Page 60 of Group Studies

I swallowed and unwrapped the scarf.

Nurse Norah sucked in a breath before gingerly pressing against my bruising. “The injuries are somewhere between ten and twenty hours old.” She met my gaze. “Do you have more of these?”

I shook my head.

She frowned. “I’d like you to come to the medical wing with me for a full physical.”

“It’s unnecessary,” Officer Keres cut in. “We have her on video for the entire evening. We needed your confirmation of events.”

Nurse Norah frowned. She clasped both my hands in her warm fingers. Her orange rims glowed slightly as she drew my attention. “If you need anything, you know where I’m located.”

She released my hands, but her warmth stayed with me. I had allies, I wasn’t alone in this.

The nurse gave Director Flemmings a nod. “Unless you need anything else.”

“No, thank you Norah,” the director said, her voice tired. “We need Professor Garnet now.”

She pointed at my chair once more, and I collapsed into it, my fear turning into cold numbness.

Doctor Roy quietly watched me while the director busied herself making tea.

I didn’t look at Officer Keres who still scrolled through my phone. A wash of relief filled me at the minimal text messaging I’d done with Professor Garnet. At least one of the four men in my life wouldn’t end up on the MA’s radar.

I managed to force down the first few sips of my tea by the time Professor Garnet’s polite knock sounded on the door. With a tablet in hand, his fit form joined us. Dressed in his usual loose linen pants and Viking-styled V neck, he looked painfully out of place in the formal office filled with uniforms and suits.

His face darkened at the bruising on my neck, but he shifted his attention to Director Flemmings. “You needed to discuss Aphrodite’s most recent breakthrough?”

Officer Keres straightened from my phone and stepped to the side of the desk, his disgust clear on his face. “Break through? She used mind control on the poor kid.” I stiffened and shook my head.

“The ‘poor kid,’” Doctor Roy added, his voice dangerously low. “Who tormented her for the past month while the mage who tried to kidnap her squeezed her throat hard enough to bruise.”

“Allegedly kidnapped,” Officer Keres snapped.

Doctor Roy stomped his foot. “Ram’s trust fund is the only reason it’s alleged.”

“I’m obviously behind,” Professor Garnet cut in, taking another step toward me. “As I’ve not seen Aphy since our tutoring. But from what I’m gathering, she affected someone’s thoughts?”

“Stopped them in their tracks,” Officer Keres said evenly. “She put her hand on a fellow student’s forehead and said: Do whatever you want, but leave me and my people alone.”

There was a moment silence, before Professor Garnet smiled and took a deep breath. “That sounds like someone desperate to be left alone. Someone even more desperate not to take away another’s free will.”

Officer Keres narrowed his eyes, before his expression softened. He cracked his back and smiled, gesturing toward my phone. “I’m still waiting on confirmation from my agents cutting through her Shell, but the scales Alrick referred to haven’t turned up in any of our locations.”

I wrung my hands together to keep them from shaking. My Shell, they were cutting through my Shell.

“We won’t find any of your dragon scales in your Shell, will we?” Officer Keres asked, giving me a soft smile.

I shook my head before stammering, “N-no.”

“I believe you,” Officer Keres said, like he was talking to a small child.

Doctor Roy leaned toward me and made big circles with his hand in front of his chest. “Breathe, Aphrodite. Don’t just assume the worst. Remember what Beryl said.” I forced myself to breathe before taking a sip of lukewarm earl gray. The world didn’t revolve around me, as much as this felt like it was all about me, Doctor Roy didn’t think it was.

Officer Keres put down my phone. “You are exactly right, both of you.”

I blinked and looked up at the decorated MA officer. Doctor Roy narrowed his eyes, and Professor Garnet nodded as if he expected as much.

My heart fell. I knew this place was designed to test limits, but this was too much.