He was quiet several minutes, opening his mouth, but then closing it as he stepped away and paced his room. Finally, he huffed and plopped on his bed. “I hear you, I truly do, but I can’t see a way that it’s mutually exclusive. Yes, if we apply the logic of people to the gods, I agree you could be absolutely right. But the gods are above all of that. They aren’t petty or—”
“Now we’re getting into theology and faith, but there are lots of teachings where all gods of all religions are just that. Though, I will give you that those are the stories told by people and could possibly differ if told by the deities themselves.”
He slowly nodded. “I get what you’re saying, and it helps me understand better. I don’t blindly believe this will be easy or perfect. I simply know I’ve never seen mates not work or be deserved. I’ve never even heard of someone abusive finding their mate, or a cheater, or someone who would abuse the gift of the blessing of their other half. That’s what I wanted you to know.”
“I’ll think on that. It’s also complicated because of Lucca.” I sat down next to him on the bed. “I know he wants to help you, have us make up because of how things have been with you, and—”
“What did the idiot do?” he growled. “I told him to leave it alone. He shouldn’t be using his time, his fragile, just blooming relationship with you to try and push you to talk with me.”
“Yeah, except that’s exactly what he did,” I chuckled darkly. “Right after sex. While still in me even.” I actually felt much better when Hudson groaned, covering his face with his hand as if mortified for his friend and hiding in shame for Lucca.
It also made me realize just how much I’d missed Hudson. We hadn’t only been lovers, but friends. I’d told him a lot, even if he’d been the last to find out I was a fairy and that part of my life.
“Yeah, so you can kick him all around as he’s in the bear house with me,” I muttered as I stood. “And, um, I guess I’ll see you at breakfast?”
“Yeah, I won’t push,” he promised. “Maybe lunch this weekend with River?”
“I’d like that.” I would. I missed River too. And honestly, Hudson stepping up last semester past being the quiet prince who stayed out of it all and kept his mouth shut on too much, helped me feel like he was really learning. Not just about what he’d done wrong—for real this time—but on life and balance.
Granted, that was something we all had to work on, and probably as long as we lived, but it gave crumbs of trust that we could at least try friends again. Maybe.
Maybe was much better than where we had been months ago.
I went to bed hoping that was the case at least.
The next morning, I jumped right back into my workout routine, not having to adjust much since we’d only had a week off. Plus, I normally worked out the same when off of school, so it was more location and not getting the break to pick fae fruit more than anything.
I grabbed what I needed from my room and headed for the admin building. I wanted to catch Headmaster Edelman, and I knew he normally handled a few things at his office before breakfast. It seemed smart to get it out of the way.
It seemed really good fucking timing given what I walked into.
“You’re not hearing me, Edelman,” Councilman Ainsworth snapped. “It’s done. She doesn’t have a high school degree and does not meet the requirements to attend Artemis. As such, the council has issued an order declaring her our ward as she has no guardians, and she will be given intense tutoring until she’s fit to attend here again.”
“This doesn’t have an ounce of legal anything to it,” Edelman argued as he waved the paper in his hand. “And I’ve seen the evidence on you, Ainsworth. You want her—”
“Watch yourself, Edelman,” he seethed. “I’m a councilman, and you’re—”
“You’re a murderer and one of the heads of the supe black market,” Edelman spat. “And I’m protected by the dragon royals, like White, so try it.”
“That order is still happening. I have—”
“Not a chance in heaven, hell, or on any fucking planet of making it happen,” I purred, letting them know I was there.
“You don’t have a choice, Tamsin Vale,” Ainsworth mocked, his eyes full of greed and more.
“You and all of your guards couldn’t take me, asshole, but your whole premise is faulty,” I drawled, handing what I’d brought to Edelman. “I told you it would be an issue, and we had to keep it quiet. I expect a big, fat apology. You expect people to be fair and rational, Headmaster, and while I value that about you, it’s not reality.”
He opened the envelope and read what was inside, throwing back his head and laughing when he did. Then he ripped up the order from the council and tossed it back at Ainsworth. “She just handed me the completion of her high school education. She finished it weeks ago.” He smiled at me. “When did you get this?”
“Emailed during midterms after the rest of my finals for the program went through and before I started all of those.” I smirked at Ainsworth. “So, your order is bullshit, even if you could do it.” I held up my hand to hold him off. “Even if I am a witch, not that I’m saying either way, I have the
