Cassius closes the door behind him and leans against it. “Are you ready for the debate tomorrow?”
She nods, walking back to her desk. “I read the papers you gave me about Dracoemagyl. They were very helpful.”
His gaze drifts. “So, now you know. I’m not the descendant of a god. I’m the descendant of a man who failed to ascend.”
“He didn’t fail. He was attacked.”
“And he lost.”
She grabs the papers from her desk and walks up to Cassius, handing them back to him. “I’m sorry. I know I asked for something to help me win, but if you don’t want me to talk about Dracoemagyl, I won’t.”
He smiles softly. “That’s what I came to discuss. I’m here to make a trade with you. A bargain of sorts.”
“For what?” Claudia asks, stiffening.
“You can tell the story of Dracoemagyl, but I would appreciate it if you didn’t mention my curse of silence to our classmates.”
She nods. She doesn’t need to use that part, anyway. Her argument doesn’t hinge on that. “All right. And what do I get for keeping it between us?”
“This,” he says, handing her a vial of a misty lilac potion. “To help you sleep.”
Claudia takes it, turning it over in her hand. “What is it?”
“It’s called the essence of dreams. My ancestor created it.” He reaches for her hand and curls her fingers around the vial. “It will keep the nightmares away.”
Her lips part when she looks into his eyes. His hand lingers on hers for a few more seconds before he finally lets go.
“Thank you so much, Cassius.”
“You’re welcome, Claudia. I’ll see you in the morning.” He turns, but over his shoulder, he says, “Unless you don’t want to spend tonight alone. I’m a bit wary of leaving you here.”
She doesn’t particularly want him to leave, either, but she has to get to a lesson with Lamour. And beyond that, as much as she wants to pick up where they left off, she can’t let it throw her off the night before the debate. It’s too dangerous. Above all else, he’s still her rival. He could use some rhetorical charm to dull her argument, or give her stage fright, or make her tongue swell up so that she lisps through her opening statement.
Besides, he said he’d praise her all night if she beat him in the debate, and she intends to.
With a warm sigh, she says, “I thought I had to earn more before you’d give it to me. Are you too weak to resist?”
The corner of his mouth quirks up. “Not at all. I only fear I’ve made an unfair bargain.”
That makes two of them. “How so?”
“Because I can’t let you win, no matter how badly I want to give you your reward.”
She runs her hands along his strong arms and smiles. “Have a little faith in me, MacLeod. Believe me when I say I’m going to annihilate you, and you’re going to enjoy it.”
After her celestial magic lesson, when she lays down to sleep, she takes a sip of the essence of dreams. It tastes of lavender and salt. It coats her throat like honey and warms her insides.She drifts off to sleep, sinking into a perfect, mist-soaked dream.
She dreams of playing with Bishop. Of sweets and books and stories.
She dreams of the stars. Of her mother.
But most of all, she dreams of Cassius MacLeod.
MALEVIMUS
Our truest selves live only in the company of a devoted witness.
Malevimus, God of Wit and Secrets
