Reaching Answers (Artemis University #8) - Erin R Flynn Page 0,18

when you hit a plateau.”

That was fair and I acknowledged as much.

“We also need Adrian to keep you safe and this whole multiple distractions plan going. And I’m telling you as his friend, he’s losing steam. He’s losing faith and he needs it. I could see in his aura that he’s scared his mate is dead. We can’t tell him we found Cluym but he’s frozen. We can’t. So we need you better and to get over this hump.”

“That means handling some other shit first or you could hurt her,” Zack interjected, glaring between Lucca and Darby.

“Oh, on that we agree,” White chuckled darkly, both of the guys flinching. “That’s also why Craftsman is staying here. Someone needs to be on Tamsin’s side as opposed to the three who want to judge and control her.”

Lucca let out a slow growl. “Are you seriously comparing us to Neldor?”

“You’re acting fairly like him, so yes.” White smirked at him when that seemed to piss him off. “I’ve heard you say several times you disagree with Tamsin and how she handled matters. Both of you. You’ve said it publicly and in front of ears that would use that against her. Yes, I put you in the same problematic, judgmental category I put him in. You’ve done that. Not her.”

“You’re right,” Darby muttered before Lucca could reply. “You were right last night and I’m sorry. Any other woman would have already smacked me all over the place for not being on their side and keeping my disapproval private. Upset with me for not keeping private matters private. That’s not being loyal or—”

I couldn’t even handle this or hear it yet. “Where do you want to start?” I asked Larson, to the shock of everyone. I shrugged. “Saving my people, unfreezing them from that caustic hell is more important than the men in my life and their crap. Or the crap of the guy crashing with me who gives himself too much importance in my life. I’m over it.”

There was a quiet snarl that I ignored, knowing it came from Lucca.

What I couldn’t ignore were the gestures Zack and Ray were making that I knew meant they were telling me to smack his bear around and into place. I mentally sighed, not wanting to flex, but apparently it was time.

And not just for him. I knew Neldor had done what he did to help give me a kick in the ass, but he had also lied that he wouldn’t manipulate me. I wasn’t pissed, but any motivation or pushing someone was a form of manipulation.

I simply wouldn’t trust his was full of good intentions or only for my benefit.

I wasn’t stupid like that.

“I’m glad to hear you are,” Irma praised as she set down some food in front of me with a wink.

I wasn’t sure what that meant until I saw the special energy bars she’d made me for the Power Playoffs. They were full of fae goodness and meant to give fairies a supportive kick in the ass.

Well, the hobgoblins were on board with me not taking shit anymore. Nice.

I realized I had some questions of my own when Craftsman set down an overloaded tray of everything I could ever want, including a full English he’d made for me. “How are you going to be able to help with this when you’ve got teaching for the continuing education program?”

“The program I’d have to teach runes for because you suggested changes to the idea,” he accused, smirking at what he saw in my aura since I didn’t have my charms on yet. “I deserved it. There were some problems with my being involved, and those juggling it all agree I not teach anymore.”

I ground my jaw as I stabbed into my food harder than needed. “Yeah, all the fawning female students must be disruptive when you don’t shut it down.”

“He did, and somewhat abrasively, which was part of the problem,” White corrected, giving me an amused smirk when I froze with my bite halfway to my mouth. “The main problem was witches who had their education trying to use the chance to learn from the Craftsman savant and misusing the system as a refresher course instead of its intention.”

“And not caring they were taking spots from actual deserving people who needed them,” I seethed. “How did that get approved?”

“A slight loophole in the admission paperwork that some interpreted as improving their education, not completing it. It’s been handled. It wasn’t caught fast as it was