Page 34 of Class Studies
“Saffron.” She smiled sweetly, beckoning to him from the front of the room. “I need you to finish filling out the transfer paperwork. As this is my coterie now.”
Saffron grimaced. “I’ll text you.”
Although I could tell he wanted to give me a hug or something, he refrained, and I sighed unhappily.
Derek groaned. “Really? You’re still getting together with the douche bag?”
“Well, I’m considering it,” I said, looking at my friend.
Derek rolled his eyes. “Everyone hates him now. He’s trying to wipe out Rimmed Mages.”
I shook my head. “That’s not really what’s going on. He wants everyone to have a choice.” I looked at my friend. “If you could have your magic stripped and be human again, would you?”
Derek scowled. “No.”
I frowned at him. “Maybe that’s your answer now, but would it have been when you first got here?”
Derek wrinkled his nose. “I know when I see something evil! He broke up his harem, kidnapped Mercedes, and forced her into his Golem. He’s been cheating on her with Professor Garnet for the last year. Mages don’t do things like that. Good ones, at least.”
I cringed. The rumors were getting worse.
Guilt churned in my stomach.
He’d cheated on his harem with me, too. I’d begged him to. I studied the padded blue plastic mag under my feet. First Ashe and now Saffron. How many men would I bring down with me?
“Hey.” Derek lightly elbowed me, his face softening. “I didn’t mean to make you sad, but I don’t get it. I mean, when he was, like, king of this place, everyone wanted him. But he’s not special anymore.” Derek made a scissoring motion with his fingers. “I’m pretty sure his family even cut him off.”
Saffron’s voice echoed in my head, freezing me in place. It’s not just my duty, but it’s what I want to do. Jetting around the world to deal with magical supplies is an amazing life. One I was lucky enough to be born into.
What had I done?
“Hey, A, what’s wrong?” Derek asked, scooting closer to me.
I shook like a dog, but it didn’t ease the twist in my gut. “I need to go.”
I knew I should wait for whoever was supposed to escort me, but I couldn’t stay there. I bolted toward the door and was halfway to my tower before a thought made me skid to a halt. I didn’t have an escort. No one, good-intentioned or ill, watched me, and no one would know if I used my magic.
All of this started because I couldn’t control my transfers, but I had a way to fix that—by creating a neutral vessel to hold it.
Operation DUMP.
I slowed until one of the round cameras came into view. The rumor said a subtle blue light blinked when it was working. I stared at the black dome until my eyes watered, but no light showed. Despite my doubt, I turned toward the office of the mage keeping me from completing my spell.
Alchemist Blickenstaff.
Chapter 7
Abe’s apprentice answered when I knocked.
“Alchemist Blickenstaff isn’t expecting you,” he said firmly, blinking at me through thick glasses with dark frames.
“Let her in,” Abe’s voice called.
The young man pursed his lips but stepped back as he opened the door .
I shook with fear and anticipation as I crossed the threshold of her office. Abe targeted me since day one. She made me drink a potion I didn’t want, work with my abuser, and now she held my scales.
But I wasn’t helpless Aphrodite anymore. Even if my ass still smarted from the number of times Mercedes knocked me on it. I’d chosen that path like I chose this one now.