Page 55 of Class Studies

Ashe came up behind me and encircled my waist with his hands. “Boo Bear.” Ashe purred. “Shit, a pet name from you. Things are getting serious.”

Heat rose to my face. “I was trying to be funny. I don’t even know where it came from.”

Ashe kissed my neck. “I love it. But I’m fucking dying. That was supposed to make Saffron run, not, um, well….”

I turned around so I could see his reaction. “Lick your jizz off his fingers.”

A blush spread across Ashe’s cheeks, and he wrinkled his nose.

“It’s okay, Ashe.” I rubbed my neck. “I know the professor blew your mind the other morning, even if you won’t admit it. This is how harems work.” I wiggled happily. My guys, my harem, assuming I could get them all to get along. “I’m still learning about it, too.”

Ashe released me and groaned. “It’s not me, though, or I didn’t think it would be me.” His face scrunched up. “Fuck, Kitten, is it me? I’m going for a run and then maybe lifting heavy things. Don’t fucking open this door while I’m gone. I’ll be back before Saffron comes to pick you up.”

I smiled at him. He groaned again before racing for the door. My tower doubled in size the moment he exited.

Although I felt guilty about a lot of what I brought into Ashe’s life, his sexual explorations were not on that list.

After watching the baby turtle for another few minutes, I hid him in my cupboard. I sent Ashe a text to bring something warm for the turtle to sleep on and some turtle food. He could figure out what turtles ate because I had no idea.

Hopefully, I wouldn’t have him for long. Ashe said he’d see if he could get us into the Sphérique without anyone asking questions, and I would give him time to figure it out. I don’t know how it happened that I trusted an MA officer with breaking the law. But here we were.

Phone in hand, I moved to my workstation and clicked on a link to a playlist Roisin suggested. Damon had loved classic rock. Though I didn’t hate it, the songs brought me back to a time I didn’t want to remember.

Some peppy music with instrumental hits and a repetitive baseline spilled out of my speakers. I went to work dissecting Abe’s invention. It surprised me something like this didn’t already exist. But, at the same time, with everyone’s unique coloring, it was probably rare mages’ signatures weren’t already identifiable. Though what made a Natural Mage’s magic individual?

As I worked, I pondered the question, comparing the color magic I saw from the different mages in my life.

A knock cut through my concentration, and I glanced at the time. Saffron wasn’t due for another ten minutes, and Ashe didn’t need to knock. Whoever it was could wait. I squinted at the Deltalab paper. I understood the runes well enough to remake it. But, to test a person’s magic, I needed fluid. Probably blood. Black magic.

The knock sounded again. I scowled at my door. Shrugging off a shiver of unease, I padded to it and cracked it open.

Teddy Tederwinkle waved at me. “Hi, Aphrodite.”

I cocked my head to the side. “Ah, hi.”

“I planned to accompany Saffron to pick you up, but I thought maybe we could have a word in private first.” He shoved something toward the door. “This was lying on the floor.”

I glanced at the plastic-covered garment before gripping my braid, still slightly damp from my shower. Director Flemmings had appointed the recruiter as my neutral judge. Officer Keres loved him, and he even subbed for my history teacher. I needed to stop fearing everyone new in my life.

“Sure.” I opened the door and stepped back.

He handed me the garment as he came in, and I eyed it. A note fluttered at the top: Something nice. Boy Scout owes me. -BTB

Setting down the garment, I focused on the small man now openly looking around my tower.

He whistled. “The MA’s set you up nicely.”

I nodded.

“Are you planning on joining the MA when you leave here?” He asked, still poking around. I wrinkled my nose, but when he got to my couch, he pointed at it. “May I take a seat?”

“Yes, sorry.” I motioned him to the couch and started to sit in Ashe’s chair before remembering Ashe always offered his fellow MA agents coffee. “Coffee?”

Tederwinkle’s glasses caught the light. “Very nice of you, but no.”

I let out a sigh of relief. I hadn’t actually figured out how to use the machine yet, and it was late in the day to make my usual pot.

“I should’ve started with something lighter than your future, my apologies.” Tederwinkle touched his finges to his forhead. “I’ve heard so much about you over the last few days. It’s hard to take it all in and not wonder.”

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