Page 19 of Tall Dark and Evil

Still, they can’t spend much time apart without suffering the pull of the bond, and if one of them were to die, the other would soon follow six feet under. I can’t imagine ever trusting anyone so much as to give them everything, like that.

The bell rings before we end the lecture.

“I’ll see you next week. You’ll write seven hundred words on your thoughts on age-related depression by Raverday, no excuses. Dismissed. Frejr, linger a moment.”

I all but groan, hating to be singled out. It can’t be helped, with old family friends.

I take my time packing my things, to ensure everyone leaves, before making my way to Palmar Lelland, who grins at me. “Did I walk in on a scuffle earlier?”

I wrinkle my nose. “Don’t tell Val. I can handle the three Cs.” By handle, I mean ignore.

“Can they handle you?” he asks with a smirk. “I didn’t keep you for that. I heard a certain prince is sniffing around you?”

My mouth opens and closes. “How do you know that?”

He snorts. “The staff talks, Lys. One of the TAs saw you with Reiks’s raven this morning. Familiars have gone out of fashion. His is quite recognizable.”

Great. Freaking great.

“It’s not what you think. I owe him a debt, that’s all.”

“Mm. Too bad. Val would have liked you to sit on a throne.”

I realize, with utter horror, that Valina Frejr absolutely wouldlovethat. She must never, ever hear that I spend any length of time with Reiks. She might spell me into making a fool of myself by throwing myself at him, or worse.

I love my great-grandmother. She saved my life and gave me a home, a family, when others might have chucked me back into the sea. That love doesn’t blind me to her faults. Her main one is that she never lets ethics get in the way of what she wants. And she wants me to shine, when I want nothing but an ordinary life.

I’m not made for power. I don’t have what it takes to resist its corruption.

“Please don’t tell her anything.Please.”

The professor breaks into his best smile. “I suppose I could keep your secret, but how are you going to keep all of Five silent, Lys?”

Damn him for being right.

I need to get on top of the story right now.

CHAPTERNINE

THE SCHEME

Iwish I could have time to swim, but sure enough, I’m just out of psychology when Reiks’s stupid raven finds me.

Does the entire school know it belongs to him, or just the staff? I try not to concern myself too much with the opinion of others, but if the word gets around that I might be spending time with Reiks, I’ll garner attention from all corners. The kind of attention that got Blythe buried. That’s without considering my great-grandmother’s interference. And Valwouldinterfere.

Part of me is relieved the choice was taken from me. I can’t go to the rec center, so I’m avoiding another encounter with the three Cs today, which is always a bonus. Also, I need to speak to Reiks, make sure we handle the repercussions of rumors growing rampant if we’re seen together all year. He wakes at the crack of dawn to see his friends in order to avoid the public eye. He’ll get it.

I hope.

Still, I’ll have to exercise very soon. I can already feel my mind pushing me, attempting to crawl out of its bounds. I need to work myself to the point of exhaustion, to keep the danger at bay for a few days.

I follow the raven through the familiar hallway, across the courtyard and then into the common dorms, all the while wincing.Great. Now I’m meeting him in hisdorm.I can already see Lelland rubbing his hands together when he hears of it, like the old gossip he is.

The raven leads me to the second floor.

The rooms get smaller and smaller as you head upstairs, as this place used to house a royal court. The ground floor, now for cafeterias and lounges, was the greater hall, the armory, and the throne room. The university guards live in the old armory. The second floor was mostly for royal meetings. They’re gargantuan, which of course makes them perfect for the wealthiest high bloods in attendance. The dorm I occupied for a few weeks in my freshman year was on the third floor; the original royal chambers, back in the day. I remember Daria saying she’s in the attic—where the servants were housed. She loves sneaking onto the roof on warm nights.

The raven hovers in front of a white door painted with golden symbols and calls out.

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