Chapter Thirteen: Upriver | Part 3
The fury in Azirenne’s eyes made her chuckle sound unhinged. “Such tenacity, Venmagalion. It’s a trait I greatly admire, which is why I wanted to offer you an invitation. Assuming you’re not heading up the river with the other seniors this evening, I’d appreciate your company for dinner in my quarters. Thirty-eighth bar. We can discuss this little security issue like civilized people.”
Thirtyx no longer felt remotely hungry, not that he needed his lack of appetite to confirm that her offer was a charade. “With all due respect, I have a Comp in 10 days, and I’d prefer to spend my time studying.”
“Oh nonsense!” Her voice trilled to a pitch that made Thirtyx’s teeth itch. “You can always study tomorrow. Why not take the evening off, like all of your classmates?”
Thirtyx frowned. Azirenne generally pretended not to know about the annual river party, but here she was, reminding him how few witnesses she’d have—how little help Thirtyx could count on. She’d also called out Seerla’s presence at the start instead of ignoring her. Unlike last time, Azirenne likely had a contingency plan for Seerla’s interference. And if she got hurt coming to his aid…
“You know what, you’re right, Headmistress,” Thirtyx said. “Maybe I should have fun like all of my classmates. In fact, I think you’ve convinced me to join them tonight.”
A vein in Azirenne’s temple twitched with annoyance. “In what world were you invited to this soiree?”
“In this one. Perhaps you missed my chat with the other seniors on the way back from the gates yesterday, but I seem to have made them feel more at ease.”
The headmistress’ gaze snapped to Seerla. “What do you have to say about this, Devinsmeade?”
Seerla was struggling not to smirk. “I can confirm that he was invited. I’ve been begging him to go because I agree that he could use a nice break.”
Azirenne looked back and forth between the children before her eyes settled on Thirtyx. “Tell me in plain, clear terms that you intend to go to this party tonight.”
“I intend to go to this party tonight.” He sealed his fate with the words—he had to mean it for them to leave his mouth. Was it rash to choose a horde of known bullies over the vengeful headmistress?
Azirenne answered his silent question with the clenching of her fists and the disappearance of her pretended congeniality. “Venmagalion, you will be in my office at 38th bar, or I will—”
She gripped her left wrist with a hiss of pain. This time, the slip of her sleeve was unintentional, revealing a glowing red circlet her apology had not shaken loose. It pulsed as she massaged it, before she caught him looking and tugged her sleeve back into place. “I will assume you’re having a fantastic time with your classmates,” she finished with no shortage of venom—venom that, judging by the lashing of her tail, she wished she could inflict physically.
She stormed off before Thirtyx could reply.
Thirtyx had rarely closed a door so quickly. He leaned his forehead against it with a sigh that felt like he’d dredged it up from his toes. “You trust Nephrie, right? She really wants me there?”
He heard Seerla fidgeting before she answered. “Sure, we’ve bickered a little lately… but yes. I’d trust her with my life. Her invitation seemed sincere.”
Thirtyx nodded against the door. “So you think I made the right choice?”
“There was no right choice. I hate living in a world where you had to make a choice like that.”
“Join the club.” Thirtyx pulled his forehead away from the door to fix her with weary eyes. “Thank you for having my back.”
Seerla tried for an encouraging smile. “I’ll have your back tonight, too. And I have a lot more confidence in my ability to protect you from teens who don’t know magic than from Azirenne.”
Calley Jones 