I knew that about him.
My teeth were already chattering as I drew in my wings, using my primal to detach them from my back, so that they fell to the stone of The Eyrie’s flat roof. I had to scramble to catch hold of them when the wind started to lift them off the uneven surface. Alaric helped me by grabbing one of the wings before the set could skitter too far.
As soon as we had them under control, I cast the spell to fold them smaller into themselves, and tucked them under my arm and against my side.
I’d finally bought my own set of wings that summer, so I would be really cross if I managed to lose them the first time I wore them at Malcroix outside of class. They were iridescent green-black in color, much greener in direct sunlight, and I’d had them professionally fitted by a wing shop in London, so I was rather fond of them.
Alaric led me deeper into the walled area of the roof, away from the opening where I’d landed and well behind the curved shield around over three-fourths of the surface. I saw the radio-like receiver sitting there already, glowing green and blue from the stone with its odd, spiral lines, right next to several pillows and a blanket.
“I spelled the blanket to be warmer,” Alaric said, his teeth chattering worse than mine. “And the air around the radio. If we can get to it, our extremities might even thaw.”
“When did you get up here?” I asked wonderingly.
“F-few hours ago…” he said through his chattering jaw. “Wanted to check the chimaeras. Make sure I could anchor them inside the shield.”
I nodded, but I was surprised.
“I could have helped,” I said, right as we reached his receiver.
“No, no.” He shook his head. “Better that we left at vastly different times. There’s a fair-few royals who think we’re shagging on the sly, already.”
I flinched a little at that. “Seriously?” I asked, then felt a little dumb for being so surprised. Half of the royals acted like I was a prostitute, so it pretty well tracked. “They’re not giving you a hard time about it, are you?”
Alaric scoffed.
“No.” He sat on one of the pillows, the peacock blue one, and motioned me towards the red one next to it. Once we were both situated, he threw the blanket over both of us. Grinning at me from underneath it, he winked. “As shagging is about the only permissible excuse for spending time with you, at least according to that lot, I haven’t tried to dissuade them. A few are a bit bent out of shape about it, but it’s pure jealousy, love.”
It was my turn to scoff.
“Right,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I’m sure that’s exactly what it is.”
He snorted another laugh, then handed me a covered mug.
I lifted the cover and sniffed cautiously.
It turned out to be hot chocolate with something alcoholic in it, probably something Magical that didn’t have an exact equivalent in human England. Whatever it was, it smelled strong, alcohol-wise, and spicy. The unusual scents blended surprisingly well with the chocolate.
I took a few swallows without even asking him what it was.
“You are unbelievable,” I told him, right before the chocolate concoction hit my tongue and the back of my throat. Heat seareddown me, warming my chest. I let out a happy little moan. “Oh, gods. I take it back. You’re a bloody genius.”
He grinned and drank some from a second mug, scooting closer to me so we could huddle together for warmth.
His eyes grew serious a few seconds later.
“Sorry to pull you out here like this. I figured you’d want to listen––”
I shook my head. “Don’t apologize. Of course I want to listen.” I studied his eyes from a few inches away, huddled around my mug. “How did you hear about it?”
“Eavesdropping,” he said at once. “I’ve been experimenting with spells, since I don’t have the drakai here. I heard Scar Maskey talking to Marigold Beauville, a firstie royal he’s been trying to shag since summer.”
I shuddered a little, unable to help it.
“Lovely,” I muttered, sipping my chocolate.
But Alaric was staring at the receiver, his expression suddenly grim. “The dial is glowing. I think it’s about to start. They’re a little early tonight,” he added, pulling out his silver pocket watching and glancing down at it. “It’s only just ten-thirty. I thought it would be closer to eleven when they began.”
“Why so late?” I asked him. “It was usually early evening in the summer.”
