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That was easy.
“It was a sudden hire.”
Her confusion deepened. “They hired a… freelancer who’s really bad with people to help coordinate… people?”
“The illogical nature of bureaucracy knows no bounds,” I stated. “If you have questions, feel free to ask Quinn at the front desk. Goodbye.” I had a solid hour of sulking on the schedule while I figured out what to do with that blond asshat.
Ember caught my wrist. “Fine. Ditch me if you want. But… why did you help me?” The sadness in her drooping expression reminded me of a child clinging to the familiar.
A lonely person trapped with the ruthless gods. Completely out of her element.
I felt my stupid, idiot heart linger. Just like it had with the stupid kid and the idiot turtle. Squirming out of her grip was nearly an impossible feat, but I did manage it. “The odds were uneven, and that wasn’t fair. You were going to get your ass beat, and I have a job to do on this campus, which is protect students.”
Ember shifted, not meeting my eye. “I could have handled that on my own.”
“Right. So, getting your face burned off is how you usually ‘handle things’? Your skills astound me.”
A flush crept up her cheeks. “Listen, I have to be able to stand on my own two feet, right? I can’t rely on anyone to care more about me than the famous Cole-Fucking-Highland.”
My brows rose. I might like this girl. “What happened to your friends? The guys you were with when I met you?”
“So, I made it through the trials. Just me. My friends are getting transferred to another school somewhere around here. But I’m alone. And more importantly, I’m in class with the worst immortals I’ve ever met in my life.”
I grimaced, seeing what was coming next.
She counted off her fingers. “They were bullying a very nice fae boy, so I told them off. Cole, the guy with the arson problem, got a question wrong, so I corrected him. And for some reason, those two things were enough to make them all hate me and want to burn my face off.
“Well, that’s what I thought at first. Now I know he’s just been waiting to corner me and get his useless revenge. As if hurting me will get his brother back in, even though that kid had the instincts of a goat in the ocean. How’s your first day going?” she ended savagely.
“Well, considering I just made the same enemies as you, not very good,” I admitted. “I guess I don’t really have any room to criticize. We both suck.”
“You could have handled that better,” she said. “You came on really strong. For a faculty member, that is.”
I sighed. “I’m grumpy. It’s a chronic condition.”
She frowned. “So really, why are you the community coordinator?”
I pointed at her. “Maybe they wanted me because they want someone who will actually get shit done and not just be nice to people as a way of helping.”
Ember frowned. “See, that doesn’t make sense.”
“Wow. Way to thank the woman who saved your left cheek.”
Ember chuckled finally. “Okay. You win. For now. If you’re here by the end of this week, oh great coordinator, then I give you full props.”
My phone buzzed, and I picked it up. “Hey, Quinn.”
“President Castile is here to see you. In your office.” Her voice was tight and trying to maintain positivity.
“Be right there!” I hung up the phone. “Ember, looks like I’m about to find out whether my job just disappeared. Catch you later. Stop picking fights.”
“Don’t get fired.”
There wasn’t any more time to feel sick about Clave. I’d handle him later. Somehow. Now, it was time to steel myself for the first meeting with the president.
I took the elevator going back up to my office. No need to run anymore. Unexpected nerves wracked my spine on the ride.
President Castile sat on one of the chairs in my office. I had a very small desk against the wall, so there weren’t any seats of power, per se, yet the man still exuded quiet authority that left no question about who called the shots.
