Reaching Answers (Artemis University #8) - Erin R Flynn Page 0,3

supe society put their heads in the sand and were victims because they never fought.

Still victims, but… There were victims who fought and kept fighting. Those were heroes. Those were the people we should congratulate and hug for being survivors.

Those who rolled over and just showed their bellies, accepted whatever because it was easier and they were too weak to even try or ask for help… They were victims to pity. Harsh, but it made sense in my head, and maybe it wasn’t a feeling that could be put into words without doing damage to some.

People made choices and I fought. I fought and fought, but if the time ever came, I would fall on my sword rather than accept someone getting me and using me for power to harm others. Some could keep fighting after caught, and I would respect that hope of getting free and not doing too much damage.

But anyone who rolled over because it was easier for them and didn’t care about all the people who got hurt because of it—I was pretty sure there was a special place in hell waiting for them and their selfishness. Again, it made sense in my head, and there were exceptions and special cases for sure.

Right then, I had no respect for Mrs. Holmes and only pity for a woman who couldn’t even fight for herself and kept her head in the sand.

Captain Reddy made an announcement to the massive crowd gathered that the supe police were interested in any information on the “missing” vampires, and people were to step forward or contact their office if they knew anything. Especially now that there were warrants out on them.

Nice.

Then he thanked me for my time—something in his gaze that let me know he wasn’t buying I was totally innocent—and they left. As I watched them walk away, I honestly had to think a bit to count how many times the supe and human authorities had been on campus that semester.

And I was fairly sure I’d missed at least one.

Oh boy.

That would have to wait as I had a bone to pick with someone, going right past Craftsman and telling him in my head we needed to talk. I didn’t slow down, heading right for his lecture hall, assuming it would be empty. I knew there were still more finals, but they were done for the day.

I was pretty sure there were only a few left the next day for master’s students, but I wasn’t certain.

I stopped by his desk and set down my bag, yanking off my jacket. “That was stupid. Really stupid. You don’t even know—”

“Yes, I do, because I saw the guilt in your aura that night and for days now,” he said gently.

“I don’t feel guilt,” I lied. I didn’t regret what I did, but I hoped I would feel guilty and bad for killing people. Justified or not, I didn’t want to become a cold, brutal person who that stopped affecting.

He simply smiled at me as he took off his jacket as well and tossed it on his chair. “I would do a lot more than be your alibi anytime you needed it.”

“They’re students. You couldn’t handle me hurting students.”

He let out a slow breath. “With what I taught you in that setting so brutally. I’ve long since dealt with that, love. Those gits hurt someone again, right?”

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to implicate him or drag him into this mess.

“I know they did. I trust you. You wouldn’t have done anything unless they had.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do,” he argued, grabbing me by the arms and shaking me. “I know you.” He mashed his mouth to mine before I could think of what to say or even argue.

“Julian, that was unwise,” Professor Campbell chastised as she walked into the room… And found us kissing. “Julian!”

I shoved at his chest and broke the kiss, but he was slower to move away, seeming more annoyed at the interruption than that we’d been caught.

Idiot.

“When did this start?” she hissed as she hurried to close the door behind her.

It wasn’t until Craftsman gave me a curious glance when I stepped away that I realized I was an idiot as well. I shrugged as I put several feet and the desk between us as if that would help. “I smashed the mistress charm when we split.”

“Split?” Campbell exclaimed, her voice taking a higher octave than I’d thought the reserved teacher could reach. Rage filled her eyes as she