my head with my magical knowledge level.
And the crystals confused me overall. For real, I didn’t get them.
Right after the second quarter started, I realized I was out of drink. Darby offered to get it, but I wanted to hit the bathroom too, and my mind was still on that reservoir. Calloway would have to know who could get me one. I would definitely call her after the game.
I finished in the bathroom and once again walked into something. I was starting to seriously wonder if that was my shtick this semester, or if the gods were just trying to give me a helping hand after getting so much shit dumped on me.
Yes, the gods made you have to pee. Logical.
“My answer is no and it won’t change,” a male voice I knew hissed. I couldn’t immediately place it, but I did cloak myself with a barrier out of instinct.
“It will change. Don’t be selfish. You will do as your—” another male voice argued quietly.
“That’s bloody rich coming from you,” Craftsman snapped. He was the man arguing with someone. “You don’t care about me or anything other than yourself. This is your being selfish. Again.”
“This is for our family.”
“No, it’s for your family. It’s for you now, and your oldest son. Your immediately family is all you care about. The rest of us are collections you boast of, like cars in your garage. Don’t treat me like I’m an idiot. I know exactly how you operate and I always have. Others might still be in the dark, but you did not watch your words around a child, assuming one would not understand. I did.”
That gave the man pause. “You can get something out of this too, Julian. You could become my aide and then your cousin’s. This doesn’t have to be you versus us. We are family.”
I turned the corner to see down the hallway they were in just in time to watch the doc smack the man’s hand away, sneering at someone who look sort of related, but not enough I would catch it. I mean, there were similar features, but their accents weren’t even both British.
“I wouldn’t agree to this, even if they offered me the spot. They are offering you the position of councilman, and taking out Ainsworth, if I betray my student and hand her over. I would lose everything for those corrupt gits. Not only won’t I do it because it’s wrong, it’s short sighted, and you should be smarter.”
“What do you mean?” the man asked, finally sounding like he might listen, frowning even.
“She’s taken out vampire elders. They have their shit together more than ours. She’s not backing down, and she’s gaining power and backing. That’s why our council keeps making these stupid moves and grabs. They can’t beat her. It’s stupid to make such a public move on their side when they can’t even best her. They’re not as powerful as they’ve told us. They’ve been lying.”
“Of course they have. But she’s the key to getting in and taking it all over. We could put everyone better in place. Our family could head the council.”
“No, you could, and I don’t see that as anything better. You’re not moral or anyone who should lead our people either, Uncle. I won’t betray her. I’m on her side of this.”
“Over your family?”
“Yes. Without question.”
“I’d be incredibly careful that’s your answer, Julian. The council won’t protect you from me anymore as they are on my side of this. Your mother—”
“Is where you cannot touch her, so don’t even try it.” Julian chuckled when the man frowned. “When I went in to help Vale, she offered to tuck Mum away somewhere safe. That’s who she is, instead of all you gits who would sell out your own family. You’re not talking about only taking her out, but me. I would lose my career. No school would hire me after betraying a student.
“My reputation would be dirt, and for you and your son. Don’t act like there will be a place next to you, because you will wash your hands of me the moment the shite hits the fan, as you always do. You knew nothing, but you will take the spoils, and I’m a disgrace of a Craftsman, and you’re shocked.”
“I wouldn’t. Not on this. I’d even do it all for this prize. I just need you to give me the in and look the other way. I will sign a magically binding contract saying it, Julian. Just