Reaching Answers (Artemis University #8) - Erin R Flynn Page 0,42
guys like. This is just for us to do our thing, so only eat that stuff unless we say so. You can have the coffees after we try them as four of us can’t drink this many.”
“I don’t think there will be much left over though,” I admitted in between bites of a breakfast sandwich. “This place is fucking amazing.”
“Yeah, it goes on the list to visit again,” Darby agreed. “Try these pancakes, agra.” He shot Izzy a guilty look that he’d gone out of order. “They smelled really good and right next to me.”
“That’s like the first time you’ve cheated ever,” she teased him.
And he was right on the pancakes. Nice.
Dean White arrived just as everyone else finished up, amused as I kept going when they all had to tap out.
I simply shrugged. “Are you really shocked anymore?”
“No, your aura shocks me. What has you doing so much better?”
I wasn’t going to answer at first but then shrugged. “I realized something on my run and it’s helped.” I glanced over at the hobgoblins and winked. “You guys better get some before I eat it all.”
“No, thank you,” Irma chuckled. “Izzy made sure to order for us as well even though we told her we’ll cook for ourselves. The child doesn’t listen.”
Izzy shrugged. “I didn’t hear a thing. I believe even my horrible parents raised me well enough that I wouldn’t leave out people I value from our fun. Besides, you’re cleaning like, everything and everywhere over break. You can rest too.”
“I second that,” I interjected before looking at Dean White. “Have you eaten?”
“I have, but that coffee smells divine, so I will take some if you’ve sampled what you needed to.”
Marshall nodded and showed her what they were done with or was left over. We didn’t just all slobber over the same cups or straws, pouring it into our own glasses to be smarter.
Even if there was some residual mixing. We could figure it out just fine.
We finished and headed for one of the sittings rooms in the other wing that I’d converted into a workroom. Zack and Ray had been in there many times, but I could see Dean White brimming with curiosity and surprise.
I shrugged. “This is not the only project or plot I’ve got going on.”
“Need help?”
“Always.” I snorted as I unlocked the magic. Yeah, that was accurate. “Let’s start with this though and not kill you.”
“I’d prefer that not be the outcome either,” she teased, a tint of worry in her tone.
“You okay, Anya?”
“I’m fine,” she lied through her teeth.
Uh-huh. I let it go… For the moment.
We went inside and I showed her the actual traps, giving her time to study them.
“These are astounding, Tamsin,” she whispered for the seventh time as she kept looking. “The layering and depth to them are—I would never believe someone your age could invent this if I didn’t know your honor. Not even a savant like Julian with all his training.” She seemed to think better of that. “Well, maybe him since his family threw him in every extra training since he could speak.”
Fair enough.
“Thank you, but I’m hemorrhaging magic to make them,” I grumbled. “The layers are fine, but infusing it all together and into the physical base is what… It’s like a broken hydrant.”
“Well, let’s fix it—shall we?”
And she did. We spent a few hours going over the process and with some small visual tweaks I had almost solved on my own, she made it so I used a fraction of the power to make one. She was also an excellent teacher, truly astounding, and everything was so much easier.
Yeah, I was going to her with everything from now on instead of trying to figure it out on my own.
“If you would update my tattoo, please?” she said when we were wrapping up.
Right, the memory tattoo so no one could get the information from her. I apologized for causing her pain and did it, Zack carrying the box of everything she’d need to get started. I also texted her the contact of Katrina Calloway’s to get more, and quietly.
“Let me know when you’re ready with your next project.”
I nodded. “I will, thank you.” I smiled when she gave me a hesitant look. “I promise. That was—I needed the help. This takes a lot off my plate, but I have one focus this break.”
Faerie. She didn’t make me say it, smiling and wishing me luck before she left.