Page 67 of Evergreen Conservatory
“Modern botanists can’t create these strong tying spells because they don’t have all the affinity powers.”
“Right,” Callan said slowly.
“So what if modern botanists can’t use the quill’s locating feature correctly because they don’t have all the affinity powers?” I bit my lip, knowing he would get it now.
“Most modern botanists don’t, butyoudo.” He looked at me in awe, and I grinned.
“Maybe the quill would work for me. If we could get our hands on it.”
Callan leaned back and linked his hands together behind his head. “I think I might be able to help you there.”
“You know where this quill is right now?”
“I do indeed, local.” The look Callan was giving me would normally have my insides melting, but I was too excited by this latest development to get trapped in how handsome he looked.
“Finding the missing book is like finding a needle in a haystack. But with a compass”—I pointed to the compass rose on a nearby map—“navigation becomes a lot easier.” Rivers of excitement flowed through my veins as I watched Callan’s eyes drink me in.
Callan stood and came around the table. He scooped me into a hug, picking me off the floor completely. “You’re a genius, local.”
“Finally, someone realizes it,” I teased. I knew the hot toddies were making us both extra exuberant, but I didn’t care. This was good news. This was a lead to chase. And we had found it—together.
I realized then that Callan’s arms were still around me, and since I was lifted a few inches off the floor, our faces were level. My breath caught. He was wearing that cologne that was so delicious every time he came around with it on. It had been invading my senses all evening, and I had done my best to ignore it.
Now, I let myself breathe it in, enjoying the warm feeling it evoked.
Callan set me down and gently removed his hands from my waist. We were still standing close, and I wasn’t sure if it was the hot toddy or the buzz from the discovery, but I whispered, “Did you get a new cologne?”
Callan pulled back, and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You noticed.”
“I did.”
“Do you like it?”
“A little.”
“Well, scientifically speaking, you should.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”
“Remember last year when we did the phenols testing in class?”
“Yes,” I said slowly, vaguely remembering the lab where we had tested and ranked different chemical compounds by smell.
“I may have seen a glimpse of your chart.”
“You what?”
“Your chart. Where you listed your favorite scents.”
I tried to contain my jaw from falling open. “And you… what? Made a cologne out of my favorites?”
“A few of your favorites. If I put them all in there, it would have smelled terrible.”
“Peaches and sandalwood,” I murmured, feeling like the heat of a fresh garden pepper was coursing through me.
“Those are the main notes, yes.”
I had to suppress a huge smile and tried to grin coyly as Ishoved gently at his chest. “Callan Rhodes, were you trying to impress me?”
