“Hello, Maxon. It’s been a while. It’s good to see you back, even without…” She trails off and quickly shakes her head. “It’s good to see you, son.” Her eyes sparkle as she greets him, but the sparkle turns shrewd as she looks at me next, giving me an appraising look. “Who is your friend?”
“This is Addison Blake,” Max says. “She’s a new student.”
Her eyebrows wing up. “The human-born reaper? The one Professor Dalmatius found in the human realm?”
“Right.” Maxon’s jaw works, and I can tell he wants to correct her, to tell her that he is the one who’d discovered me. But he doesn’t want to risk her finding out that he is in trouble, so instead he keeps his mouth shut and leads me to a table in the back.
Music quietly plays from a silver box on the bar top, barely audible over the murmur of voices. There are weathered and worn menus on the table, and Maxon slides one in front of me.
I flip my menu over and look at the drinks, which all have strange names. Except for the wine.
“The Rusty Scythe,” he says, and I feel his eyes on me. “That’s what I get.”
“What is it?”
“Whiskey mixed with elderberries and a secret ingredient that I’m pretty sure is a lemon juice concoction.”
“I’ll try that. And the rabbit stew.”
“So, you usually come here on the weekends?” I ask, fiddling with the ties on my cloak and hoping Kaia and Gertrude will walk in and join us. The tension between Maxon and me seems different after our latest spat, and I’m more aware of him physically than ever before. I can still feel the echo of his touch on my wrist, and my lips tingle as I look at him, wondering how it would have felt if he’d actually kissed me.
“Uh, yeah. Well…I used to.” He casts his eyes down, and something crosses his face—something I hadn’t seen before. Sadness?
“Used to?”
“Dorian,” he forces out. “We…we used to always come here together.”
“Oh, your old roommate.” I swallow hard, throat suddenly thick. Maxon had mentioned him when he’d been yelling at me earlier—the death had hit him hard, and he must still be dealing with it. “I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.” He clears his throat, and and an awkward silence falls over us. I’m not very good at comforting people when they’re in distress…mostly because I’ve never had close friendstocomfort, and not having anyone to rely on myself, I’ve been forced to toughen up and bear my burdens in silence.
The waitress comes over to take our order, and while she’s speaking with Maxon I look around the tavern again. There are a few reapers seated around a circular table near the bar. Their scythes are at their sides, firelight flickering off the sharp metal blades.
As if they can feel my eyes on them, one looks up. I quickly turn my head, but not before the reaper takes notice.
“Maxon!” He rises from his chair and begins to stride toward us. Maxon’s head snaps up, and he jumps to his feet as he sees the reaper approaching. Should I stand too? Is it reaper custom to show respect that way? If not, then it might be weird to stand. I’m so overthinking, I know.
“It’s good to see you, kid.” The reaper claps Maxon on the back. “How are you doing at the academy? Still top of your class?”
“Yes, sir,” Maxon replies. “Top marks in all subjects.”
The reaper beams. “Your father would have been proud.”
Would have? Is his father not alive? Shame washes through me as I realize I don’t really know anything about Maxon at all.
As if that’s your fault,a voice in my head says fiercely. Maxon keeps our study sessions businesslike, refusing to engage in any small talk at all. Then again, considering I am so far behind, maybe that is a good thing. I have a burning desire to catch up, to prove that I am worthy of being here.
“I like to think so,” Maxon says as the waiter brings our drinks over, setting pewter mugs full of booze on the weathered wooden table.
The reaper looks at me and then back at Maxon in question. “Have things not worked out between you and that spell caster? Not that I’d be surpr—”
“We’re still engaged,” Maxon interrupts. “This is Addison Blake. She’s new.”
“Is she now?” His eyes gleam with interest as he looks me up and down. “I’ve heard the rumors, but didn’t think I’d be meeting you in the flesh so soon. I’m Sergeant Preston Caio.” He extends a hand.
“Nice to meet you, Sergeant,” I say, and shake his hand firmly.
“Likewise. Why don’t you come and join us?” He gestures to his friends near the bar.
