shit, Baz. There’s so much spin it’s making me dizzy.”
“Eastman’s all over this,” he says. “Casey told us as much. I don’t know why Trello would put him in charge, especially if she’s on our side.”
“I’m still not totally on Team Trello or Team Casey, for that matter. But let’s say they’re actually legit. Maybe Trello didn’t have a choice. Kirin said Eastman doesn’t know the other agents are onto him, and they’re trying to keep it that way.”
“Yeah, I get that. But this whole ‘keep your enemies close’ thing might come back to bite us all in the ass. It usually does.”
“Did Trello say anything about the missing magickal essences?”
Baz skims through the rest of the message, shaking his head. “Just a bunch of platitudes about how we’re stronger together and we’ll get through this as a family, Arcana Academy pride, blah blah blah.”
“There’s no way I’m going back to Iron and Bone. I’m not leaving you guys, and I’m not leaving Nat and Isla either. Or Carly. Or the professors.”
“Pretty sure the rules don’t apply to us anymore.” Baz puts away his phone and leans down for a kiss. Then, with a devious smirk, “And if anyone tries to take you away from me, I’ll bury them alive. Done and done.”
“The best part about having an earth mage boyfriend is the ability to bury bodies without leaving fingerprints. Who would’ve thought?”
“No, Little Bird. The best part is this.” He claims me in another kiss and climbs on top of me, his fingers already working the buttons on my shirt.
“Not to ruin your big moment here, earth mage, but should we really be doing this next to Ani, especially when he’s not even conscious for the fun?”
“I was thinking we could give him a little more incentive to come home.” He presses another searing-hot kiss to my lips. “Maybe he’ll even make it before the grand finale.”
I laugh and wrap my legs around his hips, deciding I’m totally on board with that kind of logic. But before we can implement a full-on reenactment of the vampire book as a beacon for Ani’s homecoming, Kirin barges into the room.
“You want in on this, brother?” Baz asks, looking at Kirin over his shoulder. “We’re trying to entice our boy into coming home. Emphasis on coming.”
Kirin’s face turns red, a flash of intrigue brightening his energy. “I, uh… Yes? Yes, I do want in on that very much? But… Shit.” He rubs a hand over his head, then sighs. “Casey and Quintana are here. Time for a family meeting.”
Baz curses, then climbs off me, offering a hand to pull me up.
I lean down and kiss Ani’s lips, soft and sweet. “See you later, Sunshine.”
“Keep the bed warm for us, Gingersnap.” Baz ruffles his hair. “We’ll be back.”
Twenty-One
STEVIE
Out in the main area of the house, most everyone is already gathered in the big living room, passing around plates of bagels and muffins and cut fruit. But from the serious look on Professor Broome’s face, it’s clear I’m going to need more caffeine for this conversation, so I make a quick detour into the kitchen.
Doc is standing at the coffee maker, dressed in an impeccable dark gray shirt-and-slacks combo that has me drooling.
Damn, that man looks good in a button-down.
Damn, that man looks good out of button-down too, but now is not the time for fantasizing about hot sex with my mental magicks professor. Especially since I’m still halfway into a hot sex fantasy involving Baz, Kirin, and Ani.
Yeah, Doc really needs to reconsider that ‘no sharing’ thing…
“Sleep well? Or did Baz’s snoring keep you up?” He winks at me, eyes sparkling, energy pulsing with a mix of warmth, pleasure, and a hint of jealousy.
After a quick scan to make sure the other professors aren’t watching, I stretch up on my toes for a kiss.
“Careful, Doc,” I whisper. “Your possessive streak is showing.”
“You be careful, Miss Milan,” he whispers back. “Or we’ll be having another talk about your… insubordination.” His knuckles graze my nipple, lips teasing the shell of my ear, hot breath driving me wild.
“I see you’re wearing the belt,” I say, tracing the top edge of it with my fingers. Beneath my touch, his cock is just starting to bulge.
“Hmm. I’d rather see you wearing it. In fact—”
“You guys ready out there?” Casey calls impatiently from the living room, earning another point on my shit list.
“Be right with you, Agents.” Doc pulls away from me, reaching behind him for a mug of