Page 78 of Elemental Affections

Dae had held herself back from wanting things for long enough.

“Professor. The spring trip,” Dae began. “Did … did my relationship with Ezzyn influence my acceptance?”

Vaadt took a long sip of tea. “So, that’s what has been eating at you.”

“I, um.” Dae floundered before her advisor’s neutral stare. “I … yes?”

Setting the cup to the side, Vaadt leaned forward, their gaze steely. “Let us set the record straight and be done with this nonsense.”

“Okay.” Dae cringed. “I’m sorry, Prof—”

“So long as it doesn’t affect your work, ormywork, I don’t care how you conduct your personal life,” Vaadt said. “Note,Iwas the first one to recommend the Rhell trip and encouraged you to submit.Isent your proposal along with my direct correspondence to the king.Ididn’t do that on a lark. King Jeron and I consulted on the merit of all the water-related proposals, with input from Garethe. The youngest Sor’vahl was not involved.”

Dae blinked rapidly, confused. “But—but he said…”

“I was present at the meetings. He was not,” Vaadt said. “Whatever might’ve been said privately, neither of his brothers mentioned anything to indicate favoritism. Though, I’ll note, you didn’t seem nearly so bothered whenmycredentials were involved.”

Dae flushed. It wasn’t the same thing, but she didn’t have a diplomatic rebuttal handy for the differences between a professional recommendation and that of her lover.

“No, okay, maybe not favoritism, but the implications of my family’s business couldn’t have hurt,” Dae said. “You mentioned something about utilizing business contacts.” She tried not to sound reproachful.

Vaadt gave an exasperated sigh, though their lips twitched with a smile. “Yes, business. You’d claimed to have separated the personal from the professional.”

Dae blushed. She had no argument for that aside from her own ignorance, and Vaadt seemed well aware that, when it came to this matter,thatwas in abundance.

“If you’re serious about bioremediation research, get used to pandering to investors and leveraging whatever connections you have.” Vaadt went back to their tea. “That applies regardless of ancestry, and it never ends.”

She knew that—or rather, she should’ve remembered. The funding grind went on around her, but she didn’t want to think about her family name. Abuse it. Lean on it instead of proving worth on her own.

“You’ve done good work this year, Miss Helm. Get used to claiming that, too.”

She had. The layering spells and the targeted ice enchants. Collaborating across departments to optimize the slow-release trial. That was the work that mattered when it came to the field opportunities, and Anadae’s successes over the last year did not stop there. Even the letters and reports she’d put together had ended up bolstering the Rhell Accord. Ezzyn had given input at times, but so had Zhenya and others in the seminar cohort. Dae hadn’t thought twice when asked for reference figures or estimates when she was asked transportation-related questions.

Doubt only arose when it came to Ezzyn.

She’d forgiven her sister because she’d wanted to. A simple yet fierce want. Dae had been professing her glut of good fortune, how she had everything she’d set her heart on. Perhaps noteverythingafter all. She was still clinging to narrow-minded conceptions about her family name and applying them only to Ezzyn. Perhaps due to their past, or for some hangup she had because of their intimacy. It didn’t matter. If it wasn’t too late.

Ana’s life had been one long, broken promise. Dae could finally see it fulfilled. If she took it on a bit of faith. If she wanted it badly enough to try.

“Professor,” she said, hesitating as nerves jammed up her throat. At Vaadt’s inquiring nod, she pressed on, “Do you know if— I know it’s horribly late, but is there any chance of still applying for a Rhell fellowship?”

A half-smile formed on Vaadt’s thin cheek. “As it so happens, Garethe Sor’vahl is currently at the university doing some prep work for his teaching position this summer.”

Dae’s heart rose, hope fragile yet ballooning in her chest.

“He mentioned something about me passing along any interest for continuing experimental trials in Den’olm.” Vaadt swirled the contents of their cup. “If you wanted to go directly to the source, you might consider stopping by the offices on the atrium’s ground floor.”

Dae was already up, eyes searching the tearoom for Eunny or Auntie Yerina.

Vaadt flapped a hand at her in a shooing motion. “Go on. I’ll let Miss Song know where you’ve gone.”

“Thank you, Professor,” Dae said, hoping so few words could embody the host of feelings she meant.

Vaadt smiled, head bowing in a small nod. Dae spun around and made for the door, arm already raised to hail an empty cart trundling past.

Chapter 28

Withatwitchofhis fingers, Ezzyn set the newspaper on fire, lips curling with grim amusement as the paper readily went to ash. He let the charred flakes cool before dusting off his hands over one of the lab’s planters, adding to the layer of mulch.

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