Reaching Answers (Artemis University #8) - Erin R Flynn Page 0,92

me? People talk about how selfless you were, but you put this all on me. Fine, you died to save them. I can’t overlook that.

But if they were all dead, they wouldn’t live to love you and keep saying how awesome you were while I was the one you sacrificed to live a shit life alone. You set me up to never be one of them and looked down on as being an unknown who lived among the humans, risked my magical growth and more not actually giving me over to Geiger.

Why? So I wasn’t as powerful as you and they wouldn’t love me like they did you? You think I give a shit about that? I don’t want to be a princess or queen or any of it.

I wanted a family who loved me. I wanted anything but the shit I got and to be sold like I was nothing!

I threw the journal across the room, knocking over a stack of books that I promised to set right later. I angrily wiped the tears trailing down my cheeks and focused on my Taco Bell.

“It’s admirable that you’re trying to deal with your grief,” Katrina said softly from the other side of the room, startling the shit out of me. “I know you’re here cloaked, but I’m a powerful witch, darling. I know when someone comes into my store after hours.”

I took down the barrier and blinked at her. “Sorry.”

She waved it off and came over. “No apology needed.” She nodded to the space on the other side of my haul. “May I join you? I would love to steal a few tacos if you could spare some. I know Taco Bell can’t be considered Mexican food, but there is something about it that can simply heal and comfort just as a good burger or fried chicken.”

“It can,” I agreed. “Help yourself. I can always get more.” I shrugged when she snorted. No reason to deny it. “The program we started is going well. I think it’s time for fifteen at a time, so I’m restocking more calories.”

“And eating your feelings.” She gave me a sad look as she sat. “I met your mother once. She was an odd one and I don’t mean that as a slight, as I think the finest people are all a bit odd. Outstanding doesn’t lead to being normal, as the definitions themselves conflict.”

That was fair. I nodded, accepting that as I sorted out what I had left better so she could select. I even gave her one of my Mountain Dews and then settled down with a stack of Chalupa Supremes with steak. Well, I had ground beef and chicken too, but I was starting with steak.

I was in a chalupa mood. So sue me.

“I shouldn’t care enough to ask,” I rasped, angry I was crying again. Calloway was so strong and I was acting like a weak little girl and I hated that.

“I can see you chastising yourself in your aura. Stop it,” she scolded. “You are not weak for caring about your family. You are a loving woman. I have cried many tears for you and finding Queen Meira was gone. Do you think me weak?”

“No, never. You’re always calm and collected,” I whispered, not able to hide my shock at all. “You—really? You and White always have your shit together.”

“Oh, darling, no we don’t,” she chuckled darkly. “And it’s not always because of good reasons, we keep it all so repressed. Witches are raised in certain ways that it’s expected of us. Even in decent families like mine and White’s. We’re taught it in school and by our families to survive. You also learn it with age. You are so, so young. You simply don’t feel it from all you’ve been through.”

I mulled that over as I kept eating. That was fair. “What was she like?”

“Gorgeous. Maybe the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen in the flesh,” Katrina admitted. “Graceful. Grace practically oozed from her pores.”

Well that clearly skipped me. I tripped and fell all the time. I was only graceful in a fight or in training. Dancing too, but no one would ever use that description on me.

“Troubled,” she sighed, nodding when I gave her a curious look. “It was only a flash but I saw it. I saw her mask crack for just a moment and her aura flashed bright with pain… But in the dulled way that I now know is your fairy rune. Her eyes glazed