“So, how’s your summer been?” I asked once the room had been unbearably quiet for too long.
Callan choked out a laugh. “You’re unbelievable, local.”
“Why?” Of all the questions I’d asked, I hadn’t expectedhow’s your summer beento be the one that sent him over the edge.
“Just making small talk after casually breaking into the academy grounds. How’d you get in anyway? Professor East would have responded if the gates had opened.”
“Meadow showed me a pass-through point on the south side of the academy. She shared a special pendant that let us cross over without setting off the shield.”
Callan stilled. “What?”
“I’m guessing she wasn’t supposed to share that with me?”
“She’s not supposed tohavethat,” Callan said. “I’m not sure how she even knows about it.”
I whistled. Meadow was even more mischievous than I’d realized. “I thought it was a founder’s descendant privilege or something.”
Callan shook his head. “What, exactly, did she say?”
I squinted, trying to remember her words. “Pretty much what I just said. That you could pass over in that spot if you have one of those pendants. Wait…” My stomach clenched. “Does this have something to do with the shield being weakened last year? But shouldn’t it have sealed back up once the shield’s functions were restored?”
“No, it’s not related. The shield is fully functioning.”
My breathing relaxed a little at that even though Callan wasn’t being forthcoming about the pass-through point and the pendant. But now that we were on the topic of the shield, I wanted to knowmore. “Has Professor East learned anything about who was poisoning it?”
Callan shook his head. “He’s working on some innovative tests, but no, he hasn’t.”
The door swung open, and a handsome man around our age burst in, practically sliding on his shoes as if he were completing a dance move. His close-cropped black hair was stylishly cut with a fade, and his white dress shirt was unbuttoned a few buttons down.
“They’re getting ready to break out the—” He cut himself off as his eyes focused on me. “Who’s this?”
Callan spoke up. “Hollis, meet Briar. Briar, this is my best friend, Hollis.”
Hollis’s eyebrows rose, and a movie-star smile slid across his face. “TheBriar?”
Callan shot him a look.
Hollis took a step toward me and extended a hand. “We finally meet. Callan has told me so mu?—”
Callan cleared his throat, and I reached out to shake Hollis’s hand, returning his smile with a bright one of my own.
“Hollis is a fern founder’s descendant,” Callan said, seeming to not want Hollis to keep sharing his thoughts aloud. “He’ll be starting here in the fall.”
“Ferns? My three best friends have lead fern affinities,” I said, wondering if any of them knew of him.
“You’ll have to introduce me,” Hollis said, and there was a flirty note to his voice.
Callan rolled his eyes.
The sound of laughter drifted through the cracks of the door as people passed by the office.
Callan glanced toward the door and straightened, as if remembering where we were. “Glad we got the introductions out of the way.” He turned to me. “We need to get you out of here before anyone else sees you.”
“Gee, you founders’ descendants are full of warm welcomes and farewells tonight. Excluding you of course, Hollis.”
He gave a half bow. “Always willing to welcome a lovely lady, especially one who—” This time, he cut himself off, glancing at Callan.
“One who?” I asked.
