“I always welcome any advice, Professor,” I cut in when I realized he might ramble well past the bell he was so nervous.
He relaxed somewhat. I knew my reputation, and even if unfair at times, I was hard to approach. That part was intentional.
“It’s customary for shifter guards to sniff someone new around their leader. My understanding is you’ve been around Alpha Geoff and were vetted by your attorneys to use their services, so that was not the normal setting. You were the client, not the one to be wary of. Your ties to anyone won’t matter to council guards in this setting. They will check your scent and to someone unused to it, it’s unnerving.”
“And I would be insulted, defensive of someone coming in my personal space when I was unarmed and immediately react,” I muttered, nodding when his eyes flashed shock. “I was trained to think like a single woman, Professor. A human woman. There is no reason ever for a man to step into my personal space, without my invitation, that is not considered an act of aggression. That’s standard.”
He studied me a moment. “That’s honestly the best way I’ve heard it explained, and I will pass it along. That makes most of us overreacting to how you’ve acted instead of you being overly aggressive. It’s also incredibly helpful in acclimating other unknowns, as you were not the only one found last year, nor this year.”
I might have asked more, but the bell rang. I did catch his thoughts that he wanted me to know that. People acted like I was such a rare mistake, and supe society was so cultured and had their act together, that unknowns were unheard of.
And it was a lie. Sure, there weren’t tons, but a dozen or so a year. It was unheard of that one came to Artemis and was launched into the elite world and had top-tier magic. That was what fascinated them all about me and I could even understand that.
But, I appreciated the information on both fronts and made a mental note to tell Zack and Ray so they kept looking after Puth.
After classes, I showered and got ready, letting Izzy do my hair and makeup. I threw on a simple design cocktail dress the hobgoblins made with the fae material that was super comfortable. It was a bit short, not over the line, and conservative on the top, so pretty perfect for the occasion.
When it was time, I met up with Zack, Ray, and Mel. Zack and Ray weren’t going as guards tonight, but more or less as my escorts. It wasn’t smart to have wolf guards when we were meeting their elders and their loyalties could conflict. Instead, Mel had insisted on Colton and two other of her cousins. I thought it overkill, but given no one else ever seemed to adhere to the rules, it was probably smart.
Everything was in place when we arrived at the main estate of HAVEN, the nonprofit Mel and I had set up with the help of two of her cousins, Avril and Ellen. We couldn’t have done it without all of the support of the dragon royals, hobgoblins, our friends, and even Katrina Calloway. She told me several of her female relatives were helping behind the scenes as well, but didn’t want credit.
I understood, as fighting for equality didn’t make people popular and was bad for business that they had people relying on the income from.
My first surprise of the night was when one of the councilmen was already there… Over a half an hour early. I didn’t know him on sight, but when Ray and Zack immediately reacted to a group, it wasn’t hard to put it together.
Plus, a group of hobgoblins came right over with drinks and were fretting over them like guests.
“I apologize for not being here sooner to greet you,” I said as I approached them. “I try to stay out of the way for events. If I come too early, I tend to sit in the kitchen and sample everything, and then they don’t have much left.”
“She jests, but doesn’t lie,” one of the hobgoblins teased me. “You look lovely, Tamsin.”
“Thanks.” I beamed at her, smiling when she turned yellow and hurried back to the kitchen with the others. I focused on the one with the “boss” aura and extended my hand. “Tamsin Vale.” I dropped it when I thought back to what Puth had told me, stepping away from the others and glancing at the guards. “You need to scent me, right?”
A few glanced at each other, but one who was probably head of the detail stayed locked on me. “And you would accept that? We were told you were more difficult than that.”
“It wasn’t explained to me until today,” I sighed. “If people treat me with respect and explain things to me in this world I was dropped kicked into and didn’t get the instruction manual for, I’m a very, very reasonable woman. All I’ve ever known is sometimes strange men come way too much into my personal space or try to demand things of me without valid reasons when I’m already at a disadvantage.”
As if that wasn’t clear enough, I gestured to my outfit and showed them the heels.
One of the other guards snorted. “Those things look like weapons to me as I hear they kill your feet.”
I chuckled. That was good. “I would prefer you not fully come within touching distance of my neck, but yes, one of you may approach if you need to scent me.”
“Pat down?” that first guy asked.
