I felt all the blood leave my face. “Izzy, I’m so fucking sorry. I didn’t even think of it. I’m so used to dealing with pervs solo that I didn’t—”
“Hey, it’s cool,” Izzy forgave. “Mel told me she needed to talk to me about something after dinner, so I think she realized whatever Dean White did. We’re not perfect, right? Didn’t this just happen and it’s what you guys were upset about at lunch?”
I nodded, knowing she’d already put that together. Izzy was easygoing but incredibly intuitive. She paid attention, was detailed oriented, and from what I’d heard Natalie say, was picking up how to read auras fast. So she might not have the juice she wished, but she was still gifted, as that was pretty hard for a witch or warlock to get down.
“Okay, so read me in, and we’ll figure something out. You can put that aura muting rune on me or whatever since we’ll have to assume a warlock who teaches here knows how to read them.”
“He does,” Dean White confirmed. “I pulled his file after your messages. His level is passable to teach at Artemis, so it’s not his best ability, but passable here is much better than the average warlock. Be on your guard. He is extremely gifted in potions. He has to be to teach the subject here. It also means that is probably what he will use on you.”
I sighed as understanding filled me. “To test me. He’s going to start there and use some sort of potion on me to test what I am.”
“Yes, and I fear it will trigger your PTSD,” she said gently.
I swallowed loudly. Yeah, it would, and throw me back to Mason drugging and abducting me for sure. He almost killed me using too much of a fairy knockout potion and type of date rape drug so he could get me pregnant and force me to mate. Using any potions on me against my will would absolutely trigger me.
Fuck.
“What do we do? There’s got to be a way to fight that, right?”
“Yes, and I’ll get right to work on it, but I wanted to warn you so you’re on guard more than normal. The hobgoblins will help. I’m also going to speak with Katrina Calloway as she’s impressive in potions as well and knows about you.”
Izzy was still glancing between us like watching a tennis match. “Can’t we just let the fae dogs eat this guy if he’s such a threat and get a new potions teacher?”
Dean White shot her an unflattering look and waggled her finger at me. “This is your influence. Ms. Kincaid is turning into the third amiga with you and Melody.”
Izzy simply beamed at her. “That’s a great compliment. Thanks, Dean White.”
It was hard not to laugh when Dean White simply sighed and headed for the door. We waited several moments after she was long gone and broke out into chuckles.
I went over to Izzy and hugged her. “That was immediately Mel and Ray’s plan. I thought it wasn’t bad either, but it could be a trap since he’s also a council plant. I’ll let Mel fill you all in. I’m totally wiped and just want the day to be over.”
She tightened her arms around me. “You’ll be okay. Runes are stupid.”
“No they’re not, but thanks. Today will be the worst class, right? It will get easier from here.”
“Totally.” Her tone sounded as confident as mine.
Which really didn’t sound confident at all.
She offered to go get us some splurge ice cream from the vending machine mecca, and I gladly accepted.
I sat down on my beanbag chair with my bag and debated what I should start studying first when all I wanted to do was nothing. I stared at it for a while, wondering if Izzy had caught Mel and they had got to talking, or if there was a line at the vending machines.
My phone vibrated with a message, and I was glad for the distraction. I frowned when I saw it was from a number I didn’t know, but then my eyes went wide when I realized it was another new number for Craftsman. I’d blocked that second number he’d sent me videos from.
Well, I assumed it was from him when the message was simply a link to OneRepublic’s “Start Again” featuring Logic. He was there when I had found out how integral music was to a fairy and their soul, and he’d been trying to use it to communicate with me. He had before too, when we were together.
Plus, we both loved OneRepublic. We’d danced to a lot of their songs over winter break in my kitchen and done cute, cuddly couple things like that with their music playing in the background. I listened to the song even though I knew it, truly listening to the words and letting them sink into my soul as tears ran down my cheeks. I didn’t bother mopping off my face this time and found my response.
I sent back the link to OneRepublic’s “Didn’t I” which was all about suffering through ending a relationship and the pain of moving on. It was about the most fitting thing I could think of for us right then. I had loved him and given all of me to him and it hadn’t been enough. I couldn’t give anything else or go back when I would risk the same outcome of killing part of my soul.
It took a few minutes for him to respond, letting me know he’d listened to it, but he did with the link to OneRepublic’s “Somebody To Love.” I broke down sobbing as I listened
