Upended Life (Artemis University Book 1)

by Erin R Flynn

  “That’s not to say it doesn’t happen. There is as much a dark element to supes as humans,” Calloway warned. “It simply never happens at any of my family stores.”

  Good to know. I agreed to purchase them and moved on to the fairy blade, itching to touch it when I laid eyes on it. I glanced at Craftsman and snorted when I saw he was entranced with it too.

  Yeah, because it was badass. It was actually a double-bladed sword that could detach into two separate swords. It wasn’t just the lethalness but how cool it was and the intricate detailing.

  “Yeah, I’ll take that.” I sighed and did a little happy dance. “I know where I’m shopping when I get good grades! This is all so friggin’ cool.”

  Calloway chuckled. “I’ll make sure to notify you if I hear of any fairy items hitting the auctions or come available. There’s obviously been a drought of them for a while but now and again someone decides to sell something in their collection or like you who inherited.” She shot me a curious glance. “I also purchase such items.”

  I blew a raspberry. “Good to know but it’s going to take me a couple years to really go through it all. I’ve pretty much decided to learn about this world before risking selling something needed.”

  “Wise, very wise,” she praised, giving me a serious look. “And do not let anyone use your age against you.”

  I nodded, thanking her for the advice. “Now the witch roommate.”

  She nodded, leading me back to the main room and stopping by another charm that went on the headboard. “It’s an absorption charm, very useful for a college student. It uses the time asleep to help any information learned to absorb into the mind with a real root instead of a quick read-over.”

  “Can I get that?” I blurted, my eyes going wide. I glanced at Craftsman. “Is that considered cheating?”

  He snorted. “No, and many of the rich use them.”

  “Nice. I was thinking of getting something to help Izzy have more of a punch or endurance since she acts like physical training might kill her, but this is awesome.”

  “That would be cheating if used in class or during tests,” he warned me.

  “Yeah, I figured, but just to boost her confidence a bit as she’s starting. But this is really cool too. Maybe I’ll get her something else for Christmas.”

  I almost thought to get Darby one but when I saw the price I decided he might get one for Christmas too, not a bunch of crazy upfront.

  It was better to pace the crazy.

  Just apparently not my current shopping trip.

  23

  “I understand, yes, I’ll be open for a while packing this all up,” Calloway told Craftsman, getting my attention.

  “What’s up?” I asked.

  “I asked if we could use the portal to get back after we eat as it’s not far,” he explained. “You can’t come to New York and miss eating there.”

  “Certainly not,” Calloway agreed. “It’s required.” She gave me a smile. “So is the place halfway down the block. You’ll agree with me when you see it.”

  Color me intrigued yet again.

  “You two young ones go have fun and I’ll be here,” she promised. “I have purchases to box up.”

  “Yeah, that’s a lot for us to carry back,” I worried.

  “Delivery is included in the price,” she assured me. “All I need is the address.”

  I was about to tell her the Townsend house when a thrill of fear went through me. Right, she was in the know and she would probably somehow know that was a fairy’s estate and all the estates in trust. I would out myself.

  “School is fine,” I assured her and quickly moved on. “What was that item you thought I should have?”

  “Oh yes, I forgot,” she murmured, walking to the other side of the room and down a bit. “Ah yes, this. It’s a magical gag.”

  “That is smart,” Craftsman agreed, smiling when I crossed my arms over my chest and frowned at him. “Only for stuff you shouldn’t say to strangers, like you need a reservoir or are friends with a dragon prince. Anything that could make you a target or risk people. Wear it when you’re around people you’re not sure to trust or at events.”

  “Yeah, I’ll take one of those because there’s no way I’ll learn what not to say fast enough.” I shooed Craftsman away when I reached the register. No way did he need to see or hear the amount. “Outside.”

  “I’ll be right at the door,” he agreed after a moment.

  I waited until he was gone and leaned into Calloway. “Is there like a discretion charm? Like if I was thinking of crossing the line with someone that could be trouble is there a way to help that?”

  She glanced past me and smiled, giving me a knowing look. “Yes, I believe I can help.”

  I felt my face flush red hot. “Actually, not him. He’s more familiar than my other teachers but that’s because he found me. It’s big brotherly, I swear. No, someone else. I’m not sure I want—well, I want to but I’m not sure it’s smart.”

  She nodded, coming around the counter and bringing me to another framed picture. “Wear it when you’re intimate and from there the magic will protect you both. Unless someone explicitly catches you in any type of sex, they will assume anything else suspicious they might have seen or heard was wrong and the idea of you together unfathomable.” She cleared her throat and gave me an apologetic smile. “It’s common for mistresses so they don’t get caught.”

  “Got it, perfect, but he’s not mated. Probably just expected not to be involved with me.”

  Finally we really did finish. She rang it all up and I didn’t get one reservoir but four just in case. I immediately got a message from the bank on my phone asking if I was really there and in New York, as I’d never shopped there before.

  Nice. I replied I was and I was stopping at a few more places.

  Some of the items I could take now, like the books, but others—like the reservoirs—would come to school later. Still, it was a lot to box up but she was very happy with the sale and to do it.

  She better be, I spent several million dollars in one trip.

  “All set?” Craftsman checked as I opened the door.

  I nodded, wondering if I should tell him about the charm.

  No, not yet. I wanted him to be with me knowing I was worth the risk to him, not because he could just get away with it. It made sense in my head and I still wasn’t sure if I wanted to cross that line.

  Oh, who the fuck was I kidding? I’d shown the man way too much of myself and sent pictures of my panties. No way I wasn’t ready to jump way over that line.

  We crossed the street and ended up at a real New York pizza shop that boasted awards and all kinds of goodies. I groaned, rushing for the door.

  “I knew you’d like it,” he chuckled as he held it open for me. He shook his head when I went to order, handling it for us and paying as well. “We can get more. Your first time at Joe’s you just need a slice and to enjoy the pizza heaven.”

  “Show me the way, Yoda,” I teased, liking this side of him. They had pizzas ready and so we got our slices and drinks right away. He brought me back outside to a standing table out of the way. I couldn’t remotely help the moan that came out of me as I chewed my first bite. “I’m going to need more than one slice.”

  “Of course.”

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Of course,” he chuckled, winking at me as he tucked into his own slice.

  “What would you get from Veritas Portas? Say price was no object, what do you get?” I smiled when he raised an eyebrow at me. “I promise I’m not shopping for you or Christmas. I’m just curious. That place is all the fantasy and fairytales combined with more I didn’t even see and I want to know what you would want.”

  He thought about it and shook his head after a few more bites. “I don’t know. Picking just one out of all the cool stuff is too hard and I’ve never looked without worrying over the price. I’ve never just window shopped there.”

  “Maybe n
ext time we have a pizza craving,” I teased, glad when he smiled.

  “You learned something you had her confirm,” he murmured.

  I nodded, telling him about Edelman’s book and confirming it with Salzman. I frowned at my pizza being all gone.

  He laughed and held up a finger to hold me off before ducking inside and getting us two other slices of another pizza. Fuck, they were just as good and addictive.

  I noticed he moved closer when he came back.

  “That’s good for you to know.” He cleared his throat and met my eyes. “No accidents then.” I wasn’t sure what to say. I opened my mouth to say something but he continued. “No worries Hudson might give you a nipper.”

  I assumed that was Brit for a baby, but still about choked on my bite how easily he said it. “Are you upset about that? Him and I, I mean?”

  “Does he treat you well?”

  I snorted, nodding, even shivering as I thought of the last time.

  “Then not in the slightest,” he promised. He moved to bump my shoulder but also kissed my ear. “A bit jealous he’s felt you wrapped around him but you being with him doesn’t mean there’s no hope for me, right?” He chuckled when I shook my head. “Good, because I’m dying to have you, love.”

  Oh fuck. Was he taking lessons from Hudson on how to soak panties?

  No, Craftsman was able to all on his own.

  “We’ll see how well behaved you are as I wasn’t happy with you at the store but now I am after pizza.” It was my turn to press my lips to his ear. “I’ve had several fantasies of being on your desk naked and my voice echoing in your lecture hall as you fuck me good.”

  “Bloody fuck, love,” he groaned, like deeply groaned. “Katrina Calloway does not need to see me with a stiffy for you.”

  “We could hide it in me?” I burst out laughing when he gave me a look like he was going to strangle me. I darted out from behind the table and moved to look down the block. “What was it she was saying we had to go to?”

  “Every date needs dessert. There’s a fab bakery down there that will satisfy all of your sweet teeth.”

  “That’s dangerous.”

  “It is, but worth the calories.”

  I danced back over to him and leaned in so he had a great view down my shirt. “I want to misbehave and have some fun. Will you help me have fun, Doc?”

  He breathed in deeply, his eyes on my breasts as he leaned in and pressed his lips to my ear. “I will make a move soon if you keep pushing my buttons, love. I will kiss you and do more, so if you really don’t want that, for the love of the gods, I beg you to stop. If this was good fun, fine, I get it, but I’m about to act very unlike a teacher and I need you to stop or agree.”

  I turned to get his ear, brushing my lips over his cheek as I did. “I’m not nearly done pushing your buttons and teasing you, Julian. I’m going to keep going until you cannot handle it anymore and you completely crack. But I promise you, this is not just good fun and I will absolutely be there to give you what I should when you do crack. This is the debt you owe me.

  “You controlled when we met and my first falling for you. Now I will control how you fall for me. And when you fall you will completely submit to me like I did you.

  “You will be my delicious pile of need, desperate and dying for me before I do more than you can even fantasize on. I have so many plans for you, my sexy Brit, and you will beg me for more and never get enough of me.”

  “Fuck, love, you’re trying to make me have a wet spot in public,” he panted.

  “I have one. Why shouldn’t you?” I shook my head when he went to argue or whatever he was going to say, licking the shell of his ear. “Do you want to discuss how I plan to make you submit or how I plan to have Hudson fuck me in the woods tonight? How should he take me? How should my first time bare be?”

  He couldn’t answer, groaning loudly and leaning his head down to the table. “You win. You win, love. Yes, I’ll help. Yes, I want to answer that. Let me think a moment, there’s no blood in my brain.”

  “While you figure that out, I’m going to start my fun,” I purred, unlocking my phone and opening a group message to Izzy, Mel, Natalie, Darby, Mason, and Hudson. After a moment I decided to added Edelman and Salzman. They could get treats too.

  Tamsin: Just finished in NYC, getting Joe’s pizza and hitting a bakery after I find an ATM. Who wants and what? Gonna need help getting it all from the admin building and all I bought.

  Mel: Fuck, I’m in. I want a pepperoni pizza & anything with strawberries and chocolate. Extra of both.

  Izzy: Sign me up for that, no pepperoni. Fresh mozz best.

  Darby: Agree with Izzy. They have a Japanese cheesecake at that bakery. Matcha is best.

  Salzman: No one turns down Joe’s but I’m fine without sweets, thank you.

  Edelman: Salzman and I can share a plain pie, thank you for thinking of us.

  Mason: Lucca and I want a few pies, whatever toppings are fine. We have money for you. Pizza>bakery.

  I snorted. Screw that. Pizza was not more important than the bakery. Both were absolutely needed. I burst out laughing when Mel and Izzy said about the same.

  Natalie: You are a goddess. Yes to whatever, just feed me heaven.

  Hudson: Juan and I will come through the portal to help you carry it all on that end. Our friends want more pizzas too if that won’t make you angry.

  Edelman: That’s fine, the portal’s still open. She activated it for much longer than needed. You and Juan have permission with Melody.

  Mel: On it!

  Tamsin: More is fine. I’m starting with twenty pizzas then.

  Darby: Gluttony at its finest.

  Tamsin: You want to be uninvited? Is that what I heard?

  Darby: I meant generosity.

  Tamsin: That’s what I thought. Brat.

  Craftsman groaned as he looked over my shoulder. “What did you start, love?”

  “Fun. I always start fun. Let’s go find an ATM before we’re invaded.”

  There was one on the next block—actually past the bakery—but we hit it fast and were back at Joe’s before we even finished our drinks. I smiled at the guys behind the counter.

  “We need a lot of pizzas and people coming to help us carry it all.”

  “We can handle that,” the guy chuckled. “Whatcha want?”

  I got a few of each of the basics and crowd pleasers, a few pepperoni too, and then one of each other option to try. People would try them or at least have a slice so it didn’t go to waste.

  Then again, toppings could be picked off. I paid and told them we’d be back after we hit the bakery.

  That was dangerous too.

  “Are there slices or options here that aren’t big cakes too?” I asked the woman behind the counter when I didn’t know where to start. “We need a lot but easy to carry a bit.”

  She nodded and told me what I could get in larger cakes but then also how tightly she could pack individual slices of other options.

  “Got it.” I turned to Craftsman, who looked ready to burst. “Get some muffins for Izzy so she doesn’t have to pay for full breakfast for a few days.”

  Then I turned back to the lady and started ordering way too much. That was what I was still doing when Mel, Hudson, Juan, Mason, and Lucca all showed up.

  Okay then. Either way, they were useful and Calloway was fine with using the portal as long as we brought her something sweet. I could handle that.

  “You are too much and for the record, you are the most delicious thing in this place.”

  I shivered as Hudson’s voice purred through my mind. I bit back a smile and tried to act like nothing happened.

  “She’s ordering big and going fast because she’s going to get a headache soon with all these people,” Mel explained quietly. She wasn’t wrong and as my power was growing, so was what I heard and how much of it.

  “Do what you need to. I’ll keep talking to you. Just focus on my voice and thoughts.”

&n
bsp; I shook my head though. That was too distracting and I wasn’t used to it. I was almost done anyways. I quickly paid and they started lugging it all away, leaving me with nothing to actually carry.

  I blew out a relieved breath when we were outside walking on the sidewalk.

  “It’s getting worse?” Mel checked, frowning when I nodded. “He should have done the rune then.”

  “I thought of it but she wouldn’t have let me when she would be checking for trouble and not want to be dampened,” Craftsman cut in.

  Smart man because he was absolutely right.

  “The big guys and chick with you?” one of the employees asked me when I came back into Joe’s.

  I nodded. “They come out of the woodwork for your pizza it seems.” That amused them.

  I took several pizzas and so did Craftsman and we headed for Calloway. She already had the small bakery box on her counter and I opened the top box of pizza, smiling when she took a slice.

  Mel took the boxes from me and went through the portal. It died after her and I went over it to power it up.

  “It’s linked up from this end too, right?” I checked with Craftsman. “Is that automatic?”

  “No, it is not, and be careful of that,” Calloway answered, her voice firm with warning. “I did, however, link it up to deliver your purchases where I normally do, so you can go ahead.”

  I thanked her for the warning and touched the portal, shivering as magic leaked out of me.

  “You good?” Craftsman checked.

  I nodded. “I’m not sure what to expect with the pills still working. Nothing feels the same twice.” I didn’t want to talk about it more with Calloway listening and went over to her. “Thank you so much for all your help.”

  “My pleasure. Please come back whenever you can and have a chance to see our full selection.”

  “I’d like that.” I cleared my throat and leaned in a bit. “We could grab a pie and enjoy some sweets? I mean, if you want. I could come near closing?”