Compounding Traumas (Artemis University #6) - Erin R Flynn Page 0,66

and change the plans so they don’t worry. Thanks.”

“Anything to keep you safe.”

That earned him a quick kiss to his cheek before I opened a portal to where I was going and rescued the hobgoblins. At first, I had thought to do more on the weekends, but there were more people around then. And it screamed the person doing it had stuff going on during the weekdays when they might have eyes on them.

Like being at college. Sure, that would also be most adults at their jobs, but it would narrow down the suspect pool, and I wanted it as big as possible given most would already point all their fingers at me. If they were smart at least.

“How many did you get?” Lucca asked excitedly when I arrived back.

“I didn’t count,” I admitted with a shrug. “It was a big room, and they were packed in there like sardines. Four dozen at least.”

“Wait, they were all in one room?” Darby asked, not hiding his horror.

I nodded. “These aren’t nice people. They won’t let their slaves go, Darby. Most of the conditions I’m finding are worse than I treat the fae dogs. And I only keep them in the garage because they set themselves on fire. But lots of the hobgoblins are on nothing but old yoga mats for beds with junk whatever leftover stuff.”

“Wow,” Lucca whispered. “As horrible as my father is, even he immediately had two bathrooms converted to facilitate them when they came to work for us. A few bedrooms too. He offered more but—”

“They prefer that closeness,” I defended, nodding that I knew. “I’ve actually spoken with the hobgoblins who lived with you.” I cleared my throat. “They wanted to speak with me on your behalf and tell me how wonderful you were. I wasn’t open to hearing it, but they did tell me that, even with as many issues as I have with your dad, he was always, always respectful and kind to them.”

Lucca sighed. “He was, but he is still racist because he doesn’t see fair folk as equals, but more like dependents or child-like beings that simply have magic that needed to be managed.”

“They said that too,” I confessed. “But they said it wasn’t out of malice, simply he couldn’t understand and hadn’t spent much time in Faerie to know how things truly were.” My lips twitched. “And he was deficient in the brain and incapable of the higher reasoning to learn enough to evolve.”

Lucca’s laugh echoed through my room again, Darby even joining in after a moment. Yeah, it was a good dig, and I enjoyed it coming out so innocent from nice hobgoblins about asshole Mr. Von Thann.

“How about we all have dinner?” Darby asked, giving me a hesitant glance. “Something calm before the madness starts tomorrow?”

I nodded, seeing Lucca did as well. “Yeah, that sounds perfect. I’ll text Irma that we’re coming home for dinner. There’s a bunch of stuff they’re thinking of adding to the bakery for fall treats they want me to sample and give my opinion on.” I smiled when they simply blinked at me. “Yes, I’m spoiled. Get ready for it as well.”

“I’ve honestly missed it,” Darby muttered, wincing when he realized how that sounded. “Not—I missed the hobgoblins. They weren’t mean to me, but even the children immediately shut me out when we were—and it hurt. I wanted to cry that they basically hated me now.”

“Yeah, I feel that way whenever Irma gives me a disappointed look,” I grumbled.

Darby snuck a kiss before heading out, leaving Lucca and I alone… With the large box he’d brought. Okay then.

I pointedly stared at it as if making it clear I wanted an explanation.

He simply chuckled and dragged it over to the two super bean bag chairs we had, and then brought me over there too, pushing me to sit in one. He pulled the second much closer and knelt by the box. “Hi.”

“Hi?” I chuckled.

He cleared his throat and leaned in, brushing his lips over mine. “Hi.”

I swallowed a giggle. “Hi, Lucca. What are you up to?”

“So first, for the record, I’m glad you made up with Darby.”

“Okay.”

“Izzy told me you—he gave you flowers, and you had other issues and well; that’s common, and you’re not a common woman. And I don’t mean that because of what you are. You’re special, and I wanted to do something fun.”

“I like fun,” I offered, unsure of how to help or what to do, but he was acting so adorable,