And what was that about Cronus marrying the Dupont widow?
A woman’s voice returns, softly vibrating through the room; Lexington and I glance at the door, spotting Sabrina with her hands on her hips as she leans in, her lips moving quickly with each word she utters to Sutton.
The tendons in my heart grow hot, and I snap the next journal shut, slotting it back into place with more force than necessary.
He doesn’t even bother looking away from her.
“You think she’ll get a big part in the class play?” Lexington asks. “For the final.”
“What, like the female lead?” I scoff, snatching a different book and cracking it open to a random page. “Only if Sutton has no taste.”
Lexington cocks a brow. “Didn’t know we were on a first-name basis with the professor.”
Sweat beads along my hairline, and I look up at him, attempting to school my features. “We’re not, but you are, right? Isn’t that a perk of being a respected founding family member?”
His expression flattens. “Not sure he’d be thrilled if I called him by his name on school grounds. Avernia’s real weird about interpersonal relationships between staff and students. Even students like me.”
“Why is that?” I focus my attention back on the shelves even as my gaze burns with the effort. “I mean, I know it’s taboo in general for students and professors to have, like, sexual encounters and stuff, but Avernia seems particularly strict. The school handbook names every punishment short of a publicexecution should an unreported friendship or family tie be discovered.”
“Dunno. I suspect they had problems with power dynamics and shit at some point. My mom went to school with the dean, and she said he was a repeat offender when it came to fucking students as a TA.”
I shudder. “Of course he was.”
“He does have that vibe, doesn’t he?” Lexington stacks a second and third journal for me. “Only reason he never got into trouble was because he was so tight with the Duponts and Blackwaters.”
“Blackwaters? As in the state prosecutor?”
“One and the same.” He juts his chin at Sabrina and Sutton. “Word on the street is Sabrina has some sort of ties to him, but no one really knows what. The threat, though, is clear enough. Normally, Professor Dupont dismisses anyone who tries to get clingy, which happens probably more than you’d think. Yet he’s with herallthe time it seems.”
Malevolence churns in my chest, setting the cavity ablaze.
“She’ll probably make a good lead,” he says thoughtfully.
I shoot him a glare. “I’m starting to not like you very much.”
“What?” He grins, flashing his straight white teeth. “I’ve yet to see youreallyact outside of class exercises. If you’re as talented as you say, then let’s see it.”
“You want me to break into a soliloquy in the middle of this basement?”
“Any actor worth their salt would be able to take on a role no matter the location.” He waggles his eyebrows, and I realize how similar he and Percy actually are. That must be why they’re so close.
Turning back to the shelves, I shake my head. “Quincy said I had ten minutes. I need to grab everything I can before she kicks me out.”
“She’s not here,” he says, leaning against the bookcase. “Comeon, Elle, I can tell you’re good. Let me see those skills in action.”
“Mr. Abbott.” Sutton’s voice is a quiet thunder as it strikes the air, rippling through the aisles. “Could you assist Ms. Taylor with something, please?”
Lexington frowns. “Right now? What happened to Percy?”
“Mr. Whitmore had an evening voice training class.”
“Which hecouldhave told me about when I recruited him.” Sabrina groans. “Ugh, I didn’t want Lexington helping. He’ll get his slacker dust all over my project.”
“You can’t very well move three dozen metal chairs on your own before the mixer starts,” Sutton says. “Besides, Mr. Abbott currently holds the highest grade in the class. I’m not sure ‘slacker’ is the appropriate term for him.”
My eyebrows lift.
Lexington snorts, bending to place the journals on the floor next to me. “Don’t look so shocked. You’re not the only talent in the room, m’lady.”
