Compounding Traumas (Artemis University #6) - Erin R Flynn Page 0,81
routine before breakfast if you want and all of everything as I have with Colton, but not everyone needs to hear it.”
He studied the people spying. “Several are wearing runes and using runes to journal everything we’ll both say in their presence.”
“That’s fine. Just tell the space you need, and it won’t work a few seconds after that.” I smirked at him when he gave me a confused glanced.
Slow understanding filled his eyes.
Yeah, hi, I knew powerful barriers. Duh.
I nodded as he pointed it out and then smirked at the councilmen and their lackeys before throwing up the barrier to cover the whole area. I turned to Instructor Larson and answered his unasked question. “They can’t see or hear anything, but we can them. The essence dampener charm I wear and rune I use both change the magical signature of the barrier.”
He studied it and smiled. “So they don’t know it’s a fairy spy barrier that allows you to see and hear them, but think it’s a powerful one like I’ve seen Geiger use that protects him like the charm his mate gave him. They have no idea we aren’t blocked from them.”
“No.” I moved closer to the edge and bit back a chuckle as the councilmen blew their lids. “I feel like I need popcorn.”
“Get Edelman here now,” Ainsworth bitched at his aide. “He needs to have her take this barrier down now. This is against the rules. We’re allowed on campus to inspect at anytime we want, and we want to inspect the unknown’s training as her power could be a danger to all of us!”
“Call it what you will, Councilman,” Mel shouted over, amusement in her tone. “Tell whatever lies you want to those dumb enough to believe you, but Tamsin won’t ever be one you abduct and drain for the black market. My whole clan has sworn an oath to protect her. So I suggest you stop interfering in this class as she’s using her power in training, which is the goal of it.”
“She is—” Ainsworth tried again.
“Councilman, you might be used to being around people who can’t tell when you lie, but I can,” she snapped. “You do it again about your intentions of being here and in regards to one I’ve given my oath to protect, and even my council will agree with my acting on your being a danger to Ms. Vale in my presence as a dragon’s oath is sacred. Now, you know where the door is. I suggest you use it.”
Well dayumn.
I held out my arm and dropped an imaginary mic for Mel when Ainsworth wasn’t stupid enough to piss off a Rothchild and stormed out. I still kept up the barrier as now everyone would want to snitch to their council anything about what they could learn about my power level or training, but it was a good win.
For the moment. They would be back. Pests always came back, no matter how many times you swatted them away.
You needed to squash them completely to make them stop bothering you.
I started easy with Instructor Larson. I went over my workout—which he said he would join me for the next morning—and then we sparred so he could get the real idea of my level. Before the end of class, he had me speak with Colton to give permission to get full information on my training from the dragon and Mel’s father.
I shocked them both by hugging Colton.
“I’ve always got your back, Cousin,” Colton muttered, patting my back and even kissing my hair.
It made me smile that he even guessed what I was so happy about. There was so much going on that I understood why people didn’t always check with me before telling secrets… But it was my life. They were my secrets. It was hard to give up control of them. After so long of being almost completely on my own, it was really, really hard to simply trust everyone would do what they should.
And then add in all my years of being in the foster system where the adults didn’t do anything they should by me, and I had next to no faith left in anyone. But for as much corruption as there was in the supe world, there were a lot of good people who were slowly bringing back my faith. Slowly.
Very slowly with tiny bread crumbs. Colton just gave me another one when I needed it. So did Geiger, as Instructor Larson seemed pretty cool already.