Page 21 of Suspicions on the Stage
Slade turns his head, looking over at his long-time roomie with a smirk. “Just because you’ve cast someone in a supporting part—for whatever reason— doesn’t mean they aren’t a leading role for another person, Ignatius. Get over yourself and accept that our sweet, nervous Channing might be getting double-dipped by a bunch of action heroes.”
Okay, now I’m having a bit of an issue with images I don’t need, but I refuse to let Iggy know that.
“Man, Slade,” Lucas groans as he rolls onto his side and hides his face. “Visuals, dude. Like, I agree, but I didn’t need you to put a picture in my head.”
Before I can respond, Kaspar snarls, popping to his feet and heading for the bar to refill his glass. “Damn it, songbird. I didn’t need that in the slightest. For the love of fiery drake breath, the girl is like a little sister to you guys.”
“I guess we’ve successfully dampened any sexual tension for the rest of the trip,” Liam says as he leans back in his chair. His grin is mischievous, so I don’t believe the Prince for a second. I get the feeling he could care less about the imagery everyone is moaning about, and would hop over to that bedroom in the blink of an eye if I gave him the go-ahead. “So back to planning, hmm?”
“Thank fuck,” Iggy mutters as he sighs. “Okay, the house is being dealt with piece by piece. I’ll work on some protection things inbetween classes this week so we can tackle the ugliest artifacts with Liam this weekend. I want that shit gone before someone accidentally says a word or touches something and we have a whole different magical disaster to deal with.”
Kaspar nods as he brings back his bourbon and slumps in his seat. “That would make me feel better as well. I don’t like not knowing what that twisted fuck planted in that place with Li spending all his time there. And my scaly ass isn’t thrilled about being there, either, before you ask.”
I can’t argue with that, though I’d enjoy it, so I nod. “Agreed. Lucas will go to class and practice while you shadow him and ferret out information. Liam will do the same, and I will get back in the office to handle whatever fires Channing needs me to put out. I’ll try not to overload my schedule like I did before, so we’re able to meet in the evenings and sort through anything we’ve found during the day.”
“You might have things you have to attend occasionally, though,” Slade says as he looks up at me. “Magnus was at everything and if you’re ever going to win over the people who weren’t his cronies, but don’t know if they can trust you… You have to show up to the fancy stuff. I guarantee Channing will tell you that, too.”
Fuck. I hate that kind of glad-handing bullshit on principle, but my siren is right.
“True, but if I’m lucky, there won’t be anything too soon.” Pinching the bridge of my nose, I try to recall if I saw anything on my schedule before I left, but so much has happened that I have no idea. My brain has pretty much deleted anything I don’t need at the moment and I’m struggling to remember shit that isn’t directly connected.
“Check your phone, Lady M,” Lucas rumbles as he moves back into his original position. I guess that naked Channing trauma is gone because he’s grinning at me. “I’m sure you have a very updated calendar just waiting for you to check it.”
This time, I groan as he hands me the device. He’s certainly correct, and I’ve been avoiding looking at the mountain of work I’ll have to catch up on once I get back to campus. “Fine, I’ll look.”
In true Channing fashion, there are a shit ton of messages and calendar invites for this week. It looks like every single department head is vying for a spot to discuss their future, and there’s absolutely no way I’m approving all of their requests. Like Slade suggested, there are also a multitude of invitations in the evening and on the weekends that blink at me, practically sucking my soul out as I stare at the screen.
I’m in serious trouble with this shit and I need to see my efficient assistant as soon as I set foot in the office tomorrow—or I might just lose my shit.
papa’s got a brand new bag
IGNATIUS
As promised, a car is waiting when Thorne’s plane lands on the tarmac. We unload our things and pile into it with Kaspar taking the wheel. No one argues with the dragon when he demands to drive—probably because even Morgana acknowledges that he’s the best suited to handle maneuvers if something goes horribly wrong on our trip back to campus. I hate having to think like that, but the amount of attacks in the past few months definitely precludes believing we’re safe, even thousands of miles across the country.
“I like traveling in luxury, but being home feels fucking great,” Lucas says as he looks out the window. “And outside of Nana’s mansion, I haven’t really felt attached to any place I’ve lived before. It’s nice.”
Morgana smiles fondly, reaching over to ruffle his hair. She’s full of steely resolve and walls high enough to build a skyscraper, but it’s obvious that once she lets someone in, they’re in for life. The affection she shows the bear is heartfelt, and it makes me wish I knew what the hell to do to get some of it. “I agree, babe.My place at Swallowtail never felt like home, and this house on campus doesn’t yet, but I think it will get there eventually.”
“It will help to get all that fuckwit’s garbage out of your space,” the prince says from his seat next to his guard. “Being trapped in the museum of filth is preventing you from settling in. But we’ve got that handled, right, guys?”
Here’s my opening.
“Right. Liam and I will figure out how to dispose of all the junk and where to send the dangerous things that won’t put anything into the wrong hands.” I grin, projecting the charming confidence most women adore. “I am, after all, a Briarton. We’re renowned for our magical abilities.”
She rolls her eyes, giving me an unimpressed look. “Yes, Iggy, we know. But… I appreciate your help. Magic has never been my strong suit, no matter how much my mother wanted it to be. So I would never have known that my abode was filled with things that could hurt me or anyone else.”
“Don’t worry, Morgana,” Slade says with a shy smile. “Iggy likes to puff up, but he’s definitely very skilled with artifacts. And the Prince is powerful, so put together they will be able to cleanse the space and make it livable.”
Always my biggest cheerleader—sometimes I forget that and it takes something like what happened on the plane to remind me.
“Thanks, man,” I say with a fond smile. My roommate’s face lights up at the praise and I have to cover a chuckle. No way Morgana missedthatlittle tidbit when they were ensconced in the bedroom; Slade’s a praise slut, through and through.
“You know, I’m surprised Chan Chan wasn’t here with the car. Think the lawyer and his goons have her running around on a Sunday?” Lucas bobs his brows and I groan at the implication.
“Stop it, cub,” Kaspar says sternly. “We’re not doing that shit again. Focus on what we need to do, not what the girl is doing.”
Liam winks at us when he turns to the back. “He’s right. Channing is an adult and speculating on her love life is silly. However, I do find it odd that she didn’t show—at least, from what I’ve observed of her behavior so far.”
