Thwarting Cheaters (Artemis University Book 5)

by Erin R Flynn

  “Hmm, I’ll speak with Geiger and see if there’s anything I can do to help.”

  I snorted as I stood. “Like I have to bribe you. Glad you’ll take a break with us.”

  “Where are you planning to eat or do your social media fun?”

  I flinched as I reached the door. “It was supposed to be London. I’ll talk to Izzy. I think we need to change it now.”

  “You’re writing him off then?” she asked gently.

  “Has he given me any reason not to?”

  “He’s young and—”

  “So am I and yet I’m not this stupid,” I grumbled, opening the door. “We can talk about the other stuff over the summer. Thanks, Professor.” I pulled back the barrier before I forgot and headed out. She didn’t shoot me down so I was pretty sure there was a way to do it. Maybe if I even skipped Runes 201. Maybe that could be enough.

  Yeah, that sounded good. I hadn’t needed any help in Runes 102. I basically sat there and… Best not to rehash the good and bad times.

  I had some time before English and wandered around campus a bit as I chomped on some energy gels and chews to keep up my strength after what I’d been through. I also went through a bottle of juice and a sports drink.

  I arrived to class early and turned in my final even if it was supposed to be review week. Professor Nelson shot me a surprised look especially given no one had wanted to work with me on the project. Like I needed their help. Assholes. It was a group paper and project to make one of the magical items in our world that had come from the human fiction that we covered.

  I’d invented something from Harry Potter that hadn’t been in our world. Right, they were going to screw me over by making me work alone?

  I had wanted to work alone and not get stuck with those slackers or have them sabotage me.

  He pulled it out and chuckled when he saw it was the invisibility cloak from Harry Potter. He tried it out and smiled at me. “Well done, Ms. Vale.”

  “I didn’t sew it myself. I bought that and bespelled it.”

  “Of course. You don’t have to stay for the review since it’s for people still working.”

  I gave a nod. “Thanks. Have a nice summer, Professor Nelson.”

  “Do you want it back?” he asked, holding out the cloak to me. “I have to grade the paper and you’ll get your final grades emailed to you, but your project you can have back once I verify it works.”

  I stared at it a moment and shrugged. “Sure, who can’t use one, right?”

  “It why I have mine,” he joked. He studied my aura as I took it from him. “I hope you have a good summer too, Vale. You got thrown into the deep end and you deserve the break.”

  You have no idea how right you are. I smiled at him as a muttered a thanks, noting how many people were in class now before heading out.

  I tossed the cloak over to Ray as he fell in step with me. “Might help you when you guard me. Ask Zack if he wants one too. I can change the color if you want.”

  “Naw, I like dark blue. Thanks, yeah, this will help and it’s not heavy for hot weather.”

  “I thought that would help.”

  “You good?” he asked, not hiding his worry.

  “Ready for a break, man, just ready for fucking summer break.”

  “Maybe you need to do something like a normal college kid first, Tamsin,” he hedged.

  “I’ve already made a lot of bad choices about boys, thanks,” I drawled.

  He snorted. “Not what I meant.” He grabbed my arm to stop me but then let me go. “Go to one of the end of the year parties or fuck, you’re rich, throw one. I’m not saying do a kegger or get drunk and embarrass yourself, but have some fucking fun, woman.”

  I thought about it a moment and crossed my arms over my chest. “I am summering in Spain.”

  He rolled his eyes at me. “Yeah, where you’re going to work and work some more. You’re going to study for high school classes, do your social media fun—which is actually work—and all the stuff for the havens and hobgoblins and crystals and every other fucking thing you do.”

  “I was planning to get a tan,” I grumbled.

  “You know what I mean. Be a college kid, Tamsin. Just for a bit.”

  “Yeah, okay.” I considered it a bit more and nodded. “Yeah, fuck it. I am a college kid and I aced my first year when I got tossed in the deep end, right? I mean, this is the best university we have and I aced it with a ninth-grade education. I should celebrate that. Totally.”

  “You absolutely should,” he agreed, giving me a wolfish grin. “Lots of these elites aren’t doing half as well as you. Throw a party. Rock it out and then go to Spain. Fuck it.”

  I nodded sharply. “Fuck it!” I bumped fists with him. “I only have like a handful of friends, so it won’t but a big party, but whatever.”

  “It’s quality, not quantity.”

  “Damn right it is,” I agreed. My steps were a bit lighter after that and I started thinking about what I wanted for my end of the year blow out even if there would only be like a dozen people there. So fucking what? I was still going to totally do it up at my huge ass mansion with the super swank pool and do a girls’ weekend to the max.

  And I had time to plot it out before lunch, given I wasn’t doing the reviews for mental shielding nor the exams as my part was done. And I more than aced the class teaching it so I was done for the semester with it too. They were finding something for next year but I placed out of the next class too and didn’t have to worry until Mental Shielding 201 when it was focused on attacking shields and stuff.

  Though I was debating pushing that back until later so I didn’t risk outing myself or learning that on the side and seeing if I could place out of those too. Who said I wasn’t smart about being safe?

  I texted Katrina Calloway what I was up to and asked if she had any party planners or caterers that she consulted with that would hook me up for something super fabulous. Her response made me laugh.

  “I can only imagine with that woman,” Ray drawled.

  “Only if she’s invited as she needs at least one night off,” I muttered. “She can come the second night but the first night is students only. We can invite Mel’s cousins and the hobgoblins and everyone Saturday night but Friday night after finals are just students.”

  “Sounds fair.”

  I was pretty stoked by the time I arrived at the cafeteria, meeting up with Natalie, Izzy, and everyone. “Okay, so I’m throwing a huge finals blow out weekend. It’s going to be catered, crazy, and cozy.”

  “Oh, didn’t your mother teach you to share,” Holly taunted from behind me. “You’re not going to invite everyone when you keep being invited to all the parties as is polite. How crass of you. Though, I guess we’ve come to expect that of you.”

  I rolled my eyes at her. “Yes, because you’re the pinnacle of proper.” I smirked when several people around us snickered. “Sure, Holly, you can come if you can find the place. Bring whoever you want if you can figure out my address.”

  She threw back her head and cackled. “Game on, Vale. I’ll get someone to tell me it.”

  “No, you won’t because we don’t even know it,” Natalie told her, gesturing to herself and our friends. “They come to my house and Tamsin brings us through her portal because people are such fucking vultures and assholes, they want to steal fae dust from a powerful orphan they think is chum in the water. Anyone who knows it can’t even legally tell you, so you get it that way and Tamsin will find out.”

  Holly blinked at her a moment before turning up her lip. “I cannot believe you’re speaking to me like that. You’re a scholarship student. Watch your mouth or I’ll have your place here—”

  “What? Revoked?” Ayesha challenged, stepping into Holly’s space. “Sorry, brat, but we’ve been accepted into Tamsin’s new scholarship fund for next year and have actual rights as students here. We aren’t indentured servants for our education anymore but equals to all students. So, you can shove your shit about t
ossing your parents power around and getting our scholarships pulled.”

  “Because you’re looking at the one who has the final say on who loses their scholarships,” I purred. “I’m head of the fund people have been donating to in droves because they want to make friends with me.” I gestured between them. “She could punch you and the school might punish her like a normal student but I still wouldn’t pull her scholarship. You’d deserve it for the way you treat her.”

  “I wouldn’t. The school would still probably toss me,” Ayesha clarified, her tone amused.

  “Yeah, probably,” I sighed. “She’d just buy her way back next year. No system is fair or perfect but at least this is better.”

  “It’s much better. You did something amazing, Tamsin,” Natalie praised, reaching over and rubbing my shoulder. “And we’re in for your party. I’ve been dying to use that pool you let us redo. What can we bring?”

  “Nothing, I’m having one of Katrina Calloway’s party planners handle everything. It’s catered and you guys can talk to them about booze since I’m not even old enough.”

  “Supes don’t really care about that,” Natalie reminded me.

  I gave her an amused glance. “Right, because someone or everyone wouldn’t try to use that as some way to fuck with me and petition someone to be my guardian or some new wave of bullshit.”

  She shrugged. “You’re nineteen. That’s a legal adult in our world too, plus you’ve got Mel and Claudia watching over you all the time.”

  “Someone would still try.”

  “Yes, they would, which is why I’ve already made it known I’m keeping an eye on you over the summer,” Professor White said as she approached us. “There have been some rumblings apparently that many are unhappy you are being allowed to roam free from campus over summer break.”

  “Am I a prisoner here?” I growled. “I was an unknown, not a criminal.”

  “Yes, well, to most, there isn’t all that much difference when you’re powerful and useful but not controlled,” she reminded me. “Either way, I wanted to let you know that I accepted your lovely invitation to vacation with you this summer for a break as such and not what I’m sure it will be twisted into by the end of the day.”

  I smiled at her. “Thanks, but you’re one of the few people I trust, Professor White. I was even going to invite you to the Saturday night part of the weekend party. Friday night is students only.”

  “Lovely, I’ll mark my calendar,” she teased.

  “Hey, Calloway’s coming so you wouldn’t be the only adult. I’m inviting Mel’s cousins and mom, Mrs. Higgins, and all the ladies who need a break. Hobgoblins too.”

  She thought about it a moment and nodded. “I’ll gladly accept. Knowing Katrina, she’ll take this as an opportunity to flaunt her finest options for you to work with for your summer soiree you’re plotting for your scholarship fund.”

  I groaned. “No wonder she was so damn excited. I thought she was a bit too quick to agree for a small finals party for a handful of people. Damn that woman.”

  Damn me for not catching onto what she was doing.

  I truly wasn’t shocked though.

  Not. At. All. That women never missed a chance to do business.

  22

  Katrina never missing the chance to do business was actually how I ended up in a meeting Thursday morning. At first I wanted to tell her to piss off until after finals but when she mentioned who else was going to be at the meeting my curiosity won out.

  Plus, I never said no to the hobgoblins.

  “Fresh juice,” Liluth said as she sat it in front of me, knowing the best way to butter me up. “My sister told me you are enjoying fresh squeezed fae fruit juice lately.”

  “Uh-huh.” Oh, this should be good. Still, I took the bribe and sighed at the sip. Damn it was good.

  Mrs. Vogel walked into the room and I felt my cheeks flush. I hadn’t seen or spoken to her since we found out I was Hudson’s mate and to say things were awkward was an understatement… A massive fucking understatement but a pretty understandable one.

  But the reason I was there was who followed in after her. Lady Jean. I was curious what happened after the trouble I started at the debut party at Natalie’s business and with her mating, busting what her brother did even.

  There were a few dragons I didn’t know along with several more hobgoblins I recognized as ones we’d rescued, Esta, who managed the new bakery I owned, and Keya, who managed Natalie’s business estate. There was also Claudia and a few of Mrs. Vogel’s aides I vaguely recognized.

  Along with Mrs. Diaz and a few of her aides.

  Interesting. Very, very interesting.

  “I feel like I should apologize for my testosterone,” Zach joked awkwardly as everyone took their seats. “Am I allowed here as male?”

  “Yes, as you’re an enlightened male who isn’t sexist,” Tanesha granted with a smile.

  Zach snorted. “Women are the bosses and that’s the way it should be in my book.”

  “Well said,” Mrs. Diaz praised. “Now, let’s get down to business.”

  “And the business of the day is?” I purred.

  “One you’ll like, dear,” she promised with a wink.

  Mrs. Vogel cleared her throat as if to say she’d be handling it. “Lord Alfred will be stepping down as head of his family and stripped of his title. My mate made the decision after all the evidence was brought to him. Alfred will spend ten years in prison for defrauding his king and queen plus many more years for the list of crimes you brought us proof of.”

  It was hard not to smile at busting that asshole. Thank you Marisol and you’re glorious hacking skills. “Good.”

  “Yes, and my mate has signed everything to annul Lady Jean’s mating. She will step up and become head of the family.”

  I felt the tension in the room and realized this was a plotting meeting. “And will instantly become a target for all the asshole men in our society. She’s chum in the water.” I glanced at her. “No offense, but you’ve been bullied all your life and you know this. No one will take you seriously no matter how awesome you are.”

  “You’re right and I allowed it to get this bad. I accept that,” she whispered, clearing her throat. “And I’m willing to work hard to fight back and step up like I need to for my clan and those under me. I’m willing to be the head of the family my people need and set the right example but I need help. I know this. To succeed as the first female head of the family in North America I need vast help.”

  I let out a whistle. I didn’t know she was the first. That was a huge gamble when everyone looked down at her. And suddenly I knew why I was sitting here. “You need a strong alliance who people are currently scared of.”

  She didn’t even try to deny it. “Yes. Yes, I need your strength and power but there is much I’m willing to offer as well.”

  “I’m all ears, Lady Jean.”

  Except it was Claudia that answered. “Ganter Evans had more than one property in his estate. We started with the one Jeremy Sims ran and as the hobgoblin sanctuary. It was expanded and the cattle ranch operation moved to that new land and the actual land owned by a fairy used to grow what was needed for fae material which is what the co-op uses for their wares.”

  I nodded, knowing all of this but acting like I wasn’t at the center of it all for those who weren’t aware I was a fairy or started the whole thing. “You want to expand the sanctuary and co-op?”

  “The sanctuary, not the co-op,” Liluth clarified. “We don’t know all the hobgoblins yet to trust them to be partners so we’re planning to hire them as workers as you did in your bakery. For now. We can revisit that later when we get to know more of them.”

  I nodded again. That was fair.

  “This is Ida Reed, a dragon in my territory who I’ve known since childhood,” Lady Jean introduced. “She broke away from her family and started her own business, grown it into several boutique stores that sells to humans and is fairly popular online.”


  “Nice to meet you, but back up,” I cut in. “Why are we talking business? What is the plan for the take over for head of the family?” I glanced between them and gave a slow nod. “You need to come in strong with a plan and a way to bring income and prosperity to your area and dragons plus an alliance with me. People will see Alfred out as instability and find out he was a bad, bad boy and that’s bad for the family.”

  “Yes, plus he spent so many years painting me as an incompetent idiot which I am actually not, simply a mistreated and abused woman who has issues to work past,” Lady Jean replied. “What I’m proposing is a partnership between the co-op and Ida’s stores and business. She produces the co-op’s designs for humans and her designs the co-op can use for supes.”

  “Plus, we hire dragons in her area that are in need of work to protect the expanded co-op on the new property,” Liluth excitedly declared, her skin turning yellow. “The land is in her area anyways and they know you would also protect us. Claudia and Mr. Geiger checking on us as well. We would do all of your security checks and whatnot, of course.”

  “And your part?” I asked Mrs. Diaz after considering it a few moments.

  “The chance to have all of this expand into my area first, of course,” she answered with a smirk. “I’ve seen the designs and love everything of Ms. Reed’s shops. The idea it would be available in fae material through the co-op is delicious. We want her stores in our area with a special room for supes.”

  I shot a worried glance to Katrina. “Which goes beyond your deal.”

  She shrugged. “I’m fine with it in the name of progress. I’ve been assured I won’t be forgotten in the future and we’re discussing some exclusive magical items that can only be sold through my branch of Veritas Portas.”

  Of course, there was a perk in it for her. Still, that was generous of her, but she was because people always remembered that and gave it back as well. It was the smarter way to do business.

  “It all sounds great but I don’t own the co-op nor do any of you need my permission,” I reminded them or really said for those who didn’t know I was a fairy.