“Can you blame me? It’s like the Spanish Inquisition in there.”
“Don’t exaggerate.” August huffed. “They’re trying, Arden. You have to give them a chance to get to know you.”
“You’re drunk,” I said, as if the fact disproved his point. “They’re all drunk.” Abruptly, I changed the subject. “Are you going to take that internship with the mayor’s office next fall? Margot was prattling on about it.”
He hesitated. “I am.”
An uncomfortable silence followed this announcement.
“I suppose congratulations are in order,” I mumbled.
August shrugged. “It changes nothing.”
“But why didn’t you tell?—?”
“I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d take it badly.”
I made a noise of protest. “That’s hardly fair. I didn’t have a chance to react because you didn’t tell me?—”
“Be honest, Arden. Was there ever a time you would’ve taken this news well?”
I didn’t have an answer. The truth was, I didn’t want him to take this internship, not if it meant things between us would become even more strained. “I guess I’m just surprised that you, of all people—who hated this school as much as I did last year—” I said, ignoring August’s huff of exasperation “—weaseled his way into the Gilded Circle brats and is now going to work for their mommies and daddies in the government office, kissing their boots and fetching their coffee.”
He flinched at my harsh analysis. “I understand why you might feel…betrayed,” he conceded. “But things have changed for me, Arden,” And this time his voice broke, as if my grief had been the final sequence in unleashing the barrage of emotion he was holding back. He recovered quickly. “Don’t you see? I finally have a chance to?—”
“Do they know we’re together?” I interrupted.
August blew out a cloud of smoke before snuffing out his cigarette against a brick. “No, not yet.”
“When are you going to tell them?”
“Arden.” He sighed repressively. “The Gilded Circle is finally inviting me to their parties, and now I’ve got this internship, and the fencing tournament finals are coming up. I don’t want to, you know…”
“No, I don’t know,” I cut in. “Why don’t you spell it out for me?”
“I do care about you, Arden. It’s just…not the right time.”
I nearly staggered as the lie hit my teeth with the bitter taste of betrayal, but I didn’t need my abilities to know that August was lying.
“Arden, we’ll be sophomores next year. Don’t you want to at least try to fit in? To become one of us?”
“One of us?” I repeated, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. “Barely three months and you’re already counting yourself among them.”
His words cut me deeper and with more precision than any blade. Nausea threatened to eject the frothy beer I’d consumed earlier.
“Arden, I didn’t mean?—”
“I shouldn’t have come tonight,” I said. Without waiting for August’s reply, I fled from the pub, tripping over the cobblestones but determined to put as much distance between me and August as possible. Darkness swallowed me rapidly, my vision beginning to twist and whorl, and maybe it was all just a nightmare, but?—
I came to on the floor of the Labyrinth with Casimir’s face looming above me.
“Shit,” he muttered as I sat up. “Are you alright?” His tone was level, but something like concern flickered across his brow.
“I’m fine,” I said, swearing as my temple throbbed and the room began to spin. “Just give me a minute.”
Casimir backed away to give me space while I recovered.
“I shouldn’t have come tonight,” I said, unable to keep the accusation from my tone.