Songbinder by Amy Campbell

Author:Amy Campbell [Campbell, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Legend Has It, LLC

Chapter Twenty-Three

Extracurricular Imprisonment

Jefferson

A gossamer line of drool clung to the bristles of Blaise’s beard as he lay on the bed in the dorm room. Jefferson touched his husband's shoulder, his fingers barely grazing the soft fabric of Blaise's shirt, a riot of emotions surging through him.

When that door had swung open, the last person he'd expected to see was Blaise. The moment he had stumbled into Jefferson's arms, only to collapse into unconsciousness, was etched into his mind like a scar.

A torrent of questions stormed through Jefferson’s head, each one more worrisome than the last. Why had Blaise been drugged and brought here? What were the alchemist's plans for them?

The lack of answers frustrated Jefferson, leaving an empty pit in his stomach. Gently, almost reverently, he brushed his fingers over Blaise's bearded cheek, the warmth emanating from his skin a small comfort. There was a tiny solace in their togetherness, even if it was marred by their circumstances.

His thoughts veered toward Alice and Theo, his worry for them prickling like a thorn in his side. Jefferson's internal whirlwind of worry and frustration was momentarily calmed when he noticed Blaise beginning to stir. His husband's eyes fluttered.

Eager to offer comfort, Jefferson leaned over and gently kissed Blaise's forehead. “Blaise, can you hear me?”

With a languid groan, Blaise's eyes cracked open, unfocused and glazed. For a moment, he looked utterly bewildered, as if waking from a disorienting dream.

“Ah, my head,” he mumbled, pressing his palm to his forehead as if trying to physically hold the pain at bay. “Where are we?” Then he paused, his blue eyes widening with realization. “Wait…I remember. Sort of. I’m really confused.”

Gently, Jefferson helped Blaise shift upright. He fought the urge to pull Blaise into an embrace. Jefferson longed for the solid comfort of someone he cared about, but he didn’t want to take his chances while Blaise was still disoriented. “You’re at Cheswell University. Are you all right?”

Blaise's hand returned to his forehead, massaging gently. “I'm...I think I'm okay. Why are you here at Cheswell?”

Jefferson huffed out a breath that was almost a laugh. “I was going to ask you the very same thing.”

Blaise stretched, his back arching like a cat awakening from a long slumber, working out the knots. “Luci's come here for further alchemy studies. Mom insisted I escort her.”

Jefferson's eyebrows lifted in surprise. It made sense, but it also raised questions. “Do they know her true identity?”

Shaking his head, Blaise answered, “No. She's registered under an assumed name.”

At that, Jefferson pursed his lips. While that was a good idea, and admirable, there were not as many alchemists as there were, say, political science majors or history scholars. He didn't think it would be very difficult for someone with the right motivation to ferret out who, exactly, Luci was. He sighed. If he'd known, he could have cautioned them against that.

But by the same token, this was Luci's life. She was impacted because of who she was related to, and it was unfair. But

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