“Mm. Let’s say I’m willing to answer questions.Certainquestions. Within reason. And you don’t need to be so shocked about it.”
The bridge of her nose crinkles. “Forgive my bluntness, but you’re cagey as all hell, priestess.”
That actually draws a laugh out of me. “It so happens I’mparticularabout who I trust. And you’re a force of nature. But yes, I give you my word. As long as there’s no more stabbing.”
A mischievous smile creeps across her face. Sends a delicious thrill through me. “Will you… tell me what we talked about when I first came here?”
“Eventually. We can work up to that conversation.”
“Fine,” she sighs. “I can agree—”
“Hold on, you don’t know my terms.”
Like the charming brat she is, she gives a sassy toss of her head. “I thought it was if I didn’t stab you again.”
“Right,” I snort. “Definitelydon’tstab me. And pass the exam tomorrow.”
“What? But what if I can’t?”
“Then too bad for you. Wait and try again next time. Trust me, there's no shortage of opportunities. We’ll be having them every few weeks from here on out. But the more exams you pass, the more questions I’ll answer.”
“Damn,” she says, eyes round.
“I’m concerned about your studies, and I’m not above strategic bribery. Besides. Now you can’t claim I never did anything for you.”
“You have been more than fair, oh Wise Maker of Deals. It sounds like I had better start studying for that test.”
For fuck’s sake, Tiss.I get to my feet. “Yes. You probably better.”
She rises too. Follows me to the door, which I hold for her.
I wait until she’s passing through before doing something a little bit evil. Something I know better than, but she decided to be charming and bratty. So I drop my voice low and croon, “Study hard for me like a good girl, all right?”
She stops. Just clear of the doorway. A wall of pheromones hits me like a pallet of bricks as her neck goes scarlet.
“Good night, Tiss,” I say and shut the door.
Chapter 31
Itissa
Well, she certainly knows how to motivate a girl.
I obey, poring over my amassed notes and the corresponding pages from my workbooks with urgency.
The material is more tedious than complicated; much of it I already know or am at least familiar with. But the exam is cumulative and will include everything covered since our orientation classes.
Until recently, it’s been nothing outlandish. But this past week, we’ve been covering the Practices of Magic. And witheverything that’s happened between me and Sadrie, I’ve been distracted in class.
Our recent lesson on Conjuration comes to mind. I vaguely recall Elodie mentioningcompulsionduring her lecture. That is, the forcing of someone else’s hand to a mage’s whim.
Part of me can’t help but wonder if that’s how my pheromones work.
My stomach clenches as a wave of nausea overtakes me. Remembering what Elodie said about controlled breathing, I draw air through my nose and let it out through my mouth. After a couple of repetitions, I’m amazed to find I actuallydofeel a bit better.
Resolving not to dwell on distractions, most of my night is spent reviewing the Four Practices.
The Four Practices of Magic:
