sinclair.”
The next morning Maeve found her light charm at her bedside with a note from Professor Larliesl.
I took the liberty of retrieving your light charm myself. Remind me to teach you not to need it. I am not entirely sure how a Supreme missed that lesson.
My eye caught this book I think you’d appreciate. Oddly enough, it was sitting on the ground right by your lux charm. Very unkept indeed.
Larliesl
Maeve looked down to see the French memory charm book from the Restricted Area. She shook her head and smiled triumphantly.
Chapter 18
Maeve was so busy studying that she hadn’t seen Mal, except in passing, since the night they were caught in the Restricted Area. The previous night when she finished her Paragon duty, she spotted Mal and his usual gang of ever worshipping Serpentine students entering Professor Hummingdoor’s office late in the evening.
This was a regular occurrence for Hummingdoor and his favorite Serpentine. With Mal being, arguably, at the top of the list.
It had, however, been pleasing to find out that Grisham lost his spot on the fencing team, was given detention until the end of term, and was banned from the Dueling Club for his attempted attack on Maeve.
“Have fun at your little boys’ club last night?” Maeve asked Mal, feigning a smile as he sat opposite her in the library.
Mal smirked back. “We talked about you, actually, Sinclair.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. I believe Professor Hummingdoor called you ‘a waste in Volaticus.’ That you belonged in Serpentine.”
Maeve frowned at the satisfied look on Mal’s face.
“I took up for you, though.”
“Right,” laughed Maeve, dipping her quill in her inkwell.
“I told him you weren’t a waste in anything.”
The scratching of her quill stopped. Mal’s voice wasn’t arrogant. He wasn’t gloating over her. Maeve was taken aback by the genuine way he spoke. His face was stoic, but sincere.
“Thank you,” was all Maeve could muster.
“You’re welcome.”
A moment of silence passed between them, but Maeve couldn’t help herself from continuing to pry.
“What else was said about me?”
“Abraxas said he was certain you’d get Head Girl next year. Hummingdoor agreed,” said Mal. “He also said he was certain he had seen more growth in you this term than most any student in his recent memory.”
This satisfied Maeve greatly.
“He spoke fondly of your brother.”
Maeve’s breath caught.
“I’m sure.” Maeve resumed her writing once more. “Those boys hang on your every word. Follow your every whim. You jump and they don’t even ask how high they just start flinging themselves in the air, hoping to be the highest. You’ll do great in the Bellator Sector.”
He smiled. She didn’t.
