Page 82 of Class Studies

My laughter cut off.

Tanwyn chuckled. “Lick her again, and I’m putting you back in your kennel.”

Vac barked, low and guttural, before taking up a guard position in front of the door to the lab.

Abe shot to her feet. “Where’s Teddy?”

I looked around but didn’t see the recruiter anywhere.

Abe’s eyes widened, and she focused on the back of the room. “No.” She dashed towards the pantry hiding the secret entrance to her office. It took me a moment to see what she had in the gloom.

The door rocked on its hinges, wide open.

My blood chilled.

“Hey.” Tanwyn wiped Vac’s drool off the side of my face. “It’s going to be okay.”

“It’s not.” I trembled. “This was it—my last chance. Everything about me is wrong. And now I’m a turtle murderer too.”

Tears streamed out of my eyes. I’d sold a scale for this. I’d lied to Beryl and made Ashe break his moral code. I put myself into debt with Abe and Tederwinkle. In the end, everything had all been for nothing.

I failed.

Tanwyn wrapped me in his arms and rocked me. My body vibrated with need, every nerve straining, but sex was the last thing on my mind.

“I’m sorry.” I pulled out of Tanwyn’s arms. “I’m a mess.”

“A hot mess.” Tanwyn cupped my cheek and kissed me lightly on the lips.

My heart fluttered.

He pulled back with a shy smile. “Please, don’t apologize.” Eyeing Vac, the summoner whistled, and the bear-dog monster padded over to my side and sat.

I cowered. The massive beast was so big I could probably ride him.

“I’ll get Beryl something to wear and check on Abe.” Tanwyn rubbed my back. “This is Vac. He won’t leave your side, especially since you gave him such a good meal.”

Vac’s tongue lulled out of the side of his short muzzle, and he leaned toward me.

Tanwyn stuck his hand between us. “Oh no, don’t.”

The beast narrowed its too-intelligent eyes and kept his tongue to himself. I gave the beast a final distrustful look before turning to Beryl. Although his wounds had closed, he lay still on the floor. His chest rose and fell under the blood-soaked tatters of his uniform.

“Beryl,” I croaked.

Beryl held up one hand. “Don’t, Dot. Just don’t.”

I swallowed and looked down at my fucked-up Christmas bowl. I wanted to cry again or scream, but instead, I sat in disbelief. I failed. I hurt Beryl. What was wrong with me?

Abe returned with Tanwyn. She tossed a silk bathrobe at Beryl, and Tanwyn helped him up.

“Start straightening this place.” Abe rapped her knuckles on her desk. “I can cover for this, but not if it looks like a tornado came through.”

I looked beyond myself for the first time, realizing my out-of-control magic flipped tables and destroyed workstations. Abe’s silk bathrobe barely covered Beryl’s butt. He tied it closed before walking around the room, righting tables while Tanwyn drew runes that scrubbed the floor.

Abe slid between me and my view of the two men. Vac growled at her, but she stayed well out of touching distance. “What possessed you to ask Teddy Tederwinkle for help?”

“I didn’t.” I squeezed the bowl. “He figured it out himself and injected himself into the situation. Will they kill me for doing an illegal spell?”