Page 84 of Research with Rivals
Lord Arctos’s head snapped toward me. “Carter has other business to attend to in Sandrin, and we had the utmost faith in your capabilities.”
His wry expression didn’t signal that he had faith inmycapabilities, but I decided to take his words at face value.
“What about the place of power? Isn’t Compass Lake the location of importance for the magic connecting you?” Evelyn asked.
I felt my skin flush. That hadn’t even occurred to me yet. Her mind was always working, and her attention to detail was impeccable. I wanted to tell her now and every day how brilliant I thought her. The weeks I’d spent not sharing that information had been wasted.
Lord Arctos waved her off. “We’ll try here. The Vesten Library is important for the connection to Carter specifically. The blood magic connecting Compass Point and god may have started at Compass Lake, but the magic connecting me and Carter started here, the day he accepted that he would be the next Vesten Point.”
Evelyn looked pensive.
I didn’t get to ask any follow-up questions as Gabriel arrived at Evelyn’s study carrel in a flurry of paper and a sweeping robe. I had been so distracted I hadn’t even seen him enter the Great Room. “Evelyn, Ambrose, I’m glad you’re both here. There is something I believe you should know—about the Vesten historian position.”
Next to me, Evelyn’s spine straightened. I pushed my shoulders back, too, as if on reflex. If I understood her, which I liked to think I did, she’d been mentally avoiding this part as much as I had.
It was the first thing she’d told me she wanted. That was its own milestone for us. Then, as we’d grown together from our bond, I’d come to understand why.
Initially, she’d offered the reasoning that she would use the position to find her father. That was a moot point now, but it also wasn’t the whole story. Evelyn had been inescapably shaped by growing up half-fae in a world where she didn’t fit in. That was too generous—for nearly all of her life, the world had not wanted to acknowledge her existence.
While the Compass Points fought for change, it wouldn’t happen overnight. It would take leading by example; it would take dogged determination to bring those who didn’t fit the traditional fae mold into fae schools and courts. It would take careful direction that considered all angles, not just those of the traditional fae.
It would take someone like Evelyn in a position of importance to the court.
Her uncanny sense for other magics meant she would fulfill the magical side of the role with ease. Perhaps I knew more about Vesten history than she did currently, but, like learning her own magic, given time, I was sure she would catch up.
I stared at her with no small amount of awe. Then I studied her stance. I’d been lost in thought, but her hands were balledinto fists at her side while Gabriel explained something she didn’t want to hear.
“Ambrose, did you hear me?” Gabriel asked.
Evelyn’s face was as white as a sheet. I’d been distracted for too long.
I shook my head.
“While you two were traveling, we received a review for the last paper you submitted.” He cleared his throat with a careful glance at Evelyn. “That means that instead of you both having equal research submissions and publications, you are now in the lead.”
“What?” That couldn’t be right. The only person who reviewed my papers was Evelyn. She was the only one with the expertise. Yet, judging by the look on Evelyn’s face, she clearly hadn’t done it. Who could have provided a review while we were traveling?
The question was on the tip of my tongue. What Gabriel was saying didn’t make sense.
Evelyn touched my shoulder—featherlight and unsure. It was so starkly different from all that we’d recently shared. Her face pinched, but the attempted smile was genuine. “Congratulations, Ambrose. That’s great news.” While I still stood in confused silence, she turned to Lord Arctos and Gabriel. “If that’s all, I need to get to the tavern.”
Gabriel nodded.
“We’ll see you tomorrow morning?” Lord Arctos called after her. “I want you here when Carter arrives.”
Evelyn waved over her shoulder. Theoretically, this was a gesture that conveyed understanding, albeit somewhat lax for communication with a god. Lord Arctos’s gaze followed her, narrowing as she left the Great Room. I shared his apparent concern. She wasn’t alright, and clearly, she didn’t want to talk about it.
Still, I didn’t think she’d skip meeting Carter. It was the conclusion of a project to which she was still assigned. She would want to see it through. Almost as bad, I didn’t want to do it without her.
“Does the one paper make that much of a difference?” I asked.
Gabriel shrugged. “I don’t speak for my son. But I do know you both came highly recommended. I don’t think it’s a secret that you excel at history and Evelyn excels at blood magic. Carter cares deeply about both disciplines, so he searched for other ways to differentiate. That was why he used the competition as a way to see if one of you set yourself apart.”
Lord Arctos looked pensive but didn’t add anything.
“I’m out of the loop,” Gabriel continued, “but I gather you two worked together more than anticipated on the project.”
“Let’s say they worked together as much as anticipated,” Lord Arctos replied.
