Compounding Traumas (Artemis University #6) - Erin R Flynn Page 0,60
it was a scramble to get it into place and scheduled. Everything was in place for the pilot run of the continuing education classes starting next month when they demanded this two weeks ago.”
“Clever foxes,” I chuckled. “It’s harder to shut them down last minute. They looked nice and amiable, willing to play ball, and the schools would seem like jerks if they wouldn’t give such a small allowance back. But they had a whole Bond villain plan around it. They really are such fuckers.”
“Assuming you’re right on their purpose,” Mrs. Von Thann interjected, shrugging when several of us glanced at her. “I agree that’s probably the purpose, but they are sly old foxes. There have been many times I thought they had a plan like that, and it was a completely different goal I wouldn’t have seen coming. They are the elders and council for a reason. However, I don’t think you’re wrong.”
“You’re simply warning her not to underestimate them,” Mrs. Vogel clarified. “Yes, they’ve been rather lazy in the past years as they’ve not had to be craftier and clever, but they can be. They are incredibly smart to have gotten to the top as most weren’t the original council families. I agree there could be much more at play. You’re used to idiot criminals, and most of the councilmen are not idiots.”
That was fair, and I could even agree, as many had been smart in the way they’d hidden their misdeeds or illegal activities. If no one had been pushing back on them, then why waste the effort?
Now someone had and they’d have to step up.
Let the games begin… Because I was the most lethal when people thought they had me in their grasp.
13
Darby gave me more gorgeous yellow roses that made me melt when I went to the cafeteria.
That night was the freshmen welcome ball, and it was nice not having to go. Most of the scholarship students were glad they didn’t have to attend as well. We had fun not going, sitting on the quad eating and watching all the newbs racing off to the madness and commenting on their attire.
The next morning, there were more roses.
And the next. I stared down at them, realizing I did want to talk to him before classes started tomorrow. It would be hard and probably too much for me to handle, but so would having a class with Craftsman, so it was best to at least deal with what I could. I had no idea the outcome of this, but… I wanted to talk to him.
I missed him, and after speaking with Mel, I realized maybe… I wasn’t sure. Maybe I wasn’t so closed off to him as I’d thought.
Maybe.
About halfway through breakfast, I unblocked his number and texted him.
Tamsin: Thank you for the roses. Do you have time to talk today?
Darby: Yes, of course. Anytime. Whenever you want.
Tamsin: After breakfast? Meet me at our new room?
I smiled at how fast he replied, giving him the new room number. It gave me hope he was excited and immediately agreeing. That meant he wasn’t holding lingering resentment and setting me up just to blast me, right? I hoped so. I’d only spent time with jerks before the guys here and even then, everything had blown up in my face.
I finished eating and checked with Izzy she was going to meet up with Natalie and our friends before dropping off my tray and heading out. Darby met up with me at the exit, opening the door for me as he cleared his throat.
“Hey, hi,” he greeted softly.
“Hi.” I cleared my throat next, not sure what else to say. I kept walking, very aware of the eyes on us. Everyone was back on campus now with classes starting tomorrow, and there was lots of speculation about us since we were private and some people were still completely obsessed about me.
Always.
I let him into the dorm, and he followed me up the stairs to our new room. The tension built as I unlocked the door and allowed him inside, locking it behind him. After setting down the roses on my desk, I decided I wanted to do this right and went to my closet, opening a portal to my house and waving him to come with me.
“So you really can just open a temp portal whenever so easily,” he whispered, studying it closely.
I nodded. “No more secrets.”
He smiled at me. “I’d like that.” He went through without hesitation, showing he trusted me.