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“It’s good to see you, Mother,” he said with a smile that he knew didn’t reach his eyes. His mother had never given any indication she could tell the difference between real and forced emotion, though. “How have you been while I’ve been away?”
“Your father and I have been very busy,” she said, and Archer suppressed the familiar impulse to mouth the words along with her. It was what she always said when he asked her about herself.
“I can imagine. Where is he now? I wanted to talk with him about his letter.”
“Speaking with the Dean, I believe,” she said vaguely, gesturing behind him. He turned, scanning the crowds. Sure enough, there was his father, standing deep in conversation with the Dean. Archer felt an uncomfortable prickling at the back of his neck. Would the old man keep his promise about keeping Archer’s mid-semester failure to himself? What if he didn’t? Would his father force him to stay here, to enroll for another term? He felt his heartbeat accelerate at the thought.
His pulse didn’t settle much as Grant finished his conversation with the Dean and began making his way across the hall to Archer and his mother. His expression registered absolutely no emotion at seeing his son for the first time in six months, and Archer exhaled, a little surprised by how much that stung. What had he expected? Praise? “The Dean tells me you’ve impressed the teaching staff with your work ethic,” his father said brusquely. Archer nodded.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“Work ethic, work ethic,” Grant murmured, eyes narrowing a little. “I do start to worry when people harp on work ethic too much. You begin to wonder what they’re covering up. Talent’s no substitute for hard work, sure, but the reverse is also true.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Archer said after a long pause in which it became clear his father expected a response. What was he supposed to say? Sorry, Father, I’ll run out and pick up some extra talent if you think that’s what I’m lacking? “Father, I wanted to talk to you about your letter.”
“What about it?”
“I—“ He gritted his teeth. “I was—grateful to receive it. I’m glad you think I’m ready to step up at the company.”
“Well, I wouldn’t go that far just yet,” Grant scoffed, shaking his head as though Archer had just announced his intention of taking over. “As I made quite clear, you’ll be employed on a provisional basis. Quarterly assessments of your progress and your growth, ensuring that you’re meeting and exceeding professional standards and the targets set for you.”
“Sounds good,” Archer said faintly. The hall felt like it was pressing in on him. “I’m looking forward to proving myself further.”
“It’ll be hard work, you understand?” Grant’s eyes were steely. “Not like this little holiday at university. Hard work and dedication, that’s what I want to see. Not just in your professional life, either. Your mother and I have been talking, and it’s far past time for you to select a partner. Have you found an eligible match?”
Archer thought of Morgan, thought of the way her green eyes flashed with amusement when they bickered, remembered the look on her face when he’d told her he was leaving. He tried to think of a single person he’d met who’d made anything like that kind of impression on him… but there was nothing and nobody. Just her. Just her green eyes and her cool smile and the sure and certain knowledge that he could never be the kind of person she could love.
“Archer?”
“No,” he said, swallowing the lump in his throat. “No, I haven’t met anyone.”
“Of course you have,” his father snapped, shaking his head with disgust. “You just haven’t been paying attention. Typical. Well, thankfully, your mother and I will handle it. We’ve spoken to a few families just tonight with daughters who’d make a suitable match.”
Archer nodded, feeling the mask of politeness sliding firmly into place. He could see his father’s lips moving, but he couldn’t make out anything he was saying. It was all just noise… white noise, static crackling through his head. He didn’t want this. He didn’t want any of this… he didn’t want to work for his father, didn’t want to settle down with some strategically-selected young woman with whom he wouldn’t have a thing in common. He didn’t even want to travel the world like he used to. He didn’t want to be here. He didn’t want to be anywhere.
Archer waited for his father to finish speaking, excused himself as politely as he could, then walked straight out of the Great Hall and into the dark forest beyond.
Chapter 25 - Morgan
Morgan had been looking forward to seeing her sister for weeks. It hadn’t really been that long since she’d been back home to visit, but she was still almost beside herself when she caught a glimpse of Cato’s distinctive features among the crowd of people making their way to the Great Hall for the celebration. The two of them looked absolutely radiant, Cato in a suit that he was clearly doing his best not to fidget with, Acantha wearing a long, forest-green gown that set off her eyes beautifully. Seeing Acantha in a dress was a very rare occurrence and a mark of great respect for an occasion, and Morgan couldn’t help the tears that welled up in her eyes when she threw her arms around her.
The three of them headed into the Great Hall, surprised to discover that it was a much looser affair than the party at the beginning of the semester. Instead of a sit-down dinner, there were staff with trays of nibbles circulating. It wasn’t long before they’d lost Cato—he seemed determined to follow every fresh tray he saw until he’d sampled everything on the menu, and Morgan giggled at the look of fond exasperation on Acantha’s usually stoic face.
“He’s very excited to be here, I promise,” Acantha said drily. “We’re both so proud of you. Tell me about the exams.”
“They were fine,” she said, shrugging her shoulders a little helplessly. “Honestly, there’s not much to tell yet. Like the Dean said, we don’t get the results until tomorrow, but… I think I nailed it.”
“Is that right?” Acantha was looking at her very closely, and Morgan grimaced as she recognized the expression her sister wore when she was investigating something. “So you’re not worried about the exams.”
“Not at all.”
“Then what’s bothering you? And don’t tell me it’s nothing,” she added sharply. “You might’ve been away for six months, but I’ve known you a lot longer than that, and I know when there’s something on your mind.”
“You know it’s water signs who are meant to be the mind-readers, right? You’re a Capricorn. This is unacceptable.” But Acantha’s brief smile made it very clear that she wasn’t going to be giving up on this subject. “Fine. It’s Archer, alright?”
To Acantha’s credit, her face remained extremely neutral. “Oh?”
“Don’t.”
