Page 78 of Ulune's Daughter

Thankfully, Teddy’s cantrips kick in before I have to trudge to class. The cat’s blood has finally come in, so we make the vampire ward with it and it works better than I imagined. The revenant can’t even climb out of its coffin in the face of the ward, and when it claws at the medallion Luca’s holding over it, the ward crisps the revenant’s whole arm to ash. Several students, probably planning careers with the Aedis Astrum, are excited about the ward’s possibilities and I invite them back to my apartment to continue our discussion. Having Whitey curled in my lap redoubles that warm glow, which happily hasn’t abated even while my hangover’s dispersed.

I leave Whitey at home to have dinner with Jane and Carrie after the students leave. We continue our discussion of Luca’s surprising observation that part of the inscription on Sulis Minerva’s cup is either identical to or a variation of the inscription on the stone that Blackey gave me. Other than agreeing that Luca’s astute and I should encourage him to keep researching, we don’t get much further. Not on any front: what the strange glyphs mean and why the raven would give them to me, where I should place Sulis Minerva’s cup, or what I should do for my tenure project now that I’ve had my first meeting with the tenure committee—composed entirely of Fire mages, as Carrie feared—and the invitation to apply for tenure has been formally made.

The sense of spinning my wheels intensifies when I get a text from my mother as I walk home from Carrie and Jane’s.

Mom: Your dad was hoping to see you this weekend.

She’s pulling out the big guns. She knows what I miss most about home is hanging with Dad. All of her entreaties and veiled threats have failed, so now she’s trying to guilt-trip me.

And, damnit, it works.

I thumb over to my text string with Rhodes. Now that swim competition season has started, he’s away most weekends with Bevvy’s team, but we’ve had a steady stream of dates mid-week. The trattoria on Route 1 didn’t quite measure up to deep dish in Chicago food-wise but had the advantage of pre- and post-dinner make-out sessions in my Jeep. We’ve been back to Vibrant’s several times, and even made it inside. He’s slept over again but we still haven’t had sex. Which makes how sore I am even odder.

Guess it’s time for him to meet my parents.

Remember how you offered to be petty and vindictive with me?

He answers immediately.

Rhodes: Always down to be petty and vindictive.

Dinner with my parents? What night suits you?

Rhodes: Tomorrow? I’m at Amherst Thurs to Sun.

Deal.

I thumb back over and text my mother.

Dinner tomorrow?

Mom: Can’t wait!!!!!

Bringing a friend.

Mom: Who?????

His name is Rhodes. He teaches at Bev. Doesn’t like cinnamon.

Mom: No cinnamon, check! I’ll make him my world-famous meatloaf.

Mom’s meatloaf is the consistency of a brick.

Sounds good. See you around 7.

I flip over to the string of messages with Rhodes and confirm.

Rhodes: What are you doing tonight?

Nothing. Working on the exhibit catalogue. Mulling over where in the Nine Hells I can safely place the chalice.

Much nicer to do it with company.

No plans. Want to come over for dessert?

Rhodes: On my way.

Smiling, I hustle back to my house to defrost some of the Bevington Vegan Café’s no-bake peanut butter bars, which I’ve discovered are Rhodes’ favorite treat. I bought them in bulk.

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