“Are you okay?” He was there, and so was the sentient armor who interrupted us earlier.
“I think so. I feel okay.”
“Take Temperance to the hospital wing to get checked out,” Rylan ordered the armor, and it quickly tossed me over its shoulder, the metal digging into my stomach. I squealed and Rylan ordered I be released… gently.
“Call me if you need me. I’ll turn the jet around. Fuck them,” Rylan rumbled while helping me find my footing after being manhandled. I patted his hand on my shoulder and shook my head.
“I’m fine. I can take care of myself. You go do your stuff.”
“Star. Taking care of you is a gift I never want to stop receiving. I can and I will always make sure you are cherished. Body, mind, and spirit.” He walked me to the door where the armor noted how to proceed with me. Was this overkill? Yes, I was fine.
“I’ll see you in class this week. Get ready to catch me up on all those magic skills you’ve learned.” He pressed a kiss to my cheek and closed the door behind us. “I mean it, Star. Call me if you need me, okay?”
“I promise.” A tease about needing his dick between my lips was seconds from coming out but I kept it in. He needed to go, and the armor was already tugging me lightly to get moving.
We parted and the further I walked, the more my brain felt foggy.
“I think I do need you to carry me.” I stumbled and the armor had me up and into its arms in seconds. The last thing I remembered was the clanging of metal echoing down the castle’s stone walls as he ran with me to the hospital wing.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Oh hell, I was definitely fucking Rylan McKenzie tonight.
“Perimenopause!”
Remy patted my shoulder as I shoved a big bite of carrot cake in my mouth. Shout out to Rylan whose odd insight that I’d need cake sent some my way this morning.
“It’s very common for women in their thirties to start—”
“Menopause?! I’m thirty-five!” To say that I was taking the news of my body betraying me poorly was an understatement.
“I know many women who started in their thirties, darling.” Imogene finished painting her nails orange while eyeing the cauldron. “Though, their hot flashes didn’t actually flash. That is fairly inconvenient.” She fanned her hands back and forth. I set my fork down and stirred the pink liquid.
Hmm... maybe it was a little too pink.I pinched two more vanilla beans and crumbled them into the mix. They dissolved instantly and the pink turned more of a softer hue.
“That smells good. What’s this one for?” Remy asked as she dipped her fork in to the slice of cake I willingly shared. Hopefully she knows how much I care by that simple act.
“It’s for a friend of mine,” Imogene said. “She’s got the fellas coming to her room, but her drive is a little low.”
“Ah, yes. The partnership,” Remy said partnership with finger quotes.
I rolled my eyes. How this troublemaker of a white-haired woman in front of us got away with dealing my herbal remedies out to half the school without the staff knowing was beyond me.
Plus, I’m pretty sure she had the armor on her side, but I couldn’t prove it.
We had a sixty forty split deal between us, which wasn’t a bad profit. I enjoyed making goods that helped people. Including making an aphrodisiac tonic for Imogene’s friend who wanted to get it on.
I’d gotten pretty good at making teas for headaches, cookies for upset stomachs, and tonics for achy joints over the past weeks.
“Maybe you can do this when you finish school,” Remy said, and it wasn’t the first time she brought it up. Imogene nodded enthusiastically as I ladled the mixture into a glass bottle.
“Oh yes, darling. That is a fabulous idea. If that McKenzie boy doesn’t buy you a shop first, I would be happy to invest.” Without looking my way, Imogene lifted her silver and pink gemmed wand up to her nails and placed shimmering sparkles on each like a topcoat.
“I’m not taking y’all’s money.” While I didn’t know for certain that both my friends were rich, there were signs. Remy being… well… Remy the overwhelmingly accomplished person that she was. How could she not be?
And Imogene looked likefuck youmoney. She wore wild colors and acted like she had enough not to care what other’s think.
She also said her two ex-husbands married her for her money. So, there’s that.
