Compounding Traumas (Artemis University #6) - Erin R Flynn Page 0,78

all the fae dogs and hunt every demon on this planet and do it ever second of every day. And I will, if they touch one hair on anyone’s head. If they know anything about fairies, they know I will and believe that promise. That’s what you tell them, and then to back away from you slowly.”

“That’s rather brilliant,” Darby agreed after we all ate a couple of minutes in silence.

“We have our moments,” I teased. “I cannot stress enough how important it is that you not tell people. We’re not even sure if they can reveal themselves to you. They might not be able to—”

“Because we aren’t in the loop, but if we tell people, they would be,” Lucca groaned and then shot me a worried look. “That was a hard decision you had to come to on whether to tell us.”

I sighed. “They all are, but we said no more secrets, and I keep so many that… I can’t keep always hiding everything. For one, I can’t keep it straight who doesn’t know what and how to deal with it all. I just can’t fucking deal with it all alone anymore.” I cleared my throat when I realized I’d gotten rather loud on that last part, even the hobgoblins stopping what they were doing to look at me.

“You’re not alone, child,” Ryfon tried to comfort. “There are so many in Faerie who—”

“We don’t know that, Ryfon, and respectfully, they’re not here. It’s hard not to be angry at all of them that I’m left like this to handle what I shouldn’t have to all alone. So some days, I’m worried they won’t accept me, and other days, I worry that I’ll hate them all for doing this to me. And that’s just on top of the other big worries I have.”

No one knew what to say to that, and dinner was quiet as the hobgoblins joined us.

Yeah, I didn’t know what to say to it either, which was why I normally kept my mouth closed on the topic.

17

The conversation from dinner was still floating around my head the next morning, so I was glad jumping back into classes started with training. Which was actually amusing, as my day started with over six miles and more to my workout, but I was excited for Power Training I.

Maybe less excited when I found a surprise… Several.

I came out of the locker room fixing my hair so it was in two tight braids and pulled up like normal only to lock gazes with Councilman Ainsworth. I blinked a moment and then smiled widely. “Please tell me you’re joining in, and I get the excuse of kicking your ass all over this place. I’ve had dreams where I get to throttle you, and that would just make my semester.”

His nostrils flared as rage filled his eyes at my blatant disrespect. “I am a councilman that deserves respect, and you will behave—”

“I am not a dog you can order,” I seethed. “And you are a murderer who deserves death.” A fly farting could be heard in the large gym, people completely appalled I went there and said it because he was a councilman.

“She just threatened—” someone tried but I wasn’t done yet.

“The people you’ve murdered deserve justice, and the punishment by your own laws for those crimes is execution by the council. You are not above that because you are on the council. I’ve read your laws. Nowhere does it say you are king or tyrant and absolved of your crimes.” I glanced at the guard who was itching to make a move on me. “And before you spout shit of slander next, I submitted all the proof.”

“You’re still speaking to a councilman and—”

I snorted. “He’s not my councilman. I didn’t elect him. He’s just a man. A corrupt man who murders people. It’s a joke you all treat him with anything but disgust, and he’s got you all brainwashed to act like his dogs he can just order to behave and obey.” I stared down the guard. “I thought supes were stronger than that, but apparently, you lack the higher reasoning to think for yourself.”

I turned on my heel and left them all speechless, finishing my hair and finding Mel and Colton, who did not look happy.

“They have every right to come onto campus at any time, as long as they give notice,” Colton explained. “Apparently, they did moments before showing up.”

“Seriously? They’re so fucking petty and desperate for any information on