Page 84 of Cathmoir's Sons

“The White Cloaks don’t require a degree,” I say. “And how could you possibly know what Law’s planning?”

Emilia makes a zipping motion across her lips. “Go talk to your paramour. And tell him I said congratulations. I’m going to think a bit more on Rhodes’ situation. There has to be some solution where he gets a degree. Have him file the application anyway and if I can come up with something else, I’ll let you know.”

Sensing that we’re nearing the end of this painful conversation, I say, “Thank you, Emilia. I really am sorry.”

She humphs. “Not enough. Tell Teddy I’ll need to meet with her and her husbands this week. I have Wednesday afternoon free. And they should bring the babies. I didn’t get enough time with Carrie’s namesake when they were here for her memorial.” Emilia wipes quickly at her eyes. “Goodness, that catches me at odd moments. I still can’t believe Carrie’s gone. But it will be wonderful to have Teddy, Gabe, Charlie, and Darwin back.”

“Wonderful or terrifying?” I ask, remembering what they—we—were like as students.

“A bit of both, just like having you on campus.” She flaps her hands at me. “Off you go. I’ll let you know if the odious Professor Wright pays me a visit.”

“He was going to send the pictures anonymously.”

“Coward,” Emilia says.

Since I agree, I just nod.

She flaps at me again. This time, I go.

She gets the last word. “I want an invitation to Cait House.”

Before I close her office door behind me, I smile and say, “Yes, ma’am.”

Rowan seemsto be giving me time to change my mind. My first class of Winter Study goes off without the sneers and jeers I fully expect from students when my affairs with three of their classmates become known.

Before their attention is overshadowed by scandal, I go over the recommended and supplemental readings for the class and launch into what I think of the “World Tree” method of Plane Walking. It doesn’t work as well for me as the “deck of cards” method, but several of the students had the benefit of Atropos Moirae’s sophomore class on Infinite Universes before she and her co-divinity, Joe, went off to do whatever Fates do. A half-dozen of them pick up on the theory so fast I’m tempted to try a Plane Walk in the first class. But I don’t want their classmates to feel excluded.

At the end of the discussion, I return to the front of the classroom and lean against my desk. There’s no lectern, no podium in my class. I never liked being lectured to and never want to lecture to my students. That alone probably makes me unfit to be a Bevington professor.

“Before you all go,” I say, stopping several students who are starting to move toward the door. “I’d like you all to hear this from me rather than the campus grapevine. I am in a relationship with three of your classmates: Law and Luca Cathmoir, and Rhodes Hale. I want you all to know that I didn’t go into this lightly. I knew what it would mean for me choosing them and choosing to make our relationships public. It’s highly unlikely I’ll be teaching at Bevington past WinterStudy. I hope none of you face the same choices I’ve faced. But if you do, remember, we’re not promised another minute, much less another day, with the people we love. Some things are too important to wait. Some people are too important not to sacrifice everything for. Okay, that’s it. Class dismissed.”

No one moves. I wait for a minute, looking around at the eyes that stare back at me.

I clear my throat.

Thirty-two hands go up, including those of the two Cait who have slipped in through the seminar room door as I’ve been speaking.

With a sigh, I start taking questions.

Most of them are of the “what’s going to happen to your spring semester classes” variety. I don’t want to steal Dean Quinn’s thunder, so I just say that the administration will find substitute teachers for my classes. Others ask if I’m staying on at Bevington even if I won’t be teaching classes. I demur that it’s up to the Academic Standards committee. A few ask if I’ll be going after Ulune’s Daughter, which I confirm. That reminds me that I need to call a team meeting to start making plans for the expedition to Scilla.

Finally, I get around the room to the twins, who haven’t taken their eyes off me.

“Is it true you won’t be part of the faculty awarding my grades and degree?” Luca asks.

Whispers ripple through the room as my students realize who the two men standing by the door are.

“That’s right,” I respond. “I’d recuse myself from any decision involving your grades and degree anyway, since you’re my research assistant, but I don’t anticipate being part of the teaching faculty past Winter Study.”

Luca nods and I resist the urge to stride over and kiss him. I know what he’s trying to do. I doubt it’s what everyone will remember from this Q and A, but I appreciate his effort.

“Law, you have a question?”

“A few,” he says. His lips are twitching and I can tell he’s fighting a smile. “Is it true that I’ve been granted early graduation and as of today am an alumnus of Bevington College?”

I gape at him. He’s graduated early? That’s his plan? I blink and somehow muster a response. “Yes, I’m guessing that’s true.”

He nods. “Is it true that Luca and I are your fated mates?”

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