Professor East drove by on my way in, and I flagged him down after he parked. “Good morning. I know it’s early, but Callan and I were hoping to talk to you about something important. Do you have time today?”
“Sure,” Professor East said. “Just let me get inside and set up a little. I’m returning from a trip. Say, thirty minutes?”
“Sounds great. Thank you.” I hurried off to find Callan.
When I entered the teahouse, Callan was pouring himself a cup of coffee the size of a quart of milk.
“Woah there. Rough night?” I asked.
Callan’s smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. “The thought of the contraband in your room did have me a little anxious, yes.”
At his words, I gripped the strap of my bag, and he noticed. “We’ll have to find somewhere safe to stash it until we can figure out the blocking spell.” He twisted around and looked over the empty tearoom. Most students were still on winter break. As far asI knew, the two of us, Hollis, and Meadow were the only students around. “You were up early,” Callan said, changing the subject.
“I wanted to be ready when Professor East arrived, and I had a few things to do off campus. He said we can meet him in thirty minutes.”
Callan nodded. “Everything okay? The reason you went off campus, I mean.”
“Oh, yeah. I mainly needed to check my phone.” As we stood there, I was hyperaware of what Hollis had told me about how Callan had made concessions in his field studies all so that I could get the training I needed.
I turned so that we were facing each other again. “Before we go talk to Professor East, I just want to say that it means a lot that you’re always looking out for me.” There. I hadn’t spilled the beans on what Hollis had shared, but hopefully he got the message that I knew he had my back, even at his own expense.
“What kind of tutor would I be if I threw you to the thorns?” He asked it jokingly, but there was a note in his voice that told me my heartfelt message had gotten through.
“Hurry up and get that coffee kicking in. I’m about ready to get this conversation over with. How are we going to tell him about Alex without mentioning our trip to the tree conservatory?”
“I think we’re going to have to tell him about that. I’m not worried about it. Do you want to take the lead, or do you want me to?”
“You,” I said, relieved that he’d offered. “I think I’m still in shock about the whole thing.”
Callan nodded and took a large swig of his coffee. Then he set the enormous carafe on the table and said, “All right, then, local. Let’s see if Professor East can help us smoke out a weed.”
Chapter Sixty-Two
Callan lifted a hand and knocked on the door to Professor East’s office. It slid open with the tug of a vine.
“Good morning.” Professor East looked slightly more perky now, and I attributed it to the mug of tea resting on his desk.
“We have some news we’d like to discuss with you,” Callan said.
Professor East nodded toward the chairs across from his desk. “Of course. Ms. Whelan said as much. Have a seat.”
I slid into the chair closest to the door, sitting forward and angled toward Callan.
He gave me one last look then turned to Professor East. “Briar and I visited the tree conservatory this weekend. We were invited to the moss conservatory by Meadow and decided to stop in while we were there.”
My heart felt like it was going to hammer out of my chest. We had tried so hard to ensure that no one knew about our visit to the tree conservatory, and now we had to tell Professor East. Well, with Wyatt having seen Callan, perhaps the seeds were already out of the packet. At least Callan wouldn’t have to full-on lie.
“I’m sure that was an educational experience for you, Ms. Whelan,” Professor East said, looking between us.
I swallowed, hoping the sudden warmth on my skin wasn’t visibly betraying me. My mind went straight to our kiss, and that wasnotwhat I needed to be focusing on in this moment. “Very,” I said, thankful it didn’t come out as a squeak.
“While we were there,” Callan continued, “we ran into someone we weren’t expecting. I’m afraid it may pose a security concern for the academy or for Briar.”
Professor East leaned back, fingers steepled and forehead furrowed. “Who did you see?”
Callan turned to me, and I spoke up. “A student I know from SCC. Alex.”
Professor East’s eyebrows rose, but it was so subtle I almost didn’t notice it. “You saw an SCC student at the tree conservatory? Someone who does not attend here?”
