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She waited for the phone to connect before a myriad of notifications flooded her screen. Most of them weren’t important, and she scrolled through until she saw Finley’s name.
Tell me when you land, sis!
Pretty sure you’ve landed by now…
I swear. Feeeeerrrrnnnnnn.
Finley’s typing bubble was still going, and Fern sent back a rapid reply. I’m here! Easy, little brother. I got held up in immigration. Headed to my apt now.
Fuck ya!
Let me know when you get settled in. We’ll go for a pint.
Will do.
You could at least try to sound excited to be here, you know?
Fern scowled. Her siblings knew of her aversion to coming back to Edinburgh, even if Finley had been all too excited to move there. In Fern’s mind, the only benefit to taking a position at the University was that it was close to her brother.
I am excited!
You’re a shit liar. Welcome to Scotland! Talk to you later.
Fern signed off and slipped her phone back in her bag. She looked out the car window, begrudgingly noticing that the city was beautiful. Everything about it looked like it would be the perfect place to study dead magical societies, tucked away in an old library for the next couple of years.
Maybe I’m just jet-lagged. Fern sighed, listening to the sound of the radio. Welcome to Scotland indeed.
Chapter Two
The studio apartment that the university provided for Fern was clean and quiet. Gilmore Place was a renovated Victorian building that was near the center of campus, with only a handful of smaller flats for postgraduate researchers.
As her cab pulled up the tiny street, a row of nearly identical apartments greeted her. Even the picturesque city block couldn’t shake Fern’s mood.
It looks more like Privet Drive than university accommodations. Or like Mary Poppins is about to appear through the damn clouds.
Fern paid the driver, wrangled her suitcases, and located her unit. All the buildings had electronic locks, and Fern luckily remembered the passcode from her welcome email.
The door made a satisfied beeping sound, and Fern pushed it open with one shoulder. She struggled to get everything inside while keeping it propped open, letting out a slew of curses when she rolled a suitcase over her foot.
“Well, you curse like you’re Irish, but I’m sure you’ll fit in all the same.” A laughing, feminine voice interrupted Fern’s tirade.
“Shit!” Fern jumped, dropping her purse. She turned around, only to come face to face with one of the most beautiful women she’d ever seen.
“Let me help,” the woman laughed, grabbing one suitcase and escorting Fern inside. Fern said nothing and accepted the help.
Her surprise visitor was taller than her, with shining, curly red hair that looked like a ruby in the sunlight. Her eyes were bright green, and she had a smattering of freckles across almost feline features. She even moved like a cat, all grace and strength.
It made Fern feel positively dowdy, coming off an international flight and fighting with her luggage. The visitor dressed elegantly, in a slim-tailored pair of black dress pants and a V-neck top. Fern looked down at her yoga pants and grimaced.
“So, um,” Fern looked around the small entryway, “I’m Fern, but I’m assuming that you know that.”
“Mara,” the woman smiled, extending a hand. Fern shook it, trying to put a little more effort into her smile. “Mara Parker. I’m Dr. Welsh’s assistant and a researcher in the department.”
A flicker of recognition went through Fern, but she couldn’t place the name. “Dr. Welsh…?” Mara’s eyebrows shot up.
“Dr. Calum Welsh? He runs Highland Office of Magic. He’s the Department Head. Your new supervisor.” Mara turned her head like she was studying Fern, but not unkindly. Fern blushed.
“Of course! Dr. Welsh. You’ll have to forgive me, jet lag and all.” She turned away from Mara and cursed silently.
