Page 41 of Evergreen Academy (Society of Magical Botanists #1)

Chapter Forty

T he next day, I met Professor East in the central vein, and we walked together to the Perilous Grove. My palms began to sweat as we approached the clearing, and I wasn’t sure if it was in anticipation of the upcoming affinity test or because of the conversation I needed to broach.

I gathered my nerve and asked the question that had been on my mind all night. “My aunt told me you called. Is there some information you need from her?”

“Ah, yes. About that. Now that your affinity powers have emerged, especially after being dormant at first, a review of your family history might be in order.”

“My aunt doesn’t know anything about the academy. I didn’t tell her on your advisement. I’m not sure how she’ll react to all of this.”

“I don’t have to tell her anything in order to test her.”

Test her?

“No,” I said before I could think twice about it.

Professor East’s pace slowed. “No?”

“Professor East, when you invited me here, you didn’t mention any strings involving my family.

” I wasn’t sure why my reaction had come so strongly, but the truth was, I was protective of my aunt.

I envisioned Aunt Vera and how happy she was with Bryce, living a normal life.

I didn’t want it to be disrupted on my account more than it already had been.

She’d rearranged her life to take me in.

Now, it was my turn to return the favor.

Professor East bowed his head slightly. “That’s true, and I don’t mean to be invasive. Now, the stinging nettle.”

“Sorry?” I asked, confused.

“See if you have a reaction to the nettle, like last time.”

I finally noticed the plant we’d approached. I reached out and wiped my hand across the nettle, bracing myself for the burning pain that had accompanied it before. But instead of the hot sensation I was expecting, I didn’t feel anything at all.

Someone dropped out of a tree behind us then, and Professor East straightened as I jumped in surprise.

“Mr. Rhodes. I didn’t know you’d be joining us. Come to observe?”

“Just wanted to make sure you didn’t poison her again.”

My heart began to pound at the sight of him, at the sound of his deep, rich voice.

He was exactly as I remembered—posture straight, clothes impossibly pristine even though he’d just been walking through the trees, and hair tousled.

But a vein in his neck twitched, and I tried to keep my expression neutral. Was he… worried about me?

“I don’t think that will be necessary. This test was conclusive, along with all the others she took yesterday. It appears that Ms. Whelan is fortis compositus for all of the affinities. ”

Callan took a half step backward but quickly straightened, face composed. He turned to me, and his eyebrows lifted ever so slightly. Well, there went my plans for surprising him with my tree-walking ability.

Professor East was silent for a moment, looking between the two of us. “Ms. Whelan, come see me in my office tomorrow after lunch. We’ll need to work out a special affinity studies schedule for you. Mr. Rhodes, since you have experience with that, please join us.”

Callan and I both nodded, and Professor East left us to follow him out of the Perilous Grove.

“I see you’ve been busy while I’ve been away,” Callan murmured.

“This all just happened yesterday and today.”

Without warning, Callan jogged toward a tree and scaled it in a few quick movements.

“Well, are you coming?” he called, and I looked up at him, startled.

“What do you mean? Coming where?”

“If you have tree affinities, local, we might as well start your training now.”