Compounding Traumas (Artemis University #6) - Erin R Flynn Page 0,84
to want to speak with Dean White on all of that as she’s the one who’s been working with me since. On a lot too. I mean, way past what… Well, I’m not sure what. She simply always uses ‘astoundingly advanced’ when she refers to much of anything I do.” I shrugged, not sure how else to explain it.
I was still ridiculously new to all of this.
He nodded after a moment. “Fine, but I’ll still start with the one you started with. I need the journey, not simply where you’re at, if I’m going to fill in any gaps as well since your education has been crammed into a year. Too much can be overlooked then.”
I held my hands up in surrender. “Preaching to the choir, man. I worry every damn day if we skip anything and everything that it will out me or blow up in my face, so be the adult and handle what you think best.”
He shot me another glance, seeming amused this time. “You’re a lot more reasonable than I would have thought given half of what’s said about you.”
I snorted. “I’m reasonable with people who are reasonable with me. I respect people who treat me with respect. I know it’s a crazy idea when I have breasts, and big strong men pee standing up, but well, it’s also a great place to kick them when their heads are up their asses. I want to survive and save my people. If you can help me get there, then I’m diligently under your tutelage.”
“Good, because I also want to go over your diet and possibly make changes. College kids don’t have the best diets, and that could greatly help you—”
“Talk to Irma. She’s the boss of me. Izzy’s my roommate, and she tracks a lot of bars and stuff she’s always ordering me extra to eat. There’s gels, and I never have plain water, but herbal tea with juice infusions for extra calories and sugars.” I nodded when he couldn’t hide his shock. “I use a lot of magic. Talk with White. Maybe she can put it in terms that make sense without telling you what I’m doing.”
He didn’t take offense to what I said, but cleared his throat so I knew to listen to him. “My mental shields are a fortress, believe me.”
“I do, but everyone slips. The one thing I’m learning reading journals is there’s always a stronger rune or a way to sneak past a ward or barrier. I have the charm and a rune, and I’m still ridiculously careful. No one can keep guard all the time and take on all challengers.”
“It’s smart you’ve learned that so young.”
I snorted. “I learned it way younger, but that’s not a conversation for someone I’m not friends with.” I was impressed when he let it go since most would have pushed.
We swung by the dorm and picked up Izzy who was more than happy to fill him in on the types of snacks I eat and the vast amounts of them. He followed me around at the cafeteria buffets and kept shooting me glances as if wondering if I was messing with him. It had to be that I was still young—especially to fairies who matured at thirty—because I’d constantly read fairies ate a ton.
“I’ll be back for seconds,” I told him. “Sometimes thirds.”
“I’ve seen her go for fourths and fifths,” Mel drawled as she joined us. “Take her as a few hobbits and remember that she was severely neglected growing up. She spent many years starved, so she’s got a lot of catching up to do.”
“I understand. Thank you. I’ll speak with Irma and see you for your routine in the morning. If you could start journaling what you eat…” he trailed off when I shot him a look of horror. “Take a picture of your trays before you tuck into them?”
“That, I can do. I’ll try and send texts with snacks. Drinks with calories?”
“Yes, for now. Juices especially.”
“Got it.” I realized there was something I should have asked. “How much is Geiger paying you to do this?”
The serious and hard man chuckled, finally giving me more than a smirk or some subtle amusement. “You are paying me gobs, Ms. Vale.” He strutted off with his tray after dropping that bomb.
“I approved it, and he’s worth it,” Mel muttered as we headed to our normal table. “The guy is a legend and it’s not known, but he’ll double as protection. I saw him placing wards