Compounding Traumas (Artemis University #6) - Erin R Flynn Page 0,52

me. I’ll think about it really, and I woves you for making sure I knew.”

“Always. I’m always on your side, Tams.”

I winked at her, knowing she was.

We headed to the cafeteria, and it was almost weird to be at Artemis without the hobgoblins, but it was smart of them to take the first few weeks off until the idiots got settled. They were making extra money helping with the bakery and stockpiling the dozen industrial walk-in freezers I now had in my basement. Mel talked me into it, so we always had fae fruit everything in winter.

Oh, plus, a huge room we filled with tons of shelves for preserves and pickling.

Last night and this morning was when anyone helping with the freshmen were arriving… Or people who just wanted the chance to get back to Artemis early and away from their families. Or for other reasons. I was sure there were lots of those.

I was sure I really didn’t care. It was pathetic people came back to school early to take shots to my face, instead of over social media about my owning Cherrywood or how they got banned from all the hobgoblins businesses. Yes, I absolutely seemed the type to cave because someone shouted in my face.

It had worked so well for Blake and that group. I not only immediately sent that to Claudia, but warned her I was going to do something that would start trouble at freshman orientation.

To which Geiger messaged me and asked if I wanted to spend my entire inheritance on their billable hours. I had laughed. I had more than enough new income from those inheritances, not to mention the interest on all the money sitting in banks, to afford them for whatever I needed.

I simply replied asking why I didn’t get a bulk discount yet, or at least like frequent flyer miles, like credit cards gave. He wasn’t amused.

Mel had found it hilarious, and I had a feeling Claudia did as well, but wouldn’t ever admit that since Geiger was her boss.

People were abuzz about the new addendums to the student agreements, several shooting me dirty looks as if knowing who was behind it all. I wouldn’t even deny it, but it was disgusting that it wasn’t already a thing at the schools. Humans had integrity all the time without needing fairies to make them do what they should. I refused to accept this bullshit it was all because fairies were gone.

It was corruption and laziness that no one pushed back and demanded better from their society. They were such children, they needed fairies to tell them how to behave and live?

Fine, this fairy would.

We had just sat down with our trays when someone cleared their throat behind me. I turned to see Darby laying down two massive yellow roses next to me on the table. They were astoundingly beautiful, and I knew they had to have been made by his magic. I swallowed loudly, and then again, when I met his gaze, my heart fluttering at how handsome he was.

I wasn’t sure what I might even have said, but he simply smiled and dipped his head to Izzy in greeting before walking away. Wow, so he wasn’t pushing or being over-the-top, simply apologizing now that he could. I mean, he said he wrote letters, but it was hard to get them to me when he hadn’t know the address or no one would bring them. I had blocked him on my phone.

So he really hadn’t had a way to apologize or talk to me.

I was still staring at the roses when another throat cleared. I prayed it wasn’t Craftsman, not able to handle him anytime soon, even if I’d have to. Relief filled me when I saw it was Dean White, until I saw she wasn’t happy.

I couldn’t keep the sigh in, and I saw mirth dancing in her eyes at least. “Good morning, Dean White. What can I do for you?”

“I need to ask you a few questions about a situation I’ve been apprised of,” she answered. “Well, it was demanded of me to question you and make sure you weren’t lying.”

“Sorry you were put in the middle of whatever nonsense is going on now, but I’ll answer what I can without my lawyer.”

Her lips twitched, seeming relieved I immediately went there. “There have been reports of hobgoblins being abducted from their homes. Have you abducted any hobgoblins recently?”

I snorted. “No, no, I have not.” That was true. I didn’t abduct