We were going to the aquatics conservatory. We had a solid lead on theVanished Compendium. And if we found it, we would have leverage to use with the forces that were trying to change Evergreen Academy, my home away from home.
Chapter Five
After the rest of the Root and Vine Society had stuffed their pockets with lavender scones and filled to-go cups with hot tea, the bells on the door handle of Vera’s Café tinged softly as the door closed behind them.
When I turned back around, I realized only Callan and I remained. He was going from table to table, lifting the dishes into the dish caddy with a touch of wind so invisible I wouldn’t have noticed the tiny hover below the dishes if I hadn’t come to know the look on his face when he was using his powers.
“I can take care of those,” I said, motioning to the dishes.
“No way, local. I suggested having the meeting here. I’m not going to stick you with cleanup.”
“You know, for a kid who grew up as a founders’ descendant, you sure don’t act spoiled.” I went around the counter and began to fill the sink with warm, sudsy water.
“Youngest of two brothers, remember? Wyatt was good at getting me to do his chores for him.”
I didn’t turn from the sink, not wanting to spook Callan from talking about his brother. It had only been a few days since Wyatt showed up at the academy and departed with what he thought was the quill we had just used to point us to the aquatics conservatory.
Each night since, I’d gone to bed nervous that the next day would be the one in which Wyatt—or someone he worked with at the Department of Botanical Intelligence—would realize the quill was a fake and come after the real one again. I had put a few extra defensive Floracantus on it in an attempt to camouflage it more thoroughly, but I had no idea how that would hold up under expert scrutiny.
The dish tray appeared at my side, and I could smell the sandalwood and peach fragrance of the cologne Callan had designed with me in mind. I wasn’t sure how to feel about the fact that he was still wearing it, even after we’d had an epic kiss that we had to swear off having again for the time being.
We both knew our focus had to stay on finding the book and saving the academy as well as not putting an extra target on our backs with his family and other members of the Board of Regents, but I couldn’t help daydreaming about a day when Callan might let his protectiveness of me down a notch, and we could finally be together.
I took a deep inhalation of the lemony smell of the soapy water, trying and failing to mask the enticing scent of the man next to me.
Callan dipped a plate into the water and began to scrub. I reached across, grabbing a mug. Apparently, we werebothgoing to do the dishes.
I forced my mind back to the conversation about Callan’schildhood. “Someone actually managed to boss Callan Rhodes around? Color me skeptical,” I said, hoping to keep my voice light. Callan’s family had always been a touchy subject.
“Believe it or not, I wasn’t quite this confident as a kid.” He used a controlled rush of wind to send a dollop of bubbly soap out of the water, and it landed on my cheek in a delicate kiss of warmth.
Nope. Donotthink the wordkiss, Briar.Doing so with Callan so close was dangerous. I tried to focus on his words andonlyhis words.
“That’s probably a good thing. I’m trying to imaginetheCallan Rhodes in elementary school, sensing powers and controlling wind. You were either popular or terrifying in the lunchroom.”
Callan let out a soft laugh, and I watched his muscles flex under the tattoos on his forearms as he scrubbed a dish then reached across me to put it on the drying rack. “What’s a lunchroom?”
I let out a startled laugh. “I meant the tearoom.”
“I’m just teasing. I have seen a few movies, you know.”
“Let me guess. They were all nature documentaries?”
I could practically hear Callan’s smile, and I couldn’t resist glancing over to see it.
“Those were good for critique exercises. We’d watch the video and make detailed lists of all the things they didn’t mention or can’t explain about the plants.”
“Leaves.Was that your idea of a fun Friday night? We’re going to have to get your movie knowledge up to par.”
My hand slipped into the water then and I let out a sharp gasp as pain sliced my palm.
Callan’s hands were on me immediately, gently removing my hand from the water, which was turning slightly pink.
I winced as his fingers touched the side of my palm. “I must have cut it on one of those deli knives. They’re notoriously sharp.”
Before I could say another word, Callan placed a clean cloth against my hand. “Wait here.”
Seconds later, he was back with a chair and his backpack. He helped me to sit, a completely unnecessary action, as I was steady, but I appreciated the gesture. Then he pulled a compact green kit from his backpack and unzipped it. I craned my neck to see small vials filled with herbs and liquids.
