AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“If he’s dead, he’s texting from the afterlife,” Charlie says. “And, t’be fair, he said wemightbe able to bring the magic back.”
“Might never did,” I say, quoting one of my Auntie Jill’s favorite sayings.
Charlie chuckles. “I’m just teasing you, bean. Of course, we’ll give it a shot.”
“If you’re successful, I’d like you to document the method and provide it to me and your professors,” Lords instructs.
“Our professors Dantel and DeWinter?” I ask caustically.
Lords blows out a breath through this nose. “This is what I’ve despised about this investigation. Who it’s made me doubt. I think for now we limit those in the know to Doctor Prince and Jane Serpa.”
“Doctor Prince is Evanda Hale,” I remind him, because as much as I worship the woman, there’s still something there, something cold and not-quite-human about her, which makes it hard for me to shake that last smidgen of distrust.
“Yes.” Lords tugs at his beard. “And I know you must be harboring some resentment over those.” He nods at my wrists, still circled by Doctor Prince’s bindings. “But Doctor Prince’s motives and methods are unimpeachable. I can’t find it in me to doubt her. So, as I said, for now, it’s the five of us, Doctor Prince, and Jane Serpa. No one else knows.”
I glance around at my boys. Together, we nod at Lords.
He holds his hand out to me; I drag us all into the Earth.
Chapter24
A Midnight Meeting
Doctor Prince pins me to her guest chair with those cold, knowing black eyes.
“You’ve had some adventures since you last sat in that chair, Teddy,” she says.
I squirm. “Yes, miss.”
She hums in the back of her throat before she slides a piece of paper across her desk towards me. A small, velvet pouch balances on the paper, obscuring her neat handwriting.
“I’m sure you’ll want to know why I’ve called you to my office at midnight on a Sunday rather than waiting for my office hours, or emailing you.”
I shrug. I’m not sure what’s more surprising: her summons or her texting me while I was in the middle of a study session over pizza and beer with my boys, O, Serena, and Rachel. I didn’t even know Doctor Prince had my number. We’ve always communicated by email. Maybe Bevvy gives all the professors the students’ numbers the way they give students the professors’ office numbers. Maybe she magicked my number up, although magic and tech rarely mix well. I don’t know. But since I’ve completely given up any pretext of normalcy when it comes to this school year, I’m just rolling with it.
“Miss, I owe you so much at this point that if you told me to show up at the town graveyard at midnight wearing just whipped cream, I’d be there without asking why.”
She chuckles. “That’s quite an image. I appreciate your faith, Teddy, particularly when you’re probably still unhappy with me over the bindings, to say nothing of making you sit the hardest test I’ve ever devised for an undergraduate.”
“I was, miss, not gonna lie. I haven’t betrayed many people in my life. I haven’t always had a lot to offer, but loyalty, that’s one thing I could always give. Putting these things on.” I shake my wrists for emphasis so the binding bracelets rattle against the other beads and braided leather I wear. “I betrayed two men who have done nothin’ but love me unconditionally.”
Doctor Prince grimaces. “I’m sorry, Teddy. I tried to pick the better of the poor choices before me. Hector was going to see you bound one way or another. I thought you’d rather wear my bindings than his, so I preempted him by preparing those and bringing them to the meeting. If I’d had more time, I’d have consulted you first, but your return was a surprise—in the best way, of course—but it left us all scrambling.”
“I understand, miss. I’m not angry at you. I’m just ... sad, I guess.”
“If you formed attachments to people in the future, I can appreciate your grief. But it highlights one of the many dangers of Time-Walking, Teddy. Magi many decades your senior only attempt it once or twice in their lives, and never to a time so close to their own. You were Time-Walking daily, from what you told us, to a splintered Timeline very close in time to the present, and spontaneously in response to injury. You have to control your Time-Walking or it’s going to kill you. I’d really rather that didn’t happen. Good TAs are hard to find.”
That pulls a small smile out of me. “Yes, miss.”
She taps the paper with a neatly manicured nail. “I know you’re already carrying a heavy course load, Teddy, and I’m loath to add to it. It’s important your grades this semester don’t suffer, particularly after the difficulties surrounding your midterms. Have you gotten your other grades yet?”
“All but Greenwitchery, miss.” Something that’s hanging like a Damoclean sword over my head, even after the triumph of my Early History of Magic result. “I wanted to thank you for everything with my exam.”
“Thank me?” Doctor Prince’s smile twists. “I’m surprised you’re not filing a grievance with the academic standards committee. That test was a bear, Teddy. Completely and utterly unfair. Professor Tate called me after he reviewed it and gave me an earful about devising tests that discourage rather than encourage our best and brightest. But you performed exceptionally and I’m extremely pleased with the outcome. It left Hector with no room to maneuver and your academic record is irreproachable. I promise your final exam won’t be nearly as difficult.”
I wipe pretend sweat from my forehead. “Thank the Mother for that.”
She chuckles. “Now.” She taps the paper again. “These three Arcana that I’ve listed at the top are what I consider an essential primer for Time-Walking. We’ll have more time during Winter Study to explore the theoretical elements of chronomancy. For now, we just need to ensure you only Time-Walk under certain conditions. Agreed?”
