The Stars Over Bittergate Bay

Chapter 36

36

T he study Asterion led Sidney to was dark. A fire was lit in the hearth, but the walls looked like they were painted black, and the lamps were low. Somehow, still, Asterion shone. The embroidery on his jacket caught the light and played it across his face, as he walked in front of the fire toward the drinks cart.

Sidney stepped into the room and startled when someone pulled the door closed behind him. Across the sitting area, Asterion was pouring drinks, unbothered.

“I’m afraid we didn’t have a chance to be properly introduced earlier,” Asterion said. Ice clinked in the glass in front of him.

“I don’t think it’s necessary,” Sidney said. Asterion straightened up, two glasses with ice and amber liquid in his hands. Sidney dearly hoped it was scotch.

Asterion stepped into the middle of the rug and held a drink out to Sidney, coaxing him into the golden circle of light cast by the fireplace. Sidney half suspected a trapdoor would open up and swallow him whole if he stepped into it, but he hated Asterion enough that he couldn’t not rise to the bait.

When Sidney took the glass from Asterion’s hand, Asterion stepped back. He sat in a black, leather armchair, his gaze never wavering from Sidney’s face. Sidney took a large gulp of scotch, and sat on the edge of the armchair’s twin, turned toward the fire.

“You’re wrong about him, you know,” Asterion said.

“So I’ve learned.” Sidney replied dryly. Asterion smirked.

“I kissed him. He didn’t kiss me.”

“I think that’s probably the least of our problems.” Sidney sipped his scotch, watching Asterion’s gold eyes settle on Sidney’s face.

“Jonas cares for you.”

“He has a funny way of showing it.” Sidney didn’t even try to keep the bitterness from his voice. “He lied to me. He used me.”

“Used you for what?”

“Magic,” Sidney said. Asterion arched an eyebrow, and Sidney was suddenly reminded of Karolina. The way her expression would immediately telegraph when a student said something that was not only wrong but also stupid. Sidney tried to ignore the heat crawling up his neck. “He marked me.”

“He doesn’t have enough magic to mark you,” Asterion said. Sidney frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“Magic comes from interacting with humans. Making deals. Oaths. Bartering for power,” Asterion explained. Sidney knew all of that. Jonas had told him.

“So what?”

“Jonas is a recluse. He doesn’t talk to anyone. He doesn’t fuck anyone. He doesn’t even come to this party.” Asterion set his glass down on the arm of the chair. “A major hub for power exchange. People come from worlds away for it.”

“Why not?” Sidney asked. Asterion cocked his head to the side, and Sidney huffed. “Why doesn’t he come? Why doesn’t he have magic anymore?” Asterion’s mouth tightened at the corners, and Sidney could see that he was biting the inside of his lip. Whatever it was, Asterion didn’t want to say. Sidney took a stab. “Does it have to do with his old research partner?”

“Research partner.” Asterion cocked his head to the side. “Yes. He told you about him?”

“As much as he told me anything,” Sidney said. Asterion took a deep breath and picked up his glass, staring down into the ice.

“It’s not my story to tell. But I will say this: what that man did to Jonas was beyond any cruelty I’ve seen or heard of. Before or since. Jonas barely made it out of that relationship alive, and it changed him.” Sidney tamped down all the questions that this raised with a deep, steady breath. And then he rolled his eyes for good measure.

“So, he’s allowed to lie to me?” Sidney snipped. It wasn’t really about him, this conversation. He knew that. But he wasn’t about to be drawn into feeling bad for Jonas by the man Jonas had been kissing earlier that afternoon. What little pride he had wouldn’t allow it.

Asterion sniffed, clearly irritated by this response and drained his scotch before getting to his feet.

“He didn’t actually do anything to you, aside from not tell you who he was. And he has his reasons for wanting to keep that to himself when he’s dealing with humans.”

“His research partner was a human?” Sidney hadn’t given it much thought before, but now it seemed incongruous. If Jonas was a demon, what was he doing living here? Working with a human? It would stand to reason that a magical being would know so much more. Wouldn’t it? Asterion shook his head, eyes casting toward the ceiling, as though he was looking for the strength to go on.

“I get the feeling, Mr. Quince, that you have the unfortunate ability to always be asking exactly the wrong question.”

“What should I be asking, then?”

“Instead of asking anything, why don’t you try paying attention? Maybe then you’ll be able to piece some of the answers together for yourself.” Asterion looked down his nose at Sidney. “I have a hard time believing Jonas would sleep with anyone who was truly an idiot. But perhaps you’ve proven me wrong.”

“Fuck you,” Sidney snapped. He’d had enough. Asterion chuckled and shook his head, starting toward the door.

“Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Quince.” Sidney got up. For no reason. An apology hung heavy on the tip of his tongue. Who knew what sort of power Asterion had? This was his party after all; Leo would be so upset if Sidney had gotten them kicked out.

Asterion turned back to Sidney, his hand on the doorknob, and Sidney drew a small breath, holding it in his chest.

“Just for future reference, and as a matter of personal safety, I would caution you against drinking or eating anything handed to you by a faerie. Or any magic user for that matter. You never know what kind of enchantments might be in the recipe.” He lifted his empty glass to Sidney and then swept out the door, pulling it closed again behind him.

Sidney looked down at his half-drunk scotch. Shit. Too late to worry about it now. He took another sip, and then sat back down in the chair, trying to make sense of what had just happened.