Compounding Traumas (Artemis University Book 6)

by Erin R Flynn

  The fourth was a racing suit with shorts, full coverage, and honestly was pretty slick. The shots were of me popping up as I swam, so easy on me.

  The last was not as easy. This was the super sexy, super typical, smaller bikini and shot coming out of the water. It wasn’t over-the-top, but it was more than I was comfortable with the supe world seeing of me.

  So was the lingerie, but I’d have to get over it.

  “Holy fuck me,” a guy groaned from off to my left as I stepped out of the water. “She’s single now, right? She broke up with the vampire?”

  “Darby,” a different guy said. “Yeah, I think they’re done, but they’re private, so there wasn’t the official announcement like we’re used to.”

  “Right, Darby. Good guy, but I’m not sad for him if she’s back on the market,” the first said with a chuckle. “I want to lick every fucking inch of her and—”

  “Shut up,” Hudson snapped. “She can hear you.”

  “Let’s go again,” the photographer said, clearly getting why I messed up the shot.

  Whoops. I hadn’t even realized I had stopped walking. I glared over at the gathered group to let them know Hudson was right and I could hear them… While making sure not to look at the dragon I wanted to avoid.

  “Dive back in from there, hon,” the photographer directed.

  I sighed, knowing he wanted some of my ass showing from the back. Still, I did it quickly just to get it over. This time, I did it right, and he got what he needed.

  “Okay, let’s get you a quick shower so we get all the chemicals out of that gorgeous hair before we get you done up for the next shots. I’ll take care of the guys while you do, so take your time,” he instructed as I wrapped a towel around me.

  “Why are they here?” I asked, not always paying attention to the plans as I should.

  The photographer knew that and gave me a wink. “Since the hobgoblins are partnering with Lady Jean, who is also partnering your friends’ company, Recast Wardrobes, the royal and noble dragons of North America are supporting them back. They’re the models for the fall clothes and doing a spread the lovely witches altered for them to show off their talents. We’re squeezing it all in today.”

  “Gotcha. Glad we can.” I walked off towards where the ladies locker room and spa changing area was when I felt Hudson approaching. I was glad they were helping.

  That didn’t mean I wanted to see him. It hurt to look at any of them, my heart not close to healed yet. Which was why I was blinking back tears in the shower. I sucked it up though, remembering a lot was riding on all of this and hurried through the motions.

  I went back out to the group in one of those super plush hotel robes. I would have preferred getting ready away from the guys posing for pictures, but the people doing makeup were needed for last minute touchups for their photos too. It was fine.

  I needed to be fine.

  I wanted to be mature enough to sit there and watch, given I was part of it too, but I turned the chair they asked me to sit in away from it. If anyone caught the fib that I did it because of the sun coming close to us and my eyes, they were kind enough not to bust me.

  “It’s started,” Mel informed me as she handed over her tablet. “The manager for this location took a few of the shots and posted them to social media, and the responses are coming in fast.”

  I took it from her, seeing it was a few pictures from before I had arrived and then one of me on the beach running. The caption was simple: “The official gallery will be coming soon on our website, but here is a glimpse of the first few.” It was posted less than an hour ago, and it already had three hundred comments and a thousand shares on the supe version of Facebook.

  And lots weren’t saying they were pretty pictures.

  “Do we have to see her everywhere? What is she doing involved in this now?”

  “She’s an attention whore. She does it all for attention, and people are stupid if they believe otherwise.”

  “I wonder how much Photoshop they had to do so her horse face wasn’t so bad?”

  The one that made me laugh was about halfway down.

  “You idiots are all going to be banned from all Cherrywood Resorts after bashing the OWNER. She said very clearly she BOUGHT the company she got those elite vamps kicked out of. That’s Cherrywood Resorts. That’s why she’s so tight with the dragon royals, idiots. She’s the main owner, and they went in with her to take that huge corporation over and make bank.”

  The comments went from bitchy and catty to blowing up with shock and outrage. What was there to be outraged about? Did I blow a fuse when people I didn’t like owned companies? What was being pissed about any of it going to do?

  “Oh, we’ve got our first death threat,” I sang, tapping on the comment and handing it over.

  “‘If someone just kills the bitch, we can get back to the way our community was and all this crazy will cool. Who inherits this and whatever else she has if she’s finally gone? Seriously, let’s just shoot her already,’” Mel read, steam about coming out of her ears. “Fuckhead. Yeah, all this crazy of pushing to respect women and fair folk. It’s disgusting that has to be pushed and wasn’t always the case.”

  I grunted a response and pulled out one of the books I was reading for my high school classes. I was almost done with the ones I had enrolled in for the summer—British & World Literature, Microsoft Office 2, Earth Science, US History, Personal Finance—and I was getting a jump on the four I had left.

  Not matter what anyone said about the allowances given to unknowns, I still thought one of the councils would make a move if they knew I didn’t have my high school diploma. Professor White seemed to agree with me as she was tutoring me in Latin II, and had even talked with the school on my behalf.

  People weren’t meant to fly through the classes as I was, but after she assured them I was diligently studying under her guidance and other tutelage, they allowed me to take so many classes in the summer. I understood given I’d taken so many already that year, and even before that, but now I had the last four ready to start by the end of July.

  Summer break my arse.

  I got a couple of chapters done while my mane was dealt with, which shocked me given what was going on behind me. Then again, I was desperate for any distraction and chance for a break. Plus, I simply loved reading.

  “Gentlemen, you were all lovely, and I thank you for your time,” the photographer said loudly, snapping me back to the present. “Are you ready for the lingerie shoot on the hotel beds, hon?”

  I was about to answer, “No, but I’m doing it anyways,” but a deep growl and scary chuffing caught everyone’s attention. I saw people turning in Hudson’s direction, but didn’t look myself.

  He realized what he was doing and cleared his throat. “Did you say you got a fucking death threat?”

  Oh, so you’re going with that being the reason, huh? Okay, whatever, possessive dragon. I’m not yours anymore. Grief swarmed me fast. You never respected me enough for me to be yours.

  I ignored him, standing and focusing on the photographer. “Let’s not keep everyone waiting since I know you have the other models to do as well.”

  He glanced between Hudson and me as if dying to ask or know what that truly was, but then seemed to think better of it. Smart man. He gestured for me to follow him, explaining his people had already set up in the room.

  They’d plotted them well and remembered my rules about not showing my ass in a thong, along with the others. I started wearing a lace baby doll chemise, standing in the doorway of the balcony with a mug—seeming to be coffee, but I couldn’t drink that. They’d done my hair in sexy tousled bedhead, and the setting was like I had rolled out of bed to have my coffee and was drawn into the gorgeous view.

  Easy to be the model for.

  Next was a matching bra and panty set with garters and stockings. It was a thong, so I was lying on the plush bed with rose petals all over it. It was along the lines of a pinup model shot, but the br
a didn’t show nipples, and from that angle, it was no more than a swimsuit showed.

  The last was my favorite, not because I wanted to wear it to model, but I thought the design was killer. It was a black halter lace teddy with a deep V cut that went way past my belly button. The whole back was gone, but the bottom was sexy boy shorts with just a bit of my ass almost, kinda showing, if at the right angle.

  And I did like the shot, even if I didn’t want to be the model. It showed a lot of the gorgeous hotel room as I stood in front of a full-length mirror as if checking the lingerie fit. The shot showed the front and back that way since my hair was mostly swept over one shoulder so my back was visible.

  I was supposed to be done then, but the hobgoblins wanted to branch out into super soft towels and linens that were perfect for fae material… And easy to make, giving more jobs to the ones we were rescuing.

  And since I never denied the hobgoblins anything, I posed in nothing but a towel in the lavish bathroom before a super short bathrobe.

  “I’m keeping the robe,” I told them when were done. “I love this.”

  “I love I get priority when I order anything because I’ve taken the pictures for the co-op,” the photographer added, his voice amused. “Let’s get you in the first professional outfit and downstairs.”

  I nodded and they let me change in the bathroom. This part was easy; two styles of suits and one Friday, business casual-type outfit. I liked them all. Done and done.

  “And we’ve got idiots starting a boycott,” Mel announced just as we finished the last pictures in the resort’s business center.

  “They are so predictable that you almost feel bad for crushing them,” I grumbled, shaking my head. “Did they at least come up with anything interesting for the hashtags?” I sighed when she flinched. “What?”

  “One of them is #slutownerboycott and another #instawhoreresign. The rest we expected; #boycottcherrywood, #staynomorecherrywood, and #cherrywooddownhillspiral.”

  “That really is the best they could come up with? So clever,” I mocked. We’d come up with better when we were looking at doing this from all angles and what might happen. “Does that much hate and anger give them brain damage?”

  She snorted. “That’s good. I like that. I think the humans could use that with all the shit they have too.”

  I held up my hand to hold her off. “We have enough of our own shit. Don’t add to my need to fight every righteous fight.”

  “Yeah, good fucking point,” she grumbled. “You good?”

  I snorted, pretending to wipe fake tears. “They called me a slut and whore on social media. What will I ever do? I’m crushed.”

  “Clearly,” she drawled. “Let’s wrap up and bounce. The hobgoblins aren’t happy you have to deal with this shit and have a spread they’re sending over from your bakery.”

  I sighed. “I swear they agreed to open Goblin Goodies just to fucking feed me.”

  “You poor, poor thing. I mean, talk about abused and—”

  “Shut up,” I chuckled. “I wasn’t bitching. I just want them to be happy and not feel so… Indentured. It’s weird, Mel. It’s over the top and I feel like I’m always taking advantage, like an old caste system and I’m lord of them all. I love being spoiled, but they don’t always have to—”

  “I get it.” She nodded when I shot her a look. “I do. I get some of it too as your right hand and main protector. My family is getting showered with treats and stuff too. They love it, but it is a bit much and awkward.”

  Well, at least it wasn’t only me who felt that way. I had assumed it was just because I was new to being a supe, but if the Rothchilds felt it too, then it was too much. Then again, Irma had said it was over the top of normal because the hobgoblins had two decades of being treated horribly, and we adored them.

  It made sense.

  The shit really hit the fan after I changed into the clothes I had arrived in, and we were all done.

  Zack came jogging over to me with a grim look. “We need to move. Now.” He handed over Mel’s tablet, and I saw the comment that upset him.

  “Hey, Underground, didn’t you want to nab that whore? You know where she is, so go get her so we don’t have to fucking deal with her shit anymore. Do you need the address of the hotel? Please, please, go right ahead and do your thing.”

  “I can’t just leave when he’s inviting them here to get me,” I growled.

  “Yes you can, because the manager just posted a thank-you to everyone who helped with the shoot, and said it was a great success,” he said as he took my arm and guided me along. “We’ve got a Rothchild with the glamour charm of you about to be caught at a popular lunch spot, but you need to get out of here just in case. The Silvas sent people to come guard the staff here today and tomorrow.”

  I nodded and didn’t fight him. That was more than enough covering of our bases and keeping people safe. It was better I left then.

  “Claudia is already filing charges against the death threats and knows about this one,” Mel informed me as she read her phone. “That should keep the councils busy instead of doing nothing for a while. Overflood their asses with filings and paperwork.”

  “And the hobgoblins?” I worried.

  She snorted. “Assholes are getting their whole families banned until apologies come in, but any threats are permanent bans for the person, and families can get off the blacklist if they grovel.”

  “I shouldn’t love that, but I really, really do.”

  “We all do, Tams,” Zack chuckled before practically shoving me through the activated portal after his cousin.

  On the bright side, I didn’t have to see Hudson again. I had another month and a half to get over them before school started.

  That should be enough time. Right?

  6

  I was so busy the rest of summer, I felt like I blinked and it was time to pack up and go back to school. And no, a month and a half wasn’t enough time to finish healing, but I would pretend it was. It needed to be. I’d done a lot of healing of Faerie over summer, and I had to believe I did myself too.

  I might not have found animals yet, but plant life was regrowing with the sun coming back and all the energy that I was pumping into the world. I had been so, so relieved when I had found new sprouts growing crazy fast. It made me realize it hadn’t been that I didn’t find anything yet; it had just died. White and I had theories about the world draining what it could to not wither, but we simply didn’t know.

  We wouldn’t until we found fairies and learned what the fuck had happened. When we found them, we would know.

  When. I couldn’t deal with the idea of if we did. When.

  My birthday had passed without any fanfare. That was the way I had wanted it. The hobgoblins made a huge feast, and we had a chill night with everyone I’d wanted there and tons of treats. It was almost perfect.

  I went back several days before my classes started, a couple before even the freshmen arrived, since Mel, Zack, and Ray had to be there then as staff. It was Izzy who was railing the hardest about going back, having fallen in love with Spain and not wanting to leave. Only after I reminded her several times I owned the place and it wasn’t a rental we would never see again, did she finally pack.

  It would be better since I could wade back into being there and slowly take in the changes to my life since last semester. I pulled into my spot in the faculty parking lot and realized I was completely wrong, as I had people waiting for me.

  The four I planned to avoid most. I didn’t turn off my bike, honestly considering pulling right back out and going for a drive. Ray and Zack had a security meeting, or else I might really have. So they weren’t going to let me avoid them anymore.

  Did they really have to come together and corner me? The four of them standing there was like any woman’s dream.

  First, was Darby Moore, my ex-boyfriend, ex-tutor, and the now senior I’d given my prize of a full year’s ride to. He had the sexy geek thing on lock with gorgeous gray e
yes hidden somewhat by his rimless glasses he pushed up his nose when he was nervous. With shaggy red hair that fell into a natural bedhead guys tried to recreate and six feet of ripped swimmers build, he had a fan club.

  Then, the sexy professor and stylish, chic Brit, Dr. Craftsman. He had a fan club too.

  Next, was Lucca Von Thann, a junior with perfect grades and an asshole father that was head of the school board and wanted to control me. At six-six, he was buffer than Craftsman and taller too. He was walking, talking sex, with those hazel eyes and light mocha skin any woman would want to lick. And just to push us all over the edge, he had soft brown hair that hung in his face that helped him look impish.

  Finally, there was Hudson Vogel, a junior, my mate—according to him—and the next ruler of the North American dragons. Any woman would get lost in his vibrant blue eyes and feel petite next to his almost seven foot frame that was completely filled in like a fucking sexy statue that should be made to commemorate such a physique. With his chiseled features and sexy hair, he was the ultimate panty soaker.

  And they all wanted me.

  Except they had all crushed me and shattered my heart, so I wanted no part of them. Ever again.

  I shut off my bike and put down the kickstand. I belonged here as much as they did, and I wasn’t going to let them keep me from learning everything I could when they were the problem. I shored up my mental and emotional armor as I climbed off my bike and headed down the walkway that would take me to my dorm as if they weren’t there.

  As one, they raised their left arms up as if they were showing me a new watch on their wrists… Except they were bare.

  But as I got closer, I saw they weren’t. It was most noticeable against Darby’s super pale Irish skin. There was a tat around his wrist, about the thickness of thin cooking twine. I knew it made a full circle without having to see the full thing, as I knew that tat well.

  It was the same one Zack and Ray had to magically lock their minds about my secrets so no one could ever find out. If more secrets were added, a section had to be retraced with powerful magic or could wind all down the arm, depending how deep the secrets and who might come for them. Marshall, Sean, and the other guards who now worked for me had also gotten the tat.