Page 36 of The Alchemists

“No one is quite sure, but Fabian Allsaires claimed that Reg fell from one of the towers, either by accident or on purpose.”

“He committed suicide?”

Her mother leveled her with a cutting gaze. “I knew Reginald my whole life—he was one of the happiest people I ever met.”

“But still, just because someone looks happy⁠—”

“Spare me the Psych 101, daughter. Fabian Allsaires killed his brother; I’m certain.”

Lily sank back into the sofa’s embrace. “Wow.” She imagined Sebastian, growing up in a mansion with blood soaked into its marble floors, with a father who’d kill for an inheritance.

“Would you have married him? Reginald?”

“I don’t know,” her mother said, honestly. “Probably. We were friends, though he was older, more like a cousin or a brother, and…anyway, it’s impossible to say.”

She tried to imagine that world. Would she still exist? Would she be full-blooded and un-cursed? Would she be an Allsaires? She shuddered. Then she imagined her mom at roughly Lily’s age, losing her friend, finding love in a diner, everything else. Fuck.

“Why would you raise me in society? After everything that’s happened? With everything you know?”

Her mom set down her folding. “It’s the last thing I wanted. I hoped you’d be…I hoped you’d be like your father, but you came out bursting with power. The Covenant—I had no choice.” She pulled Lily against her and pressed her chin into the top of her head. “All I could do was raise you with open eyes and dream that maybe you could change things for the better.”

Lily’s throat thickened. “I’m not doing a very good job, then.”

“You don’t have to. It was too much to put on you. ” Her mother’s tears wet her hair.

Sebastian was alone in the library of the Metaphysics building when she arrived. It was small, as far as collections went, and the books were tucked behind glass cases lining the wall, but it was cozy, untrafficked, and open all night, making it one of her favorite non-hidden study spots.

He looked up as she arrived, and she couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at him, squinting as she drew closer.

“Are you wearing makeup?”

He blushed beneath his contouring. “Full face. Apparently part of making up with Tori included her cashing in on some favors. She made me model for her blog.”

Lily was vaguely aware that Beaumont had a fashion blog and a large social media following. She’d never looked into it, but now she was curious.

“That explains the ascot then.”

“Cravat, actually.” His flush deepened. “I didn’t have time to change.” Tori had done an exquisite job on his makeup. His hazel eyes were as bright as spring moss after rain.

“It’s a good look; modern Byronic.”

Seb laughed as he shrugged out of his black coat, and she found herself smiling along. “She’d be very pleased to hear that.”

“Where’d you shoot? Library?” She imagined him standing like this, with his riding boots, long coat, and high collar, the evening light splitting him into golden diamonds, and had to catch herself.

“Sibelius. Asher has access for his music major.”

Lily slid into the seat next to him as he pulled out sheaves of paper and spread them on the table. She pulled one, on which he had sketched the symbols from the ring in unsteady black lines, over to her.

“I swear I know these,” she said again, feeling once more that only a thin veil parted her from understanding.

“Me too,” he sighed.

“Has the ring done anything?”

Sebastian examined his hand. “Nothing.”

“So, the Words, then.”