“That would definitely be off-putting,” he admitted.“Fine.Go schmooze with the big, bad vampires.I’ll do my errands and teach my class.I’ll catch up with you later.”
He let his lips be devoured for another ten minutes before tearing away from Jaks.He only whined a little.“Go.I need to shower.”
Jaks opened his mouth.Quentin raised his hand to stop him.“I’m not showering with you.You’re the one who reminded me I had to get going.”
“Fine.”This time, it was Jaks doing the pouting.
Quentin turned away to hide his smirk.
A half hour later, he was dressed and ready to face the day.He received a text message from Braed that he was waiting in the hall.Apparently, Braed didn’t have permission to enter Jaks’s personal rooms.After the last explosion, Jaks had hired warders to keep everyone out—except him or Quentin.Jaks had told him it was in response to the dangers Quentin had faced at the manor previously.He had made exceptions for Glenn, Quentin’s mother, and the doctor, but only if they came alone.
Braed stood across from the door to the suite, wearing a fashion editor’s wet dream of a suit.Gray with silver buttons, it emphasized his trim build while subtly declaring it cost more than your net worth.“Ready?”
“Yes.”Quentin tried to put on a pleasant mask.This was his mother’s romantic partner.He should respect that, even if something about the other vampire rubbed him wrong.No doubt, his own prejudices created unfounded suspicions.After all, no one was good enough for his mother.
Still.
He couldn’t quite put a finger on what bothered him about Braed, other than his abrasive personality.
“Glenn is waiting downstairs with the car.”
“Good.I only have one stop, then you can leave me at the university.”
“I can’t.I promised Master Jakinson that I would watch over you today.After I inspect your classroom, I will remain outside, but I can’t leave you alone on campus.”His tone didn’t leave any room for compromise.
“Fine.”Deciding it was better to give in to Jaks’s probably necessary paranoia than fight the annoying vampire.As they walked, he pulled out his phone and called Hafrey.
“Quentin, how are you?”Hafrey’s slightly slurred speech hinted that the elderly wizard had already been into his stash.It was hard to match up this narcotic-smoking free spirit with the idea of a ruthless demon-stealer, but stranger things had happened.
“I’m coming to pick up my herb order.I was wondering if you could also put together a collection of the most commonly used ritual herbs.I’m going to give a practical demonstration today.The other instructors gloss over the ritual components and rush straight to the runes.I want to show them that it is a multistep process.”
Quentin chose his words with care.He didn’t like being suspicious of the old wizard, but this entire situation had his instincts shrieking warning alarms.Better to be careful than captured and tortured.
“Great idea.I’m in the middle of an experiment, so I’ll leave a box outside the front door and bill you.”
Once again, he wished he had enough time to stop and investigate Hafrey, but he couldn’t be late for his class.
“Thank you.I’ll be over in about thirty minutes if traffic isn’t a bitch.”
Hafrey laughed, a familiar booming sound that never failed to make Quentin smile.“I’ll have it ready.”
“Sounds good.”His stomach sank.Even while experimenting, Hafrey had never refused to let him into his home.He wished Grevin were there to bounce ideas off.He hadn’t realized how much he depended on his friend to be the practical one before.
Glenn sat in the driver’s seat of a beautiful sedan that probably cost more than Quentin’s house, even factoring in the ley lines.Sometimes he forgot, or willfully ignored, his lover’s wealth.At least Jaks would never think Quentin was with him for his money.They never would have bonded so deeply if emotions weren’t engaged.
He tried to hide his queasiness as he slid across the buttery leather seats, resenting the way the cushions cradled him in perfect comfort.
This was his life now.He absently slid his fingers across his necklace and almost missed the glare sent his way.“Is there a problem?”
“No.”Braed didn’t say anything else, but his lips were pressed in a tight line.
Quentin had to resist the urge to poke at the vampire.He didn’t want a lecture from his mother for upsetting whatever their relationship was, or one from Jaks for unwisely taunting the vampire who was supposed to be protecting him.
Halfway to Hafrey’s house, his phone chimed.Quentin tapped the message screen to find Hafrey’s invoice.He approved of all the herbs picked.Every single one was useful for multiple purposes, and none of them would cause the campus police to come knocking.
Pulling up the payment app, he transferred the funds to Hafrey’s account.The old wizard lived on a limited income and trusted Quentin to pay promptly.
Quentin always made certain that he did.Even if Hafrey turned out to be evil, he still deserved to be paid.
