Surviving Plagues (Artemis University Book 3) Read online

  “You’ll still think of me when you take care of that, right?” I checked, glancing at his groin.

  “Yes,” he hissed.

  “Then I will too.” I shot him a wink and closed the door in his face, the groan he let out echoing in the hall. Nice.

  I was pretty sure that was how to rock a first date. In my mind at least.

  7

  The next morning I was up early and bringing the reservoirs to the portal to Faerie I’d already found and checked out. There were three rooms sealed with fairy magic and I promised myself I would check out the other two when we didn’t have guests or a work crew around.

  Plus, I was focused on Faerie itself. I was making progress now that I was filling the reservoirs and putting the magic into Faerie that way. But it was slow progress still.

  For all I knew that world was a big as this one. Claudia had said she was going to get me a map of Faerie only to find she didn’t have one, couldn’t find one.

  And Geiger said he knew he’d had one but it was gone. Needless to say they were confused and had some questions.

  That seemed to always be the way. I made one step to getting answers and found five more questions along the way.

  Once I was done and the reservoirs back in my suite, I unlocked the “door” in the barrier and headed for a run. I was determined to map out the many acres and maybe set up some fun.

  Those obstacle courses from school would make for some fun but this was my home now and I could do whatever I wanted and yeah, I wanted some cool training stuff.

  Mel was in the kitchen when I got back, looking like she’d just gotten done in the gym. She nodded to the island. “Fine, he can date you.”

  I wasn’t sure what she meant but my mouth dropped open when I locked on the largest rose I’d ever seen. It was gigantic, the flower wider than my hand could stretch out with my fingers even.

  That could not be natural. I went over to it and smelled it, biting back a giggle. I’d never gotten a flower before.

  “He bought this?”

  “No, he made it with magic. I saw him do it.” She shrugged when I gave her a look. “I wasn’t stalking. If he didn’t want anyone watching, don’t do it by the coffee.”

  Fair enough. Angels and demons couldn’t keep Mel from coffee and she had no delicacy before it.

  “I looked up what pink meant,” she muttered, giving me a knowing look. “According to the site I found on my phone, it means femininity, elegance, and sweetness. It’s got deeper pink petals, which is gratitude. Someone’s thanking a sweet woman for being a sexy woman on their date.”

  I flushed as pink as the rose; I was fairly certain of that from how hot my face felt. The bell rang and I jogged to the door, glad for the distraction.

  Natalie and her family were coming through the portal in the garage so it had to be a delivery. I checked the new security panel that had a camera out by the gate, smiling when I saw it was Sean waving.

  So they took me up on my offer to come hang their day off. Cool.

  I punched in the code for the gate and opened the door. I frowned when I saw it was two of the school vans, Marshall driving the second one. Huh?

  It made more sense when the side door opened and Irma hopped out.

  Of course she did.

  “I so called that one,” I drawled, still smiling at her. “I knew you’d come out here and want to help. I’m paying you if you do.”

  “Of course and that’s fine, we could use the extra money and you need to be studying,” she greeted.

  “I am not working besides sitting out and watching the pig cook that Mel said you have coming,” Marshall announced.

  There were a few more of the guards who knew what I was because they’d been there the night they’d found me. I was glad they weren’t telling others or including them in stuff with me.

  “Mi casa es su casa,” I offered, dipping my head as I gestured them to come in. I looked at the hobgoblins. “You could have just come visit and hung out. You don’t have to work to come here.”

  “We really could use the money,” one of the others said. “A lot of our pay goes for room and board with the children.”

  “Of courses, thanks for thinking of me.”

  “The children demanded to come but we said you needed to study,” Irma warned before the kids started climbing out of the van with help.

  I swallowed a clown car joke with how many hobgoblins were pouring out of the two vans. They were little but I had no idea how they all traveled.

  “I would love more help too once we get the permanent portal up in the garage,” I told her.

  “Tamsin!” Elasha squealed as she hurried over to me, the others on her heels.

  I grabbed her up and tossed her, smiling when she burst out giggling. At first I’d been super hesitant with the tiny hobgoblins, putting them in the same class as wittle human toddlers, but they were all five or older and I read I could play with them like normal kids.

  Hey, I was new to this. I thought caution was always better than a horrible mistake I couldn’t take back.

  Mel shook her head as we came into the kitchen. “You totally called it. You said they’d be here before break was over to help and I thought you were exaggerating how spoiled you are.”

  “They could use the work,” I defended.

  She snorted. “Good, because there is no way we’re cleaning this whole place as often as it’s needed. We’re still trying to handle all the stuff.”

  “Oh, this is lovely,” Irma cooed as she looked at my rose.

  “Yeah, I didn’t think you were with the vamp,” Sean teased me, checking it out too. “Guess he likes you.”

  Marshall smirked at me. “I thought you were with the bear.”

  I frowned. “Mason? No.”

  “No, well, you go jogging—”

  “We’re not having a debate on my love life,” I cut in, making an X with my arms. “Not happening. How do you even know that’s from Darby?”

  “Oh, you went viral overnight,” Marshall drawled.

  “Huh?” Mel asked and I echoed it.

  He pulled out his phone and tapped it a few times before handing it over. “Someone in the restaurant caught the whole scene and uploaded it to YouTube. You guys went viral with a trending hashtag #totalkeeper, #takenotesguys, and #howtobeagentleman.”

  “Oh boy,” I groaned as Mel took the phone.

  She played the video and it started like someone was recording their table to sing happy birthday to someone with the presents and stuff sitting there. But they caught the humans at the bar since they were sitting towards the middle of the place but off to the side a bit.

  Basically the perfect spot to get the whole thing. Well, from my side and the guys’, but Darby was only partially visible when he looked over at the guys, otherwise it was his back and a slight profile.

  Me, on the other hand, was a full look, even my legs under the table showing how short the skirt was.

  “Fine, he can date you,” Mel sighed as he handed the phone back after the clip finished.

  “Well, thank fuck I have your blessing as that’s the one I need,” Darby drawled from the doorway, looking like he’d just gotten up and needed coffee too.

  Except he’d made the rose for me. Did it take that much magic? I wasn’t sure but I went over to him and took his hand, giving him a boost.

  He gasped as his eyes went wide, panting a bit when I finished… And then he was on me. He pushed me up against the wall and kissed me deeply.

  I chuckled and ducked under his arm when he came back for more. “Thanks for the rose.”

  He glanced from it to me, putting together what I’d figured out. “I was up working on some stuff too so it didn’t take that much out of me. I just wasn’t thinking about not having blood here and eating before I did it.” He cleared his throat as he looked around the room and then back to me. “Thanks for the fill up.”

  Mel snorted. “Dirty birdie.”

  He rolled his
eyes at her and went for the coffee. “Tamsin knew what I meant. Sometimes I wonder who the older sister is.” He grunted as the kids went over to him, blinking down as they hugged his legs. “Good morning?”

  “Tamsin’s boyfriend,” Elasha said as if that explained it all.

  “Yes, yes, he’s dating Tamsin but let the boy get coffee and food,” Irma cut in before I could even figure out what to say. “Let’s go play outside while we get them breakfast. Everyone needs to eat.”

  “Play!” one of the kids squealed and headed out of the kitchen… The wrong way.

  Much to the amusement of the adults, I darted after the little bugger and showed them the right way to the backyard. They brought their own entertainment so they were fine, Irma promising they wouldn’t go by the pool even.

  Natalie showed up with her family and started introducing everyone before coming over to me.

  “So you had a fun date.” She burst out laughing when I groaned. “Yeah, it’s all over the school and supe social media now too, not just trending on human stuff.”

  “So much for just having a date and being chill about it,” I sighed as I sat at the table with a huff. I shot a guilty look at Darby. “Not that I wouldn’t—”

  “I know, you’re a private person and so am I.” He moved to the table with me and gave me tight smile. “We’ll just let it blow over. I’m sure something will happen in the supe world before break’s over to overshadow the news that the jerk scholarship student took out the unknown freshman.”

  “You’re not a jerk. Most just call you prickly, which I find endearing,” I defended. “And they all say you’re a great tutor so that’s what matters.”

  “Sure,” he chuckled, not sounding offended at least.

  Izzy joined us and handed me my phone. “You left it on the counter and it’s bouncing all over the place.”

  Oh boy. Sure enough, I had messages, but I held off looking until later, noting how amused Craftsman looked as he walked into the room.

  “There are no supplies to cook,” Irma worried. “Barely enough to make a decent breakfast.”

  “We’ve been winging it and doing catering,” Mel defended. “A lot’s been going on. We’ve got a bunch of meat coming for the freezers we just got delivered for the garage and—we haven’t been here long enough to really get stuff done.”

  “Fine, we’re here now to help and get more of it settled if someone can run the errands,” she said, looking at the guards.

  “I’ll go if someone doesn’t mind helping me lug it all,” Izzy offered.

  “Wait, we’re only going to be here six more days,” Mel interjected.

  “Yes, but we can fill the freezers for when you’re home on a weekend with muffins and everything that will keep months and months,” Irma explained.

  “Well, far be it from me to stop a genius at work,” she agreed. “I’ll get supplies too since the crew already has their marching orders. Let me give you a tour to see all of everything and figure out what needs to be done. I was going to make some pearlberry jam but you can take over the kitchen and all of it.”

  “You have pearlberries?” Irma asked her eyes wide. We got into telling her all about the grove and the back of the property and then the kids wanted to see it.

  “You can show them on breaks,” Darby cut in. “Let’s get some geometry done first. You’re almost at the finish line and then it’s done and off your plate.”

  “One date and he thinks he’s the boss of me,” I griped.

  “You might be the boss in everything else but I get this one area,” he drawled.

  Fair enough.

  Everyone got to work and the hobgoblins had a lot to do. It wasn’t like the mansion was dirty or the Townsends were slobs. No, not even close, but it wasn’t like they’d deep cleaned anything before leaving it all behind and headed to Faerie for a war.

  Plus, even if in a stasis spell, that was twenty years for every inch of the house to feel a bit stale and need some TLC. We’d not had the chance to give it much of that yet.

  “My brain is leaking,” I announced after an hour of geometry. I jumped up from the table outside where we had settled in so we could watch the kids as well and took off towards them.

  They squealed and hopped up to play as well, no clue I was running from Darby and schoolwork but simply wanting the fun. I kept turning on them to chase them then, and they’d run off shouting I was gonna get them.

  Basically it was the best way to take a study break and heal my poor brain.

  Just to be even goofier, I started singing David Bowie’s “Under Pressure” as I spun with each of them. I eventually made myself dizzy, the kids shouting they wanted to play more, but I yelped as a strong arm wrapped around me and I was flipped over a shoulder.

  “Nope, my turn to have her and work on runes,” Craftsman announced, the kids giggling and teasing him.

  “I’m acing your class,” I reminded him.

  “Yes, but I have some idea how to completely dominate the Power Playoffs and I want to see how you are at combining runes.”

  That was enough to win me over. I hadn’t known we could actually combine them, just use them in rapid succession if we had enough power.

  We did work on runes and magic but not in the way he wanted. Instead I made a bazillion snowballs and had fun with the hobgoblins until I had to go charge up the reservoir and crew.

  I received a tray of food as a reward and I headed back outside with it, almost tripping over my feet when music came blasting throughout the house.

  Right, Mel wanted to hook up all the house to security and speakers and all the cool rich people stuff. I wasn’t really surprised it was a Meghan Trainor song since she was Mel’s favorite. I danced out to the table and set down the tray before spinning and planning to head to the hobgoblins.

  Except, Darby caught me first.

  He twirled me before pulling me against him and spinning me back out. He actually knew how to swing dance? Or that was what I thought we were doing.

  Whatever it was I thought it was fun and followed his lead. I swallowed a yelp as he rolled me over his back so I landed on my feet again, pulling me in next so he could dip me.

  “Where did you learn this?” I panted when we were done.

  “Every Irishman knows how to dance some or we have to turn in our shamrocks.”

  I burst out laughing, thinking that was the cutest thing he’d ever said. He smirked at me as he spun me to sit back in my seat, pointing at my geometry workbook.

  “Me next!” Elasha demanded.

  Oh, it was really hard not to laugh when he found himself with a line of hobgoblins who wanted their turn. He did it though, picking her up and dancing with her and each of them in turn.

  “Of course you come with an entourage,” he groaned as he sat down once they were all satisfied.

  I shrugged as I popped some grapes in my mouth. “I saw you smiling. Don’t even try to deny that they make you smile too.”

  “You have to be heartless to not like hobgoblins,” he drawled.

  We worked for a while longer but then my phone vibrated and honestly I wanted the break bad enough to check it. I ignored the messages from Juan saying he was deeply wounded that I would go out with the vampire and ignore his studly dragon self.

  Gag me.

  Lucca sent me the link to the video and some supe social media posts he thought I should see with just an FYI sort of message. That was nice as most knew I wasn’t in the loop.

  I replied that I knew, Sean and Marshall were all excited to show me first thing when they came to hang on their day off.

  Mason’s messages were of a different tone than the other two, like he was trying to tease but it was coming off… Angry? It seemed almost hostile as he asked if he got to do a challenge with me next. Was that his idea of asking me out?

  If it was, it sucked. There were a few more that sounded miffed I would dress up for Darby but not when we all hung out, sort of passive-aggressive compliments a
nd he was getting messages to introduce me to people.

  Gross. No thanks. Of all the people I didn’t want to pimp me out, Mason was high on the list.

  Hudson’s was very much like he always was and right to the point.

  Hudson: You should see this. I know we’re on a time-out, but I didn’t want you blindsided when we were back at school.

  Hudson: Does this change things between us?

  I noted the links like Lucca sent, checking out the social media posts and rolling my eyes that they were basically gossip. There were lots of replies too asking how much Darby “taught” me and if I paid for his services. Great, so now he was a hooker and I had to be taught and pay to get some.

  Tamsin: I hate idiots. Social media does not bring out the best in people too often.

  Tamsin: And no. He knows about the doc. He didn’t ask to be exclusive. Does it change things for you?

  His answer was fast and that made me smile as he always seemed to be right there ready for me. My mind went to the gutter on that but he was hot so I gave myself a pass on that.

  Hudson: No, not at all. You’re still my princess. I just wanted to check because I messed up and then you go out to dinner with a guy I didn’t know you were into. Not my business, but it seems like a signal you were done with me.

  Tamsin: No, and I’d never be underhanded like that. Nothing to do with each other.

  Hudson: Good. Glad to hear it.

  Hudson: Can I asked something I shouldn’t when I’m in a time-out?

  Tamsin: Sure.

  Hudson: Did he taste you? Just want to know if there will be three Tamsin addicts on campus.

  I snorted, shaking my head when Darby gave me a questioning look.

  Tamsin: No, neither of us have had normal and we want a bit of slow and cute fun. Maybe? That’s what he kind of said and I liked the idea. Actually, the doc practically demanded he give me that since the doc can’t and he busted me that I wanted it.

  Hudson: I would have given it to you.

  Tamsin: I’m not complaining. I like what we have. I didn’t realize I wanted it but I do. We had fun. He was sweet.

  Hudson: I saw that in the video. You looked STUNNING. I was so fucking hard for you and my dragon wanted to find you since you didn’t see him again before break.