Page 115 of The Alchemists

“You’re dead, Allsaires. You’re fucking dead. And your fucking bitch too.”

Which was how he ended up knocking on the doorframe of Dr. Metcalf’s office with his unbloodied hand five minutes later as she looked up in surprise from her armchair.

“I’m ready,” he said, his voice stable even as his shoulders shook. “I want to press charges.”

LILY

The invitation sat on the kitchen table, lethal as a live grenade.

“What the hell is this?”

“I don’t know,” Lily said cautiously.

It wasn’t the invitation itself so much as the crest where a return address should have been that had them terrified. The front door creaked open, followed by Sebastian’s footsteps. Lily turned, grateful.

He looked more adult somehow, in his spring coat, even with the chill pinking his nose. His spine was straighter, his shoulders more squared, since he’d filed the report. Sebastian was always determined, but now, since his first meeting with officials, he was like a man possessed.

He hadn’t told her much about the first meeting, except that it had not gone well. When he’d told the administration he wanted to report an assault perpetrated by Conrad Hawleyhurst, they’d asked him who he’d witnessed Hawleyhurst assaulting. When Sebastian had responded “me,” there had been laughter followed by a lengthy silence.

She had barely seen him lately. They hadn’t worked on the Elumnara, partly because of his hesitance, but more because campus had exploded with the last clue. All over, cantrip-fueled scuffles were breaking out and the library was so overrun with treasure seekers and students trying to find a remote familial tie to the school’s founder that they had to start closing early and imposing restrictions. Beyond that, Seb had been consumed with the agony of pressing charges and anticipation for the tournament. She hadn’t been upset to get quality time with her family.

“Oh good, it came.” Seb looked, if anything, a little proud.

Her mother turned to him. “You know about this?”

“It’s for the tournament gala. I put Lily down as my plus one.”

The gala. Of course. Lily cringed internally.

Each year there was a kickoff gala thrown by the nearest Great House to whichever school was hosting. For Windermere, that was House Bellarius. Sebastian looked between Lily and her mother, trying to gauge their dour expressions.

“What’s wrong?”

“I have to take Gran to the store. Nice to see you, Sebastian.”

Her mother snaked out of the room. Seb tracked Lily’s gaze back to the invitation as the front door slammed. With pursed lips, Lily snagged the envelope. It did not blow up in her hands.

She slit it open and wiggled out the invitation.

Hawthorn and Helena Bellarius request the honor of your presence…

Carefully, she set it back on the table.

“Let’s go outside.”

This time he joined her on the swings, sitting facing her. He looked around the backyard, uncovered to mud and dead grass by the snowmelt, and then at her. She knew he was thinking about the last time he’d been back here, wondering how high on the scale of unpleasantness today’s conversation would rank.

“I can’t go to the gala with you.”

He tried to keep his face from falling. It fell anyway.

“I know you don’t like big functions, but I thought⁠—”

“No,” she said emphatically. “I don’t mean I won’t. I can’t go with you.”

“Why?”

“My mother’s maiden name is Bellarius.”