“You’re suggesting I devote every spare moment to working on breaking your ensorcellment to gain their loyalty first.”
Perhaps he means it in a benign way. It could simply be that he wants to pass on information, but something deep andcynical in my gut can’t help but think that Leo has been offered a carrot by Mathias and decided to give me the stick.
“Threatening me into working harder is a curious choice,” I mutter before I can stop myself.
“I’m not threatening you,” he retorts. “I’m simply telling you what will happen if Mathias controls the cure. What would you give to the devil if your bairn’s life was on the line? Sure, not every Ó Rinn carries the mark, but enough of them do that it will make a difference. Do you even know who you’re going to use to cast the next nullification spells?”
I tug at my sleeve, because Ihaveconsidered it. There are four runeforms on his chest; ergo, four separate spells are needed to break this layer. Four separate incantations. Four arcanists.
And I still don’t have my grimoire.
“You won’t like my answer.”
“Talcott.”
“Lambert barely knows enough nullification magic to pass this year. North is untrained. Eddy isn’t powerful enough, nor is Hopkinson. That leaves Jasper, Pierce, and Dakari as your best chance of success. Unless you have other friends who can step in?”
He glares at me. We both know he doesn’t. Leo has been shutting people out since he was a child.
Now it’s coming back to bite him on the ass.
“I’ll think about it.” He waves me back to the paperwork. “But it’s pointless if we can’t solve this.”
“We’re already halfway.” Two of the four are done, or close enough.
The runeform may be a mess, but it’s mercifully less obscure than the previous one.
“It’s not enough.”
“It is for tonight.”
Standing firm under the force of his intensity is an exercisein control. I won’t stoop to snapping at him, but neither of us will do our best work when tired, and I promised Jasper a date.
“I’ll be back to continue tomorrow,” I say, when he refuses to break the stare off. “You should get some sleep.”
The disbelief that enters his eyes makes me sigh again. Of course, he won’t listen to me. In his mind, he’s racing against the clock. Never mind the mistakes he might make while exhausted or the damage he’s doing to his health.
I resolve to slip more fortifying draughts into his drinks. He’s getting peaky.
“Suit yourself.” I smooth the fabric of my skirt, hands stilling mid-motion.
Am I appropriately dressed for a date? I suppose it’s not like Jasper can take me anywhere fancy—we’re limited to the Arcanaeum—but what if he wants me to dress up?
With a thought, I’m standing beside Eddy in the kitchen, who jumps out of her skin.
“Bloody hell,” she gasps, clutching her chest. “Give me some warning next time?”
She’s alone, which is a relief. I really don’t want to ask this question in front of the others.
“How does one dress for a date?”
Her expression goes from shocked to downright gleeful in the space of two seconds. “It would depend on which of the dunderheads is taking you, surely?”
She’s got a point. “Jasper.”
Her smile grows. “Cute but casual. Sexy underwear.”
That is so unhelpful, but I suppose it goes with what I’ve seen the McKinley heir wearing.
