Reaching Answers (Artemis University #8) - Erin R Flynn Page 0,55

simply not how we’re used to the world being. You’ve made vast progress in just over a year—even at your own school—and I have not a doubt you will continue to make progress. You will. This is just for today to survive.”

I nodded in agreement, swallowing down the pain and knowing it was best… For now. “Katrina, I was hoping you could also help coordinate with purchasing and getting us in more food, along with some of the aides. If we spread some of this around, there are fewer questions. I know the beef farm can ramp up with the hobgoblin magic there, and I’ll tell them to do it.”

“Yes, and I can get my family involved to help in a way that they won’t realize what’s going on,” she muttered, jotting down notes.

“And what do they want in return?” I asked, knowing that tone. I didn’t need the ability to read auras to know when someone was in trouble, flinching when I had a guess. “The council made a move.”

“Yes, and the move some powerful warlocks were trying to make with the dragon royals—”

“The council wants to get involved in the glamours and wards on all the Veritas Portas stores,” I whispered in horror.

“Yes, yes they do,” she chuckled darkly. “We just received notices they would be inspecting them after the new year and had decided to aid us since none of us could have the power they do to keep them going. Oh, and they will be adding tariffs for the cost of that, and access to our records.”

“So they’re taking over.” I sat back in my chair and scrubbed both hands over my face. “Wow, the fuckers aren’t even trying to hide it anymore.”

“You are more than able to keep up your glamour, Katrina,” Iolas stated. “You could make tier eight crystals when I last saw you. Have you been injured in a way that you cannot anymore?”

“One, you can’t out people on the levels they can make, as it’s dangerous,” I explained, my voice tired. “Two, the current warlock elders ruling the council can only make tier five, and some forced children of fairies to mate them since they could make tier ten. Three, just assume everything is constantly fucked up from what you knew. It will save time and generally be the answer.”

Neldor snorted. “Unfortunately, she’s right. It’s distressing and I itch to handle it constantly, but we are not in that position to yet.”

“Not yet,” I sighed. I glanced up at the Iolas who looked irate. “Can you make tier ten crystals?”

“Of course I can,” he whispered, affronted I would even ask.

“Mate, I have no idea how this all works, okay? I mean—I never mean offense unless I really mean it, and then I’m not subtle.”

“I understand.” Clearly, from his frown he didn’t, but I appreciated the backup and that he didn’t want to be a pain.

“Then let’s work tomorrow on getting some of those and recharge those glamours. We are not letting those stores and a family who has been helping make our world better get taken over by those corrupt bastards.”

“People will know it was you,” Katrina warned.

I shrugged. “And what will they do? Come after me? I’ll pencil them in for every other day instead of once a week. The idiots never stop coming for me no matter how many times they fail. I’m seconds from…” I slowly smiled.

“Oh no,” Mrs. Vogel smiled. “That’s your evil grin. No good comes from that.”

Dean White snorted. “Lots of good does, but it’s normally messy. You laughed last time.”

“Yes, yes, I did,” Mrs. Vogel confessed.

I didn’t actually know what they were talking about as there were so many instances of my misbehaving, but I was glad to entertain everyone. At least I got the job done, right?

I did that night. We all did as we plotted out what we had to and got more handled in one shorter after-dinner meeting than most governments could over months and months.

12

“Can I ask you something I shouldn’t, love?” Craftsman murmured in my ear.

In another dream. They had been going on for weeks now. I couldn’t stop them… And I didn’t want to. I had missed him—us—and even if I only got this fake time in dreams, I was clinging to it.

“No, no serious,” I grumbled as I ducked under the covers and curled away from him. My body deliciously ached like it would in real life from him making love to me in a dream. All of