41. Chapter Forty-One

It could have been the honey-whiskey or the wine talking, but gods, I felt alive.

I didn’t drink that often, but I was starting to think that Laurel just might be onto something with her favored habit of drinks and dancing with strangers on the weekend. I was having a blast. I also needed to take the edge off of my disappointment. Even though I had passed most of my trials, I had failed the endurance test for Physical Arcana, which meant that I would have to wait another quarter before I could try and test again. It wasn’t the end of the world, and it had been a long shot, but still. I really wanted to take those damn courses. I was already craving the weight of those aetherblades in my hands.

The buzz was helping, though. As the liquor coated my tongue, I was wrapped up in a more lazy, languid joy, and a sense of belonging. It was reminiscent of the first time Graysen and I had made love in the meadows back home—all slow and heated and heavy, a strange juxtaposition of weighted limbs and a racing heart. Strange, but enjoyable.

The academic quarter was wrapping up, and most of Laurel’s little social club had completed their courses. We were all feeding off the same high of an upcoming month off, good company, and the fleeting freedoms of our youth.

Nestled in the corner of The Clover, to the left of the bar, was a decent sized stage. The floor had been cleared of most tables for tonight’s event, where people from all over the city came to enjoy a few traveling bands that had come through. A string quartet was currently playing some plucky, upbeat tune that had Laurel and I strutting on the dance floor, laughing and whirling around with one another until we were out of breath.

“Gods, I’ve missed you,” she said as we took a seat in the back of the tavern to cool off for a moment. “How have you been, Ark? I didn’t get to see much of you last night, Park was hogging all your attention.”

“I’ve been good,” I replied. “Really good, actually.”

Her smile was warm as she gave me a knowing look.

“I think Park is here tonight, by the way. You going in for another round?”

I laughed. That woman had such a one-track mind.

“Nah, I don’t think so.”

“Not good enough to hit it twice?”

“No. But gods, don’t tell Kieran that. He gave me so much shit this morning,” I groaned.

Laurel snorted.

“Of course he did.”

Her voice was laced with implications, as if I was missing something obvious, but I didn’t want to go there. Hastily, I changed the subject.

“What about you? Are you still with Cypress, or did you finally break things off last night after I left?”

Laurel winced as the music in the background slowed to a gentle ballad. We had picked a good time to take a break, it would seem, as couples began to take to the floor and sway together with lovestruck eyes and intimate embraces.

“I broke things off this morning, actually. She wasn’t particularly pleased. Claimed it was all a bit abrupt,” Laurel explained airly, unbothered.

It was my turn to snort. I suppose it would seem abrupt, considering Laurel had spent a good portion of last night drunkenly draped over her now ex-girlfriend’s lap. But, in my most humble of opinions, Cypress Glass was hardly worthy of a graceful exit. Good riddance.

“On the bright side, this means that I am free to go back to chasing the one that got away from me earlier this year,” Laurel said, smirking over a sip of wine. “You know… a certain heiress.”

But of course. How very Laurel of her. I wasn’t sure she would ever stop chasing Hanna Cragg, the heiress to the House of Clay. I couldn’t say I blamed her, either. The woman was gorgeous, intense, and powerful. Just her type.

“She here tonight?”

“I’m not sure yet,” Laurel said with a pout. “I haven’t seen her, but I saw one of her brothers when we were walking in, so it’s possible.”

“Which brother?”

“Anders.”

We both made the same face of mild distaste at the same time, and then burst out laughing. I hadn’t even officially met the man in person, but his reputation preceded him.

Gods, I’d really needed this night out. As the music began to pick up again, I knocked back what was left of my honey-laced whiskey, preparing to get my ass back out on the dance floor. I only had this sort of social energy in small bursts, and I wanted to take advantage of the moment. Make some memories.

As luck would have it, a memory seemed to appear out of thin air, ready to make me instead. One of the most gorgeous women I had ever seen in my godsdamned life was approaching us both with a confident strut, her eyes locked on mine.

She was so fucking beautiful.

“Sia!” Laurel squealed, clearly recognizing the tall, stunning female who had made her way over to our table with a feline smile. My friend turned to me excitedly, eager to make introductions.

“Arken, this is Sienna Makar. Gods, I’ve been dying to introduce you two. Sienna, this is Arken—the Light Conduit that I told you about!”

Makar. I recognized the name. This was the daughter of Lord Markus Makar, one of the few other Shadow Conduits here in Sophrosyne. Heiress to the House of Shadows.

“Call me Sia,” she purred, extending a flawlessly manicured hand. As I reached out to accept, she let her soft grip linger for a moment longer than one usually might.

“Care to dance, Lightbearer?”

Her slight Irrosi accent was apparent as she said that last word, which I had learned was their term for Light Conduits across the Eastern Seas.

The warmth of the whiskey was already blooming beneath my cheeks, but the sultry look in Sienna Makar’s eyes was absolutely intensifying the flush. I let her pull me up from my seat with grace, returning the intrigued little smile she’d flashed me first.

“I’d love to.”

As I let Sienna lead me back towards the dance floor, I caught Laurel’s eye and grinned. She tipped her glass at me with raised eyebrows, almost as if to mirror Kieran’s words from earlier this morning.

Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.

Intrigue, attraction, and whiskey were swirling around my veins, dancing with the blood and aether. What could I say? I had a bit of a thing for Shadow Conduits.

And this night was getting good.