And I hated myself for it. I hated being that weak and longing for them, needing people who had hurt and betrayed me. It was triggering me and the traumas I’d had when I was younger.
Drying off, I turned on some softer, more hopeful music before sliding between my sheets. I didn’t bother with pajamas anymore, having gotten used to sleeping naked after sexy or fun. It made sense in my head, but going back to pajamas was like admitting that part of my life was over and I wouldn’t have it again.
Which was stupid, as I would meet other men and date them. Apparently, it was part of who I was as a comitissa. Fuck, I could not even deal with that right then. It would have to wait.
I needed it to wait.
I fell into a restless sleep after lots more tears and woke when my alarm went off, thinking I might have been better off not sleeping at all. As I’d been doing for weeks, I used my magic for a healing rune to help the puffy eyes I knew I’d have and tried to push past the hard time sleeping.
It might be time to talk to White about those sleep draughts she mentioned.
My mind drifted back to last night as I got ready for the meeting I’d set up. There had to be something to the “dark fairy” fae dogs working with me. Protective, I understood, as I was their only shot at getting back home. But, if light and dark fairies kept warring and had a history of fighting, I could only assume they were like oil and water.
So why did these fae dogs take orders from, and work with me? Maybe they didn’t care, but it was more like family ties?
Or, I’ve got a parent from each side. I’m half and half, even if I present as a light fairy. That has to be it.
That settled the swirling thoughts a bit, and I got my ass in gear when I checked the time. Five minutes later, I was ready and heading out in a sleek pantsuit.
“You ready for this?” Mel asked quietly as she fell in step with me.
I shrugged. “You’re nervous because of your family and name. I don’t have that. If they say no, they say no.”
“Fine, then you do the talking because I want to puke.”
That shocked me given how confident and kick-ass Mel was, but now that she was on better terms with her family… She was a representative of them.
We went through the portal to arrive in the teachers’ lounge, White waiting for us. She seemed solemn as she greeted us and I worried something had gone wrong at the party after I left.
“I don’t like the auras of some of the guests here today,” she explained, answering my unasked question. “I don’t like them at all.”
“I’m just going to start bringing my dogs everywhere,” I grumbled. Mel snorted as White gave us both an exasperated look.
We quickly made our way to the auditorium. It should have been a simple meeting in a conference room, but everyone wanted to posture and act special, so that meant a posse came with them. Gag me.
All eyes were on us—well, focused on me—as we walked into the main area. I swallowed down my feelings when I saw Dr. Craftsman among the Artemis faculty. I hadn’t even considered he’d be there, given he’d only been teaching a few years. Why was he involved when he wasn’t even a dean?
Then my other issue was seeing Dean Collins for the first time since he’d “saved” me at my party. If looks would kill, he’d be dead.
And I didn’t just mean my glare, but the one Mel was undoubtedly giving him too.
Headmaster Edelman took the lead, welcoming everyone and acknowledging all the schools and their headmasters—stroking egos and playing nice. It was good he would do that, because I wouldn’t. I wasn’t trying to pick a fight, but playing nice wasn’t my strong suit.
I thanked Edelman after he introduced me and moved to the center of the stage so I could see everyone. “As I’m sure Headmaster Edelman has told you—or the rumors that fly so fast among supes—I started a scholarship program that changes the way Artemis treats scholarship students. It’s gone over well, extremely well. The good parents were upset to learn what they were donating to and—”
“Are you saying you’re going to set up scholarship programs for all our schools?” a man called out who was sitting with a rather large posse compared to the others.
I gave him an amused look. “Do I have to? Are you incapable of doing it yourself after I’ve outlined a program that works?” I kept going when he opened his mouth, and steam about came out of his ears. “I was outlining what we’ve found as you now have all the leverage you need to make it happen in your own schools.”
“Please, enlighten us what that could be?” he drawled.
I raised an eyebrow, making it clear I was mocking him for not having figured it out for himself already. “Not every elite goes to Artemis. Every school has them, or the next level below them, that want to be like the elites. That’s your leverage.”
“If the best school does it, of course we should too, and keep up,” a man from a different group surmised. He waited until I nodded. “You might not have known you were a supe very long, but you certainly understand the politics of our world.”
I tried to swallow a snort, but failed. “Thank you for the compliment, but before I came
