Page 109 of Class Studies

I rushed forward, pulling Vac off Saffron. “Vac, let him go.”

The bear-dog did, though he sat and kept growling.

I glared at Saffron. “Did you shave this morning and not clean it up?” A shirt lay crumpled on the ground next to me, and I picked it up, lobbing it at the Greek God. “This this yours?”

Saffron caught the garment and shook it out. “No, it’s too small for me.”

I turned to Tanwyn, but Saffron darted into my personal space. He cupped my cheek and tilted my head back, looking at my black eye. “I’m sorry.” His gaze filled with concern. “I was across the room when it happened, and you were already up again when I noticed.”

He didn’t move away from me. Loneliness I refused to admit eased, taking the edge off my anger.

I wrapped myself around his smelly man heat. “I’m still angry at you.”

Saffron tucked me under his arm and looked at Ashe. “I don’t care if it’s not done. We need the space now.” He squeezed me. “This isn’t the right way to go about this. Aphy’s not getting the message on her own.”

I scowled. “What message?”

Saffron snorted. “Exactly.”

Ashe glared at Saffron while I blinked in confusion. When Ashe didn’t move, Saffron released me and drew a rune in the air.

Ashe’s eyes flew wide. He grabbed Tanwyn off the couch and dove for the floor. Banana yellow soared away from Saffron and hit the wall next to the fireplace. The entire tower shook as rock and debris rained down. Dust billowed out, covering my sweaty skin and every surface.

I yelled and jumped to my workstation, trying to keep the dust off my brewing potion.

“Fuck, Saff,” Ashe yelled. He stood and lunged for Saffron’s head. The Greek God ducked and landed a punch on Ashe’s stomach before the larger mage swiped his feet out from under him.

I pulled my gaze away from the fight, cursing. Little floaters dotted the top of my steaming potions.

Tanwyn came up to my side, his dark hair filled with white and gray dust. “You’ve picked an interesting assortment for your harem.”

I shook my head. We weren’t a harem, just violent strangers trying to destroy each other, apparently. Saffron managed to trip Ashe while on the floor, and the two went down in a pile of fists and knees.

“I should’ve talked to you,” Tanwyn continued as if two of the men I loved weren’t brawling on the floor in front of us. “Ashe and Professor Garnet both said you learn best from experience, so I followed their lead, and it got out of hand.”

I toed a piece of stone which used to be in my wall. With the dust settling, the outline of a hole showed a dark room on the other side. I arched an eyebrow curiously.

Saffron grunted in pain, and my heart wrenched. I wanted to break up the fight, but another accidental elbow to the eye wouldn’t improve anyone's mood.

I let out a frustrated breath. “What message was I supposed to get?”

Tanwyn hesitantly wrapped an arm around my shoulder, and I leaned into him. “A group needs a leader and rules, or else everything descends into chaos.”

“I don’t want to lead anything,” I said softly. “I don’t want rules to exist.”

“I can see that.” Tanwyn grinned. “You and Yordle will get along great.”

I narrowed my eyes, not liking having anything in common with the spider-goblin. The thought made me pause. I probably had more in common than I wanted to admit if I was part of his species.

Ashe and Saffron broke apart, and Tanwyn released me to jump between them.

My mages glared at each other but didn’t restart their fight.

“I’m showing Dot your project.” Tanwyn studied Ashe and Saffron, both sitting on the floor nursing bloody noses. When they didn’t complain, he beckoned me to follow. “Ashe has been making this for you, and we’ve all been helping when we can.” Tanwyn snorted. “That’s a lie. I’ve done very little. It’s mostly Ashe’s project. There is a matching room on the other side, but building the doorway will be delicate as the kitchen’s along that wall.”

I peered through the hole, and another room came into focus. I pulled on my braid. Saffron and Ashe slid to either side of me, their noses comically clean compared to the bruising and dust covering every inch of them.

Saffron held out his arm, but I shook my head and turned to Ashe. “Wyn says this is your baby.”

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