Page 74 of Elemental Affections

Ezzyn stared at the ground.

“Did you really think I’d be such a precious bitch about it when a town was at stake?”

“You wanted to earn this on your own,” he said. “You were worried that I had any influence on the spring trip.”

“And you said no.”

“You were relieved when I said it!” Ezzyn’s hands were shaking, grasping, anything to try and make her see. To understand. “I couldn’t risk you saying no. I am sorry that I betrayed your trust, but Rhell is—”

“Were you ever going to tell me?” Her voice shook, thick with tears she held back, anger and heartbreak in every word.

“I don’t know.” Ezzyn shrugged, helpless, hands spread in front of him. “I was trying to respect your wishes as best I could. Show I believed in you.”

“By making sure everything was handed to me in secret?” Anadae wiped her eyes. “I didn’t need your unconditional belief. I needed you not to lie. That would’ve been enough.”

“I’m sorry.”

She turned away from him, wrapping her arms around herself.

Ezzyn started to reach out but caught himself, let his hand drop back to his side. Useless.

“There’s only a few days left, and I’m preparing to return to Rhell,” he said. “There’s no need to finish out the assistantship. I’ll handle it with the administration.”

She didn’t acknowledge him.

“Goodbye, Anadae,” Ezzyn murmured before turning back toward the university.

She said nothing in reply.

Chapter 27

IfshefailedherAdept level, begging Auntie Yerina for a job in the teashop seemed as good a plan as any. She helped—or hid, as Eunny pointed out—in the backroom, receiving and sorting shipments, maintaining inventory records, preparing restock lists, all administrative tasks that freed Yerina to spend more time in the front of the shop with the customers she loved.

Keeping to the back had other benefits, too, like no chance of accidentally seeing Ezzyn should he decide to stop in for tea. It also enabled Calya, who’d taken another windrunner up after receiving Dae’s express courier message, to vent without informing the rest of the tearoom.

“That shit-for-brains lying weasel,” Calya muttered, nursing a mug of the Mighty Leaf’s stomach-soothing blend. She’d come straight from the docks, waving off Dae’s concerns, demanding a full recounting of Brint’s proposition.

Calya rummaged thought her bag and slapped a crumpled copy of theGrae Port Newson the table. “Younger Avenor Son Facing Censure”was splashed across the front page.

“So heisin trouble,” Dae said, passing the paper to Eunny. “Are you?”

Calya shrugged, the movement and her dismissive expression too smooth to be genuine. “Are you? Getting into fights at school.” She tsked.

“Hardly a fight,” Dae said. “I’m fine. Apparently, ours was nothing compared to some duels of the past. Helped that Brint ducked out in the night.”

“He knew what was coming,” Calya said.

“Are you really going to be all right?”

Her sister didn’t answer.

“Caly.”

“If I’m skimming this correctly,” Eunny said, “the Coalition is sanctioning AG, andthey’rethe ones ousting Brint from the board.”

“His family will intervene,” Dae said. “They’d never let him fail like that. It’s too public. His brother—”

“Already said it’s in the hands of the board—that’s a direct quote, and Daddy Avenor has recused himself from the matter,” Calya said.

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