The Protection of Ren Crown (56 page)

Constantine folded into his seat, but there was an energy vibrating under his skin. He kept his hands on the arms of the chair, but the fingers of his left hand twitched ever so slightly as if he wanted his black ribbon in them. It was nowhere to be seen, though, and for some reason that seemed purposeful.

He lazed back in his seat, crossing his long legs. “Well, I didn't anticipate such fun this evening. And just when I thought I was almost rid of you.” He looked at Dare, his gaze far too casual, his fingers drumming against the chair's arm. “Casting a suppression spell on the door? Devious. Do your handlers know their uptight wonder boy has such a slick side?”

There was a tight tension underlying the lines of Dare's body too, but he kept his words just as casual. “Does Daddy know you have taken an interest?”

Rage flashed across Constantine's face, then was chased into studied insouciance. “And here I thought you had all of those lovely little spells in place to ignore whatever I did. If I had known you were so interested, I would have spun you a lovely tale of poison.”

“You two sleep in the same room?” I blurted out, unable to hold it in. “And are still alive?”

“Amazing isn't it, my level of saintly patience?” Constantine said, still not looking away from his roommate.

This then completely and definitively explained Olivia's acceptance of me as a roommate in the first place, and old magic users' “means to an end” philosophy in strengthening their magic.

I pressed a hand to my forehead. “Okay. I came to talk about—” No, I couldn't say anything about that in front of Dare. “Then I had a thought on—” No, I couldn't say anything about that in front of Constantine.

Train wreck. That was the only description that sufficed.

I waved my hand around. “Both of your projects are progressing. I should go.” I put a hand on the strap of my bag.

“Darling, no. Stay. This is about to become
most
interesting.”

“Interesting, like, hey, we have common interests, let's discuss them? Or interesting in the multiple ways that blood can splatter?” I asked weakly.

Constantine tilted his head as if contemplating the matter. “More of the latter, I think.”

Dare didn't respond, but he was far too still. The kind of stillness that preceded explosive destruction.

“Oh, my God,” I said feebly. “Could you two be any more of a Superhero/Supervillain cliché?”

“Alexander prefers 'villain' for his own designation. I, however, will retain my super status, thank you, Ren.”

“Con...why...what...how...? I'm going to
kill you
,” I said.

“You will not. You indulge far too many of my games. More than is good for you.”

“
Kill.
”

“Well, if you really must, it will be my preferred method of death, coming from your hand.”

“Feel free to begin at any time,” Dare said in a far too casual manner, leaning back nonchalantly.

Dorm One was not going to survive the night. I was about to watch an explosion of gorgeous body parts. I mean...it was a wonder their room hadn't
already
imploded due to the sheer level of hotness it contained. It seemed like a room should have an attractiveness quotient.

I realized that I might have said that out loud at the same time that I registered that they were both staring at me.

“Oh, would you look at the time?” I said, and bolted from my chair. “Good luck on the bloodshed. Gotta go!”

Strategic retreat? No. Wise course of action? Most definitely,
yes
.

Chapter Thirty-one: Plan Fifty-Two

I tried to maintain an air of nonchalance the next morning as I followed Dare on our last round together. He wisely said nothing about the awkwardness that was our three-way meeting the previous evening, but he seemed cheerful in a way that made me think maybe I'd check on Constantine later and bring bandages.

Having an actual conversation about the previous night would have induced a small panic attack on its own, but worse than that, Dare was leaving campus in three hours. Leaving campus and expecting me to have everything completely in hand. He was leaving me here alone in three hours and I was freaking out.

“So, what if I just wear a camera and do rounds and then you can watch those?” I was proud of the well-modulated sarcasm I had included to hide my terror.

“You are going to journal me each night with your observations? Good thinking.” He turned and started walking toward the exit point.

“What?” I hurried to catch up. “I was being sarcastic and I didn't say anything about writing to you.”

“It's a good idea.”

“I don't want to journal you every night!”

“Why not? Am I so distasteful?”

“What? No, that's not what I—” I saw his smirk and let out a sigh. “Just...fine. I'll do it. Don't expect Shakespeare.”

He cast me an askance glance. “It
will
be fine. You won't let anything happen to campus.”

I flung my hands into the air in a complicated gesture meant to show my complete incompetence and terror. “I am the antichrist of this campus.
What were you thinking?
”

He laughed and watched his dragon and phoenix swoop together overhead.

“Everything will work out just fine. And when I get back, we'll have a very interesting discussion,” he murmured. There was something very unsettling in the way the edges of his eyes crinkled.

~*~

“Ren, you look terrible,” Olivia said at dinner, 6.2 hours after Dare and the rest of the combat mages abandoned campus. “You should go to bed early. Gaming is unnecessary, I already told you.” She looked a little too eager to avoid going to Asafa and Patrick's.

“What? No. We have been practicing. We are totally going to do battle with my creations and take Trick to the cleaners. Saf's going to help. And I'm fine.” I bit the end of a fraying fingernail nearly in half. “Fine. Hurry up and finish.”

Olivia had promised that she would do a focus spell on me after lunch. I needed that spell. Dare's energizing spell had worn off two hours ago and I had to get back out on the grounds.

A quick circuit around campus, then I'd do some quick, quick gaming for Olivia's sake, then I'd get back out there again for another circuit.

“That salad looks really delicious,” I said, pushing it closer to her.

Will slowly put down his hoagie. “You do look a little green around the skirk gills, Ren.”

“I'm
fine
.” I stared at Olivia's bowl, willing the leaves to launch into her mouth so we could leave. I pushed her bread roll closer. “Eat.” Maybe the water would do it. I pushed her glass closer. “Drink.”

“Is this where we call the men with the white coats?” Mike asked. “Isn't that what the non-magical world does?”

“Yes. I mean, no,” I said. Olivia hated olives, but always ate a few in her salads because of their nutritional value. They always took the longest for her to eat. While she was looking at Mike, I lifted the three black spheres from her bowl with magic and wrapped the olives in my napkin. “I mean, yes, that is what they do. No, I don't need the men with the white coats.”

Unless they would help me take down rogue monsters and villains. Would straitjackets work as a defense?

“You're making less sense than usual, Ren.” Mike pointed his fork at me. “Will does this when he is stressed.”

“Stressed? If we are pointing stressed fingers,” I pointed sharply at Will, then Olivia, “how come no one told me that Alexander Dare and Constantine Leandred are
roommates
?”

Will blinked. Olivia frowned. Neph waved a gentle hand trying to even the group atmosphere.

“What do you mean, no one told you?” Olivia asked. “You are over there all the time, or with one or the other of them.”

“You didn't know they were roommates?” Will's voice came out in an incredulous squeak as he stared at me.

“Everyone knows,” Olivia said, now frowning in disbelief.

“No,
everyone
did not know.”

Delia's laughter rang out as she sat down. “Oh that just
begs
the question of how you found out then.
Full
details.”

Mike shook his head. “Seriously, Crown? Only you.” He looked at Will. “And maybe Will.”

“Hey!” Will said.

Olivia narrowed her eyes at me. “Is that why you look terrible?”

“I'm just making sure campus is safe.” I waved a wild hand. “I have to do that, you know? I have to watch and make sure nothing weird is happening and that no creature gets in and rampages the grounds. And that the people temporarily guarding us don't keel over while the combat mages are away.” It all came out perhaps a little more maniacally then I meant it to. “And I will do it! I have it under control! I'm
fine
.”

Everyone at the table except for Olivia stared at me, mouths opened and food forgotten.

Olivia nodded briskly, lips tight, as if this entire conversation reinforced something she had been thinking. “I thought this might happen.” She magically took a note on her pad. “We are implementing Plan Fifty-two.”

Her brisk certainty broke through my spiraling thoughts. “What?”

“It is the optimal solution for your health and well-being.” She nodded sharply again. “I don't have to like how much you are taking upon yourself, but since there is nothing I can do to make you stop caring, I can do this.”

“I'm fine. I'm great! Just hurry up and eat, then spell me. Quick. Hup to it.”

I nudged her roll closer. Though...if she ate it, I calculated that it would cost us at least forty-five more seconds. I grabbed the roll and stuffed it in my mouth.

Olivia nodded aggressively again. That nod meant that she thought I was behaving irrationally and she wouldn't be convinced otherwise.

Self-preservation kicked in. I swallowed the roll with difficulty, my throat dry. If Olivia thought I was being irrational, then she might knock me out and take me back to our room.

A smile pulled painfully on my cheeks. “You are right. There's no hurry.”
Hurry!
“Take your time. Eat. Then we will go after,” I said, attempting a soothing tone but producing something like “strangled raccoon chatter” instead.

Mike had a weird little smile hovering around his lips and he was scrutinizing Olivia like he was seeing her for the first time. “Plan Fifty-two?”

Olivia looked at her list. “Plan Fifty-one isn't enough, and Fifty-three has too much fire power.” She nodded decisively, looking up. “Fifty-two.”

We all stared at her. Mike was still smiling. Delia's expression was completely unreadable.

“What plan, Olivia?” Will asked, almost gently, in the way one might address a mental patient.

Wait. I looked at him suspiciously. That was the tone they had been using on me for the past few minutes.

“Not here.” Olivia was briskly magicking line items on her pad. “Your assignments will be sent and we will meet in our room tonight at...eight. Yes, eight.” She nodded at her pad. “You are all free at eight.”

“You have all our schedules in there?” Mike asked.

Olivia looked at him blankly. “Of course.”

Mike looked astonished.

“Oh, please,” I scoffed. “Of course she has them. She has all your transcripts too, don't think she doesn't.” I looked at Olivia. “Now that we have that all settled. Eat?”

Olivia took a slow bite.

“You are deliberately messing with me,” I said a little desperately.

She pressed down on my hand and I could feel her concentrate on the connection between us. She gave a tentative push—it was the first time she had pushed a feeling to me like this since the stomach sickness weeks ago. “Calm down, Ren.” The push became more assured as I accepted it without reserve. “It will be fine.”

“Yes, that's what I keep repeating.” But for the first time in 6.3 hours, I actually believed it.

~*~

Our room was packed at eight that evening. The game tourney had made spreading the word easy. And the expulsion procedures the Troop had begun implementing made students eager to gather and discuss
options.
It was rather amazing how many delinquents responded to the call. They hovered in chairs near the ceiling and around the edges of the room, creating an intimate amphitheater effect.

According to Olivia, we were only waiting for two more.

“Barbarians,” she muttered.

I held back my smile with difficulty as Olivia answered the knock on our door.

Patrick's head popped in a moment later. He immediately brightened as he entered. “Our fellow delinquents,” he greeted, inclining his head to me then to the others in the room. “And the Queen.” He gave Olivia a little bow. Her fingers were gripping the door knob so tightly that I thought she might crush it.

Patrick turned his head and stage-whispered over his shoulder. “Her Highness answered the door for us, Saf.”

Asafa pushed him inside, easily following behind. “It is good to see you, Your Highness.”

Olivia's lips tightened. “It's either Your Majesty to go with Queen or Your Highness to go with the title of Princess. Pick one. Better yet, pick neither.”

“Never a princess.” Patrick looked horrified. “You are too commanding and worthy of exaltation already.”

Patrick sounded so serious. My smile broke through along with a giggle. Olivia gave me a look as if my reaction was a betrayal of the deepest kind.

I poked her with magic.

She sighed. It tickled me that these two could get to her so well. They liked to buzz around her when we visited them. Setting her feet up on a tuffet, getting her tea in china cups. Visiting was always hilarious.

On a serious note, they had paused their weekly game tournament
for an entire hour
so that we could do this. They had glibly cited eating needs, but I'd bet anything that neither took as much as a five-minute break usually. Pizza could be shoved down eighteen-year-old throats in less.

Olivia reiterated what she had said to everyone who had stepped through the door. “You received your notes and are here, so you accept this assignment and the offered payment for your service?”

Two mismatched grins greeted her. “Absolutely. We have the most fantastic idea for a campus snare.”

She nodded and marked something on her list. “Excellent.”