Page 73 of Magic in My Bones

The Archivist continued, “The text also covers overcoming premature sexual climax.”

“That is absolutely not relevant to me!” Dorian interrupted, his cheeks reddening as he sputtered. “Why would you think…Who said…By the gods, someone needs to check your attunement!”

The Archivist, unbothered, simply replied, “Would you like me to retrieve it for you?”

I couldn't contain my laughter any longer. A snort escaped me, followed by a full-blown giggle that echoed through the cavernous archives. Dorian whirled around, his face a delightful shade of crimson that clashed magnificently with his chestnut hair.

“Ren!” he exclaimed, his voice an octave higher than usual. “How long have you been standing there?”

I schooled my features into what I hoped was a convincing look of innocence. “Oh, just got here,” I lied smoothly, holding up the massive tome I'd found. “But please, don't let me interrupt. I'd hate to cut short your... stamina enhancement consultation.”

Dorian's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing again. It was rare to see the usually composed professor so flustered, and I couldn't deny that I was enjoying it immensely.

“That will be all, thank you,” Dorian said curtly to the Archivist, who shimmered and dissipated without another word. He turned back to me, clearing his throat. “Did you, ah, find anything useful?”

I nodded, pretending not to notice the way his ears were still burning. “Actually, yes. This geological study has some interesting notes about the old academy site.”

I hefted the massive tome onto a nearby table, sending up another cloud of dust that made me sneeze. Dorian leaned in close, his warmth radiating against my side as we pored over the yellowed pages. I tried to focus on the intricate diagrams and spidery handwriting, but my mind kept drifting back to what I'd overheard. Dorian was in love with me. Me, Ren Wickens, scholarship kid and general disaster magnet. It seemed impossible, and yet...

“Look here,” Dorian said, his finger tracing a line on the map. His voice jolted me back to reality, and I blinked, forcing myself to concentrate on the task at hand. “This cavern system runs directly beneath the old academy grounds.”

Dorian leaned in closer, his breath tickling my ear. I suppressed a shiver. “Anomalous readings,” he read aloud. “Well, that's certainly intriguing.”

We flipped through more pages, our heads bent together over the book. I was acutely aware of every point where our bodies almost touched, like there was an electric current running between us.

“Look at this!” I exclaimed, pointing to a particularly detailed floor plan. “There's a hidden passage leading from the old headmaster's office directly into the cave system below!”

“Well done, mo stóirín!” Dorian beamed, his accent thickening with pride. “The best discoveries come when you let your heart guide your research. You've got a gift for finding what needs to be found. This could be exactly what we need to find Alistair and stop his ritual.”

I nodded, trying to focus on the map and not on how close Dorian was standing. His arm brushed mine as he leaned in toexamine the floor plan more closely, and I felt a jolt of electricity at the contact.

“We'll need to be careful,” Dorian mused, his brow furrowing in concentration. “These caves could be unstable after all this time, and there’s been so much rain recently, the passages may be flooded, not to mention whatever traps or wards Alistair might have set.”

“So, what’s the plan?”

“We’ll need help from a mage almost certainly, and a local historian wouldn’t hurt either, just so we know what we’re walking into. We need to wait for the water to recede, too. That will take a few days.” Dorian straightened, his fingers lingering on the map as he stepped back. The loss of his warmth made the room feel colder, emptier. “In the meantime, we can prepare. Study these passages, decipher any protective wards Alistair might have set, and gather supplies for the descent.”

His tone had shifted into that commanding, no-nonsense professor voice, the one that usually made me sit up straighter in class. But here, now, I caught the faintest edge of worry beneath it.

When he saw me looking at him, he offered me a reassuring smile, and for a moment, the tension in my chest eased. “We’ll get through this, Ren. Together.”

The word settled between us like a promise, and I found myself holding onto it, letting it ground me.

“We should get this back to the lab and start working,” Dorian said, tucking the heavy tome under his arm. He turned toward the Archivist, who remained unnervingly still at the far end of the room. “Thank you for your... assistance.”

The Archivist didn’t respond, but I thought I caught a faint flicker of approval, or perhaps mild disdain. It was hard to tell.

As we left the archives, Dorian fell into step beside me, the tome cradled securely in his arms. His presence was steady, comforting in a way I couldn’t quite put into words.

“Ren,” he said after a moment, his voice softer now, almost hesitant.

I glanced up at him, my heart skipping a beat at the way his green eyes searched mine. “Yeah?”

His lips parted like he wanted to say something, but then he shook his head, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Never mind. Just... good work today.”

The warmth in his voice sent a flush to my cheeks, and I ducked my head, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “Thanks,” I murmured.

We stepped out into the hall, the air cooler and fresher than the stuffy archives. My mind was still reeling from Dorian’s quiet confession, the discovery of the caves, and the way his proximity made it so hard to think straight.

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