Page 48 of Elemental Affections

Ezzyn set a teacup next to her pastry. “I’m offering. This is for Rhell. I would say the same to anyone else if I thought the spellwork applied.”

She relaxed at his explanation. “Thank you.” A new frown appeared. “Could that be a detriment? That I’ve only managed this with help from your magic?”

“Put it in the proposal. Whomever handles approvals will put stipulations or changes if they’re warranted. All of this is experimental. If we had any sure things, Rhell wouldn’t need the research.”

She mulled over his words, sipping her tea. Her eyes met his, held them. “Do you have a hand in approving the proposals?”

“No, that’s my brother,” he said. “Brothers, most likely, and Vaadt. Maybe one of the Master levels from the Grove, too, depending on who’s going on the trip. I’ll be there, but I don’t have a role in selection since I’m not real faculty.”

A small, relieved smile flitted across her lips. “I’m glad.” She hunched slightly inward, adding in a soft voice, “I want to earn this on my own. Not that I don’t appreciate your help, because I do. But the trip, a summer fellowship, if it comes to that… This year is supposed to show if I can do this. Really be a mage, or if it’s all just…”

“You can. You already are, and I’m not saying that just because I want to fuck you later.”

She rolled her eyes, scoffing around a bite of pastry.

He smirked, but then let his features fall back to a sober expression. “I am serious about the proposal. What you’re working on here has merit on its own, and it’s even more applicable if it has crossover with other fields. You have all winter to work on the technique.”

She thought for a moment, nodding in consideration. “I will. It works for my seminar project even if the proposal doesn’t make it.” She set her tea down. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, always.”

Her gaze slid past him to the bag he’d used to carry back the reasons for his morning outing. “You weren’t exaggerating about a dozen, I see.”

“No. In this”—he stood and went to her, leaning down until his lips could caress the side of her neck—“I’m very serious.”

She shivered as he kissed her skin. She stretched, wrapped her arms around his neck. “Are you? I think you need to show me how much.”

Ezzyn groaned, hands sliding down her body. “I was wrong, you know.” He caught her mouth for a searing kiss and carried her back to the bed. “Fuck you out of my system? Never going to happen.”

Chapter 18

Freshoffthebuzzof her lakeside discovery, Dae penned her proposal for the spring field opportunity in a handful of days. The heady sense of invincibility, however, lost a touch of its glow when Dae found herself seated across from Vaadt and the proposal left the safety of her own desk. Cold reality set in as Dae watched her advisor add her paper to the same envelope bearing Vaadt’s personal correspondence to the elder Sor’vahl brothers.

“What?” Vaadt said, glancing up as they sifted through the papers and books on the desk as if searching for something. “Worried you spelled something wrong?”

“More like I’m questioning everything written.” Dae nudged the sealing stamp out from where it had been partially hidden beneath a loose scroll. “Shouldn’t that be sent with the other students’ proposals?”

“Think of it as my vote of confidence. Sor’vahl knows that I don’t choose or encourage mediocrity.” Vaadt called a spark of light into their fingers as they pressed the stamp to a bead of blue wax on the envelope.

“But you didn’t even read the latest version.”

“Has it changed so much from what you showed me yesterday?” Vaadt asked dryly. The stamp let off one feeble spark. Vaadt made an annoyed sound, whacking it against the desk. “Blasted thing. Swear on the Everflow, these things act up on purpose if you’re a water mage.”

Dae winced as Vaadt ground the stamp against the wax. “Not really, no. Mostly clarifying language.”

“Then off it goes. Finally!” Vaadt huffed with satisfaction as the seal flared like a heated poker. It melted the wax bead with ease, then snuffed itself out when Vaadt tapped the top with a glowing finger. “This guarantees Jeron will actually see it.”

“Can you do that?”

Vaadt snorted. “I’m teaching the seminar, I should think so.”

Dae ducked her head, a nervous laugh bubbling up. “Sorry, I didn’t mean— Of course you can—”

“I’ve already told Jeron of a few students worth keeping an eye on.” Vaadt made a dismissive gesture. “You never put in a good word for someone during your work for Helm Naval?”

“Well, yes, but I was hardly at the top of leadership.”

“You flatter me. While we’ll deliberate as a team, the origins of how this arrived”—Vaadt poked the envelope—“aren’t likely to be remembered when final decisions are made months from now.”

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