by Erin R Flynn
“That’s rather brilliant,” Darby agreed after we all ate a couple of minutes in silence.
“We have our moments,” I teased. “I cannot stress enough how important it is that you not tell people. We’re not even sure if they can reveal themselves to you. They might not be able to—”
“Because we aren’t in the loop, but if we tell people, they would be,” Lucca groaned and then shot me a worried look. “That was a hard decision you had to come to on whether to tell us.”
I sighed. “They all are, but we said no more secrets, and I keep so many that… I can’t keep always hiding everything. For one, I can’t keep it straight who doesn’t know what and how to deal with it all. I just can’t fucking deal with it all alone anymore.” I cleared my throat when I realized I’d gotten rather loud on that last part, even the hobgoblins stopping what they were doing to look at me.
“You’re not alone, child,” Ryfon tried to comfort. “There are so many in Faerie who—”
“We don’t know that, Ryfon, and respectfully, they’re not here. It’s hard not to be angry at all of them that I’m left like this to handle what I shouldn’t have to all alone. So some days, I’m worried they won’t accept me, and other days, I worry that I’ll hate them all for doing this to me. And that’s just on top of the other big worries I have.”
No one knew what to say to that, and dinner was quiet as the hobgoblins joined us.
Yeah, I didn’t know what to say to it either, which was why I normally kept my mouth closed on the topic.
17
The conversation from dinner was still floating around my head the next morning, so I was glad jumping back into classes started with training. Which was actually amusing, as my day started with over six miles and more to my workout, but I was excited for Power Training I.
Maybe less excited when I found a surprise… Several.
I came out of the locker room fixing my hair so it was in two tight braids and pulled up like normal only to lock gazes with Councilman Ainsworth. I blinked a moment and then smiled widely. “Please tell me you’re joining in, and I get the excuse of kicking your ass all over this place. I’ve had dreams where I get to throttle you, and that would just make my semester.”
His nostrils flared as rage filled his eyes at my blatant disrespect. “I am a councilman that deserves respect, and you will behave—”
“I am not a dog you can order,” I seethed. “And you are a murderer who deserves death.” A fly farting could be heard in the large gym, people completely appalled I went there and said it because he was a councilman.
“She just threatened—” someone tried but I wasn’t done yet.
“The people you’ve murdered deserve justice, and the punishment by your own laws for those crimes is execution by the council. You are not above that because you are on the council. I’ve read your laws. Nowhere does it say you are king or tyrant and absolved of your crimes.” I glanced at the guard who was itching to make a move on me. “And before you spout shit of slander next, I submitted all the proof.”
“You’re still speaking to a councilman and—”
I snorted. “He’s not my councilman. I didn’t elect him. He’s just a man. A corrupt man who murders people. It’s a joke you all treat him with anything but disgust, and he’s got you all brainwashed to act like his dogs he can just order to behave and obey.” I stared down the guard. “I thought supes were stronger than that, but apparently, you lack the higher reasoning to think for yourself.”
I turned on my heel and left them all speechless, finishing my hair and finding Mel and Colton, who did not look happy.
“They have every right to come onto campus at any time, as long as they give notice,” Colton explained. “Apparently, they did moments before showing up.”
“Seriously? They’re so fucking petty and desperate for any information on me, they’ll spend their time here watching my power training instead of doing their fucking jobs and helping their people?”
“I believe it has more to do with my being here than simply spending hours spying on you,” a deep voice said from behind me.
I turned and glanced up, meeting hard green eyes that I somehow knew saw way too much. I smirked at the man. “Well, it’s nice to know it’s not my fault for once.”
He snorted before holding his hand out to me. “I’m Instructor Larson, your personal instructor.”
I had almost taken his hand until that last part, then I yanked it right back.
“Geiger sent him,” Colton added. “You’re at the level I can’t help you anymore, and Uncle Trigger can help you with swords, but your power training is beyond us, beyond what we’ll even teach here. Geiger was fine with you being held back in Runes for show as long as you kept training on the side, but he would not give on this and got you someone qualified.”
“We’re super sure Geiger sent this guy and he’s not just using that line to get near me?”
Instructor Larson studied me. “Why aren’t you using your telepathy?”
I smirked at him again. “Because people know I’m a telepath and try to just give me whatever ‘answers’ they want me to hear. You can lie in your thoughts.”
“True.”
Still, I flipped it on.
“Yes, Adrian sent me, young fairy. I have trained many, many like you, but that is not common knowledge. The council members are here because, while I am an old warlock, I am removed from their control as I have protection from several councils and royals. It kept me neutral in a time when it was needed and I could train freely and not constantly be in danger of being accused of spying.”
“Smart. Harsh for you, but smart.”
“You don’t live as long as I have and not be smarter than most.”
I glanced from him to the handful of interested councilmen. “Geiger’s also smart; too smart to bring more attention to me without finding value in it.”
He smiled widely at me. “You are as quick as he told me. I don’t mean to sound sexist in my shock to find that in a woman in your age, but it’s finding a woman your age in our world who will freely speak or show her intelligence.”
Unfortunately, that was fair and I already knew that. I nodded to accept it. “So what’s the piece I’m missing? If you’ve trained many, then you’re not the wild card here. Could they never see you train before and now they can with access to Artemis?”
“No, but I’ve been in retirement for many years. My coming out of retirement to work with you spread like wildfire.”
My eyes went wide. Why the fuck would Geiger bring that intrigue and heat on me just for training?
Amusement filled Instructor Larson’s eyes and I knew I had projected those thoughts. “Because I’m also a strong ally. No matter your power, you’re a woman—and a young one at that—in our world, and people won’t take you seriously as a threat or obstacle. They will someone like me.” He gave me a moment to let that sink in, but I didn’t even need it which seemed to impress him. “And by strong, I also mean I have a fairy parent and fairy grandparents on the other side.”
So he was fucking powerful like White was. Oh, shit. Which meant this guy would want to stay off every radar. I studied him and noted his hesitation. “What debt do you owe Geiger?” I smiled when it was his turn to be shocked. “You’re not here for the hopes of my opening Faerie or getting answers, saving the others. You’re too guarded and not wanting to be here.”
He studied me a moment before swiftly nodding. “I’m not here for hope for me. My family that are fairies would kick my ass all over the place for risking myself or picking a side to interfere in their mess. I’ve accepted I can’t get the answers and to try could mean death, and I have a lot to protect as well.”
“So why are you here, Instructor Larson?”
“Because Geiger saved me once when I needed it. The specifics are personal, but I know the councils’ corruption well, and your ally has fought this cause many times for more than you. Besides the debt, I’m here for
hope for him. Geiger needs his mate, and you’re the key to getting back his other half and making my old friend whole. So I’m here to help keep you alive, shield you when I can, and divert attention.”
I mulled that over a few moments before nodding. “Tell us if you think the shit is really going to hit the fan. We have more in place than you’d think. We just need to buy more time before this all blows up to handle it best, but we do have lots in place. So don’t risk you or your people to help. We can be smarter and keep people safe.”
He gave me a sad smile. “You won’t keep everyone safe in a fight this big that you’re in the center of, young fairy.”
I fisted my hands and stepped into his space, squaring off with the larger man. “Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do just because it’s never been done before. Just because others have failed doesn’t mean we will. I know it might happen, but assuming it will happen is admitting defeat while we’re still fighting. This isn’t an all-out war, but a strategic fight I’ve been fighting before becoming a supe even.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and gave me a hard look. “And you’re going to tell me you never lost anyone?”
“I have, but they didn’t die. They went back to drugs or their bad lives. That was their choice, but we lost them, and I acknowledge that. We might lose some who go back to their families or abusive mates as making a new path is hard. But I would rather order all the fae dogs under my control to wipe out every council than let one person on my side die. So no, I will not accept that anyone with me dies in this fight.”
Instructor Larson looked much younger as a slow Indiana Jones smirk creeped onto his lips. “Then let’s get to training you, shall we?”
“Let’s.”
I realized there was another problem going on while we’d been sniffing each other’s butts, Mel and Colton getting into it with a councilman.
“Your aides and guards were supposed to give longer notice and have an appointment,” she argued. “Council members are allowed on campus at anytime but—”
“The guards and aides with us are included in the—”
“But that’s not the rules,” Mel declared. “You’re assuming that, decreeing that, but that’s not the actual ruling or verbiage. You can’t just say your whole posse is covered and bring in as many guests as you want to disturb my class.”
The other councilman whose name I didn’t know stared down his nose at her so hard, I wondered if he had a headache from eyestrain, which was amusing since Mel was actually taller than him. “If you do not remember yourself and speak to me as you should—”
“You’ll what?” I interjected. “You have no jurisdiction over her. You’re nothing to her. This is her domain you just encroached on. Do you not understand how manners work, or are you so uncouth and need to remember yourself?”
He ground his jaw, but keep speaking as if he hadn’t heard me. “I will file a grievance with your elders and—”
I snorted. “Oh no, not those chickenshit assholes.” I waved it off. “Whatever, I’ll buy them off as that’s how you guys all handle these ‘grievances’ and your ‘justice.’” I held up my hand to him when he opened his mouth and faced Mel. “Ignore them. They’re here for me and I’m—please, you don’t think I have a plan for these fools? I’m insulted you don’t have more faith in me.”
“Tams, the guards and aides aren’t held to the same confidentiality and rules the councilmembers are. They can run their mouths all over the place about anything they see,” she worried.
I pointed behind her to the students. “Right, because they all keep their mouths shut. We know they tell everything too. I got this. Don’t worry and go be fabulous and teach your class. Really.”
She studied me a moment and sighed. “Fine, but if you put yourself in danger I’m telling Irma, and she won’t make that marble and pearlberry pie.”
I opened my mouth to say something snarky and closed it. My stomach really did rule me. I smiled, nodded, and she walked off. I turned to the slightly amused Instructor Larson next. “How big of a space do you need for us to work? Are we off to the side or how are we doing this?”
“We need to warm up and—”
“I can go over my morning routine before breakfast if you want and all of everything as I have with Colton, but not everyone needs to hear it.”
He studied the people spying. “Several are wearing runes and using runes to journal everything we’ll both say in their presence.”
“That’s fine. Just tell the space you need, and it won’t work a few seconds after that.” I smirked at him when he gave me a confused glanced.
Slow understanding filled his eyes.
Yeah, hi, I knew powerful barriers. Duh.
I nodded as he pointed it out and then smirked at the councilmen and their lackeys before throwing up the barrier to cover the whole area. I turned to Instructor Larson and answered his unasked question. “They can’t see or hear anything, but we can them. The essence dampener charm I wear and rune I use both change the magical signature of the barrier.”
He studied it and smiled. “So they don’t know it’s a fairy spy barrier that allows you to see and hear them, but think it’s a powerful one like I’ve seen Geiger use that protects him like the charm his mate gave him. They have no idea we aren’t blocked from them.”
“No.” I moved closer to the edge and bit back a chuckle as the councilmen blew their lids. “I feel like I need popcorn.”
“Get Edelman here now,” Ainsworth bitched at his aide. “He needs to have her take this barrier down now. This is against the rules. We’re allowed on campus to inspect at anytime we want, and we want to inspect the unknown’s training as her power could be a danger to all of us!”
“Call it what you will, Councilman,” Mel shouted over, amusement in her tone. “Tell whatever lies you want to those dumb enough to believe you, but Tamsin won’t ever be one you abduct and drain for the black market. My whole clan has sworn an oath to protect her. So I suggest you stop interfering in this class as she’s using her power in training, which is the goal of it.”
“She is—” Ainsworth tried again.
“Councilman, you might be used to being around people who can’t tell when you lie, but I can,” she snapped. “You do it again about your intentions of being here and in regards to one I’ve given my oath to protect, and even my council will agree with my acting on your being a danger to Ms. Vale in my presence as a dragon’s oath is sacred. Now, you know where the door is. I suggest you use it.”
Well dayumn.
I held out my arm and dropped an imaginary mic for Mel when Ainsworth wasn’t stupid enough to piss off a Rothchild and stormed out. I still kept up the barrier as now everyone would want to snitch to their council anything about what they could learn about my power level or training, but it was a good win.
For the moment. They would be back. Pests always came back, no matter how many times you swatted them away.
You needed to squash them completely to make them stop bothering you.
I started easy with Instructor Larson. I went over my workout—which he said he would join me for the next morning—and then we sparred so he could get the real idea of my level. Before the end of class, he had me speak with Colton to give permission to get full information on my training from the dragon and Mel’s father.
I shocked them both by hugging Colton.
“I’ve always got your back, Cousin,” Colton muttered, patting my back and even kissing my hair.
It made me smile that he even guessed what I was so happy about. There was so much going on that I understood why people didn’t always check with me before telling secrets… But it was my life. They were my secrets. It was hard to give up control of them. After so long of being almost completely on my own, it was really, really hard to simply trust everyone would do what they should.
And then add in all my years of being in the foster system where the adults didn’t do anything they should by me, and I
had next to no faith left in anyone. But for as much corruption as there was in the supe world, there were a lot of good people who were slowly bringing back my faith. Slowly.
Very slowly with tiny bread crumbs. Colton just gave me another one when I needed it. So did Geiger, as Instructor Larson seemed pretty cool already.
I showered and hurried to the greenhouses on the outskirts of campus to my next class. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Botany 101… Except not to touch a plant while using magic at the same time Professor Pillay did as apparently that would be a shining beacon I was a fairy. Somehow. I didn’t really get it, but Dean White said it would be as glaringly obvious as when I picked up a fairy sword.
Good I found out in advance then.
The class was going to be fun because I liked Professor Pillay, but pretty basic after learning so much about gardening and agriculture from the hobgoblins. It was another instinct to fairies, and from glancing at journals, it seemed almost impossible for a fairy to kill a plant under their care.
So really, I was simply there to enjoy playing in the dirt and the plants and walk out with an easy grade. Nice.
It was the first class I had with outside students from the exchange program though. I didn’t notice it at first, taking a station at one of the ends near the other exit and going over the syllabus that was handed to me as I walked in. But moments later, I had a guy join me and was chatting me up.
And that had yet to happen since I’d arrived at Artemis.
Like at all. I was the non-elite unknown that everyone looked down on until I made friends. At first, I assumed the guy was talking to anyone else other than me.
But then I realized no one else was around.
I blinked up from the syllabus and glanced at him before checking I was right.
“So your ears do work,” he chuckled as if cracking a seriously funny joke instead of insulting me.
I smiled brightly at him. “Yes, but so do my manners, and talking to someone while they’re reading and preparing for class and expecting them to entertain you because you want it is considered rude to most people. You know, those ones whose brains work.” I looked back down at the syllabus and it took everything I had not to smile when I saw him flinch out of the corner of my gaze.