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“I can’t do that.” Amrita closed her eyes. “I don’t have a choice in this matter. I have to go.”

“What would you do on the mission?” Zani asked.

“I don’t know,” Amrita admitted. She thought about it for a moment. “I’m rather good with locks and keys, and I do have a lot of experience negotiating with conflicted entities.”

She saw Will kick Zani under the table. Her face felt warm. It hadn’t occurred to her that they might view her as a third wheel. She’d been so foolishly sure they’d jump at the chance to have her join them. It wasn’t every day that the director accompanied her field agents on an expedition. In fact, it wasn’t any day. They should have been honored!

Buffalo sat with his elbows on his knees and his hands loosely clasped, listening to it all without interrupting. His face was thoughtful, weighing options that she couldn’t guess at, though she kept glancing at him.

“I assure you, I will do whatever is required of me,” Amrita said. “I’ll help identify items of interest and I believe that with all three of us working together on this, we should be able to get back much quicker. Regardless, I promise I will not get in your way. I will defer to you two as the leaders of this expedition.”

When she finished there was a brief silence. Zani raised her brows at Will, but before either of them could speak, Buffalo slapped a hand down on the desk. It rattled the teacups.

“You know what? I’m coming too!” he announced.

“No, Buffalo…” Amrita exhaled. She hadn’t even considered that he might make such an outrageous demand. “The paperwork…”

“Is your name on the manifest in the paperwork, Director?” Buffalo had always been so good at calling her bluff back in the day. So why should it surprise her that he was onto her now as well?

“Well then, it’s settled.” He fixed Will and Zani with a satisfied look, daring either of them to defy him. “We’re all going. I’m coming with you.”

“This is a specialized mission. Will and Zani have very specific skills that are critical to the operation. You are not,” Amrita said, as gently as she could manage, “an archaeologist or a porter.”

“Nope,” he agreed. “I’m just your wannabe boyfriend. If I can’t get away with you in the present, I guess I’ll have to settle for the past.” He said this as if it was already a done deal. “I might add that you’re not a specialist either, Director. So if you’re going, I’m coming.” She hated to admit it, but the way his eyes were flashing with excitement, and that determined, decisive tone he was taking, were doing something to her resolve.

“There will likely be sea days,” Amrita warned. “Significant ones. I know you’re not fond of ocean travel.” Despite having been raised on an island, Amrita knew that Buffalo had always been skittish on boats. She assumed this was due to the nature of his shifter type.

“You’re sweet to recall I’m not fond of ocean travel,” Buffalo agreed pleasantly. “But I am also not fond of waiting indefinitely to spend time with you. If the options are Ancient Egypt or nothing, I will take Egypt please. I’m in, Amrita. Even if it means having to double date with these two.” He winked at Will and Zani. “No offense.”

“None taken,” Will said. He’d spent years working for Buffalo Westabrook as his PA, and the man was almost like a father to him. He also knew better than to argue with Buffalo once he’d made up his mind.

Zani was silent, her face unreadable, but Amrita could see the way she was gripping Will’s hand.

“It complicates the mission parameters to have one more aboard,” Amrita said, making one last attempt.

“Amrita.” Buffalo leaned forward. There was no humor in his face now, just the determined resolve that this immovable mountain of a man was most known for. “You’re already bending the rules here. So, bend them a little more. Let me be there with you. Give me a job. Let me help. I just want the chance to be with you. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

She looked up at him. She turned the note in her pocket over in her hand. How she wished she knew what the rest of her own message had said. What had this future version of herself from the past known that she didn’t know yet? She had only written that she needed to go. Why hadn’t she noted whether she was supposed to go alone? Unless she’d tried… The rest of the note was too damaged to read.

“Fine,” Amrita relented. She could hardly believe what she was agreeing to. It was worse than hiding this letter from the AITA.

She felt an immediate flood of relief upon caving to Buffalo’s pressure. It would be nice to have someone her own age to talk to in the past. And she’d always hated third wheeling.

It would be nice, for once, not to let Buffalo down.

Buffalo sat back, a victorious grin on his face. “Will and Zani look a bit dubious about this,” he noted, looking at them.

“Oh, I’m deeply dubious,” Will confirmed.

“So dubious,” Zani agreed, looking from Amrita to Buffalo.

Amrita poured more tea for everyone.

A WITCH’S HINTS FOR SETTING SAIL

Should you crack an egg at sea, crush the shell to dust.

A witch will sail in anything