Page 68 of Group Studies

“You know where GS is,” Saffron said, but the Greek God gave me a lingering look before following Beryl toward the exit.

Officer Keres appeared at my side. “I’ve instructed Professor Garnet to give you a few days to adjust.” He eyed me. “But after, I want him testing your limits. I’m sure you’re okay with that, correct Aphrodite?”

“Ah,” I said, not okay with any of this.

I glanced at the professor, seemingly deep in discussion with Ashe.

“Good girl,” Officer Keres said, taking my stutter as a yes.

I clenched my fists, took a frustrated breath.

“Your bookbag’s still being processed,” he continued obliviously, “but your new room’s ready. Ashe will take you there. You’ve been excused from GS.”

“My Shell?” The words caught in my throat.

“We had to demolish most of it during the search,” Officer Keres said coldly. “It’s being dismantled, and the room repaired.”

I wrapped my hands around my stomach to keep from trembling. The MA had destroyed the only two places I’d ever lived.

“You’re young and adaptable,” he clamped me on the shoulder. “You’ll make a fine MA officer someday.”

A chill ran down my spine.

The moment Officer Keres released me, Ashe wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me to him. I let him, burying myself in his comfort despite his betrayal.

“It’s not what I want,” I whispered.

“I know, Kitten,” Ashe said. He kissed the top of my head. “We’ll figure it out.”

* * *

“This counts as GS,” I said, panting. Ten flights of stairs were no joke.

Ashe shook his head. “You need to eat more and consider training outside of GS.”

I took another deep breath. “I’m going to have to climb these at the end of the day, every day?”

“Fuck’n hell, A,” Ashe chuckled. “You whine like a mule.”

I remembered I had a middle finger and gracefully wagged it at him. As my heart rate slowed, so did my momentary lapse. Ashe lied to me. This tower would be my new home because my Shell, my first real home that I’d built with my own runes and ….well other people’s magic….was gone.

Ashe chuckled, not catching onto my mood swing. “All of these were storage spaces until we cleaned out the tower. The rooms on either side still serve their original purpose.” He held out a silver card. “It’s keyed to my magic and your new swipe card.”

I narrowed my eyes at him before pulling my old white one out of my bra.

Ashe raised an eyebrow.

“I wasn’t stupid enough to leave it anywhere Mercedes could get to it,” I said at his questioning look.

He growled, murder in his eyes, before controlling himself.

Again, I would have loved it from the old Ashe, but this Ashe. I didn’t trust.

He swapped the two cards before pushing open the heavy wood door. I took one small step into my new space. Large, bright and airy, no matter how badly I wanted to stay mad, I couldn’t. Layers of negativity dissolved as I lightly stepped into the middle and turned a circle.

Massive windows lined the walls, leading up to the vaulted ceiling, half covered by a loft. Even with the cloud cover, natural light bathed the space. A comfy-looking blue sofa sat in front of a lit fireplace. In the far corner, a tall, heavy wood desk looked out over the roofs and upper floors of the Institute. A small potions workstation and a stack of paper rested on top of it.

A small kitchen drew my eye to the opposite wall. The metal and marble surfaces looked like they hadn’t been used in years. A few brushed steel cabinets, an industrial sink, and an ancient-looking mini-fridge sat with streaks of dust still visible from whomever quickly wiped the space down.

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