“You’ve been out several times recently.” Her smile was arresting. She seemed proud. My heart thumped hot and heavy behind my ribs.
“I have. And if Seir asked me, I’d blame him, but realistically, I think I’ve got you to thank.”
Her mouth dropped open and her cheeks turned the most delightful shade of pink. Suddenly shy, she stopped meeting my eye, though to my great pleasure, she didn’t let go of my arm.
As we approached the double doors of the magical collegium’s main building, my sister-in-law Calla opened them for us.
“Welcome! Come in, please, it’s freezing out there. Hailon just arrived too.”
Once we were all inside where it was warmer, I accepted her hug and kissed her on the cheek. “You look well.”
“I have no complaints.” Calla, my brother Rylan’s mate, and a powerful earth witch in her own right, smiled at us. She was on the taller side for a woman and her stride was long as she stepped over to hug Phin. “So nice to meet you! Welcome to d’Arcan. I’m Calla. You’re Phin?”
“Yes, hello.”
“I’ve heard so many wonderful things.” She paused, head tilted as she took Phin in. “Aren’t you beautiful.” Calla glanced between the two of us, her happy smile impossible not to reciprocate. “Come on through.” She started down the wide stone hall at a brisk clip, taking us past several rooms. “Students are in, but we won’t be bothered in Vassago’s classroom.”
“Is he not teaching then?” I asked, slightly disappointed I’d be missing seeing him do so.
“Not today.” She caught my eye and got a devious look. “Specialty instructors are only twice a week.” She held the last of her commentary until she’d opened the doors of said classroom wide and walked us inside. “So your brothers often have free time.”
The brothers in question looked up from where they sat across from one another on plush furniture, one with a book in his hand and the other a ledger, an assortment of snacks and half-drunk teacups on the low table between them.
For such a large room, it felt cozy. The fire was lit and burning heartily, the furniture was soft and plush. Across the room, two columnar windows made from thick slabs of rainbowglass threw gentle colors over the floor. My brother’s worktables were a system of organized chaos specific to him, and I was oddly cheered by the familiar items sitting upon them.
“She’s being mean to me again,” Vassago said with a grin as he closed his book and got to his feet. Rylan was only a step behind him. “Have a word with her, would you?”
“I will not. She’s perfect as she is. And she’s not wrong,” Rylan replied, a cagey smirk on his mouth.
Calla crossed behind Vassago, giving him a swift thump on the back of the head with her hand as she passed.
He chuckled. “See? Mean.” Despite his words, his light tone conveyed that this was normal teasing between them, as did the little squeeze he gave her hand when it came to rest on the back of the sofa near him.
“Get your handoffmy wife,” Rylan said. Vassago held his hands up as though surrendering, chuckling a hearty laugh.
“You wouldn’t knowmeanif it bit you,” Greta, his mate, laughed from across the room. She was busily pouring something into tiny vials on her worktop, a cauldron steaming next to her. “Nice to see you, Tap.”
“And you, Greta.”
Hailon stood near her workstation, putting the vials into a wooden device with many little slots so they could be carried all at once. “Nice to see you both again so soon,” she gave a little wave.
“You know how I feel about you threatening me with a good time, Dragonfly.” Vassago smirked, the sharp points of his fangs denting his bottom lip. He was as fair as Phin, blond hair so light it was nearly white. Dressed in cream and silver, he was in every way opposite to both myself and Rylan. “Good to see you, brother.” He pulled me into an embrace, thumping me on the back. As he released me, he held out a hand. “Pleased to meet you, Phin.”
“Yes, welcome. I’m Rylan. I’m the headmaster here.” He, too, shook her hand.
“Hello.” Her eyes were wide as she looked from one of us to the next.
Calla was quick to reassure her. “Harmless, the lot of us, I promise. Well, mostly.” She winked at Phin, and I could see Phin’s shoulders relax just a little. “Please, make yourself at home.”
“Magnus will be here shortly. He’s speaking with the council,” Rylan said. “He mentioned you’ve been working on a project for him?”
“Yes, I’ve got several things to discuss with him, actually, so that’s good timing.” I was growing more certain that the disturbances in the long dormant doors were related to the disappearances Magnus had asked me to look into, and what Ramsey had told me corroborated that. Unfortunately, my daily responsibilities hadn’t allowed time for me to fully look into each one personally yet. I was hoping that the stone kin would be able to send some of their people through to assist with that part.
Calla had intercepted Phin and was plying her with tea and honey cakes on the sofa. Greta and Hailon both hustled over, and between them they were doing their best to make her comfortable. An odd flash of thought had my heart stalling in my chest. It was natural, the way they looked talking with one another. Like she fit right into this odd little family of mine.
“Tap? Alright?”
“Mm? Yes, fine.” I snapped back to the current moment and found both of my brothers staring at me, identical smug grins on their faces.
