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Chapter Sixteen

T he next week at Evergreen Academy, Professor East called all the second-year students into the tearoom.

“Do you know what this is about?” I whispered to Yasmin.

“My guess is field studies.”

We filed into the tearoom, where sunlight was streaming from the glass panels along the wall. My breath caught in my chest as my eyes immediately gravitated to dark-chestnut hair and an olive complexion across the room, tattooed arms crossed as he leaned casually against a wall.

Callan .

My pulse sped up infinitesimally. So he was back.

His eyes met mine, and he nodded then seemed to turn pointedly to the front of the room.

I followed his gaze and saw Professor East, then swallowed as I recognized who was standing beside him. Wendy Rhodes, Callan’s mother, was at our instructor’s side, her own olive skin smooth and silky, her dark hair swept into an elegant chignon.

My heart rate kicked up—this time unpleasantly— as I remembered the words she’d spoken to me at the end of the spring semester: “We look forward to seeing you again soon, Briar.”

Innocent words, but there had been a bite behind them that had felt like a threat in the moment. I hadn’t had a chance to bring it up with Callan since and wasn’t sure if I even should. That was his mom we were talking about.

Wendy Rhodes’s eyes found mine, gaze assessing, and after a few moments of scrutiny, she turned her attention to Professor East.

Professor East cleared his throat and began without preamble.

“As you all know, your second year of education at Evergreen Academy involves a field studies component. Traditionally, these opportunities have been carefully curated for you based on local ecological issues.” He angled his body slightly toward Callan’s mom, and I noticed that his movements were stiff.

I straightened in response.

“This year,” he continued, “the assignments will be a little different. We have a prestigious member of the Magical Botanical Board of Regents here today. Regent Rhodes, would you like to tell us more?”

Wendy Rhodes stepped forward, a demure smile gracing her lips as she looked over the group of students gathered before her.

“Thank you, Professor East. As you all know, each second-year will participate in a field studies assignment. This year, the field studies opportunities have been hand selected by the Board of Regents. These studies will open many doors for you and, if you do well, should lead you directly into work or to opportunities for more advanced training.”

The room was completely quiet, and students were casting glances at each other.

Yasmin’s posture was straighter than I had ever seen.

My eyes shot to Callan. I wanted to know what he thought of all this.

Is that what he had been helping to put into place these past few weeks?

His eyes were firmly locked on his mother, his expression a stony mask of nonchalance.

“Keep in mind that your field studies this year will have an impact on future opportunities in our society. The field studies are your chance to present yourself in your best light. Highest performers will be fast-tracked to top careers. Treat this as a competition because it is.”

And there it was. The added stress that would come with this new twist on the field studies. I noticed Yasmin tense beside me.

Professor East spoke again. “Now, I’m sure you will all have questions.

Those can be brought directly to me. As always, the field study assignments for this year will be stashed in envelopes scattered throughout the campus.

When you find one, read the assignment and determine if it is a good fit for you.

If it is, please bring the envelope to Professor Tenella.

If it is not, leave the envelope where you found it.

That’s it for now. Have a good evening.”

There were murmurs all around as students filed out of the tearoom. “Shall we all get some tea and discuss this in our room?” Yasmin asked, voice too calm. I could tell that her type A brain was rapidly trying to determine what all of this meant for her future.

Everyone nodded, and I said, “I’ll join you in a minute.”

She noticed Callan across the room and smiled knowingly. “Take your time.”

I paused at the beverage table and prepared two mugs of lavender tea, with a sprig of honeysuckle for Callan, then went to greet him.

“Hey, stranger.” I handed him one of the mugs.

There was a distance in his eyes that seemed to clear when he focused on me, and he ran his gaze all over my face, as if checking for something. “Hey, local.”

“So, that was interesting.” I nodded toward where his mom and Professor East were still standing, locked in formal-looking conversation. All around us, the din of the room began to increase.

“My mom never misses a grand dramatic moment.”

“Did you know it was coming? Field studies picked by the board? ”

“Yes, it’s been in the works all summer.”

Things clicked into place then. “Is that why you were away?”

His jaw clenched slightly then relaxed as he took a sip of the tea. “I was recruited to help set them up. I served as a student ambassador.” I could tell by the flat tone of his voice that doing so had not been his choice.

“This isn’t the worst, right? Professor East made it sound like there are options. I’m sure you’ll get a medical study, like you’ve always wanted.”

“I’m afraid the choice has already been made for me.”

My chest constricted, concern tugging at me. But before I could ask him to elaborate, Callan stepped away from me and rearranged his face into a neutral expression.

I startled, wondering why he had moved away, until I noticed who was joining us.

“Hello again, Briar,” Wendy Rhodes said, nodding at me. “Am I interrupting?”

“Not at all,” Callan said coolly.

Wendy turned to me. “What do you think of this exciting news?”

“Oh, it’s quite the surprise,” I said, keeping my tone pleasant. Everything in my body warned me to be tactful with this woman.

“Callan here will be using his field studies time to hone his political alliances. It’s about time our family had another senator.”

My gaze flicked to Callan as I internally blanched at the news.

His face was still impressively blank. That couldn’t be right.

Medical research was what he’d wanted to do since he was a child.

If the Board of Regents had set up the field studies, surely they would have made plenty of opportunities in medical research for him and others like him. Wouldn’t they?

“A senator? I didn’t realize that was something that could be arranged,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm and professional despite wanting to drag Callan to safety and ask how he really felt about all of this .

Wendy gave a soft smile at that. “Well, not exactly. He will have to work at it like anyone else, but the right connections will certainly position him correctly. And if not a senator, there are always ambassadorships and appointments within the magical botanical congress. Do you have any political ambitions, Briar?” There was something in her tone that made me suspect she was fishing.

“Me? No, not at all. I’ve always planned to go to art school.”

Wendy’s brows rose slightly, though the movement was subtle, and her forehead remained smooth. “Art school? That’s an… interesting choice. You’re a magical botanist. Why art school?”

“I’ve always loved art. It comes naturally to me. And my mom went to art school. It’s just something I have always envisioned myself doing.”

Wendy pursed her deep-crimson lips. “How quaint. Well, we’ll see how the year goes.”

I tried not to prickle at the implication in her words and forced levity into my tone as I shifted the conversation away from my personal choices. “What brought on this change? Was the school having trouble sourcing field studies assignments?”

“We have found that, of late, the research opportunities the school has sponsored are a bit too… broad. Being a magical botanist affords you opportunities that others can never imagine, Briar. These curated studies will help facilitate that while ensuring they are approved by botanists in each affinity field. Don’t you think your classmates deserve a clear path to top opportunities? ”

“If there are options that fit everyone’s goals and passions, yes.”

Wendy’s eyes slid to her son for a moment before returning to me. “Passions are… romantic. But this world needs focus, commitment. Botanists can’t make change without power.”

“And power can’t have meaning without passion,” I said lightly before taking a sip of my tea.

Part of me wondered if I was playing with fire, sparring with her like this.

But I didn’t regret my words. Whether the boldness was inherent to me or fueled by the injustice of forcing Callan into a political career and ignoring his obvious talent for medicine, I couldn’t be sure.

Wendy sighed. “You’re young. And you’ve been raised in this tiny town. Your world is small, but it doesn’t have to be. These updated studies are what our students need. You’ll see.” She turned to Callan. “Walk me out to the car?”

He followed her without turning to look at me, and I tried not to stiffen. The way his body language toward me had completely shifted at the arrival of his mom had thrown me. I tried not to feel stung by the distance he put between us. Was he trying to signal to her that he and I weren’t friends?

But then I felt the touch of a warm breeze against the back of my neck, tenderly reassuring. I inhaled sharply, knowing exactly where it had come from. So it had been an act—and a convincing one.

I watched as they left the teahouse together, Callan’s body language still tight, and he never cracked a smile.

For the next few minutes, I lingered near the beverages, sipping on my tea, until I realized that I was waiting for Callan to return. Finally, reason told me I had no idea if he’d be back in the teahouse that evening, and my friends were waiting for a debrief up in our rooms.

I went up the stairs to the second floor and found my three friends in Coral and Aurielle’s room. Yasmin had a green knit scarf twisted up between her hands and was squeezing it like a stress ball.

Oh boy .

“What did I miss?” I asked, taking a seat in the fluffy papasan chair near Aurielle’s bed.

“We’re discussing whether our futures are doomed or hopeful based on the new field studies developments,” Aurielle said.

“Got it. What’s the verdict so far?” I wanted to remain neutral until I heard them out, afraid that Wendy’s words had already swayed me .

“I’m not sure yet, but this puts pressure on field studies even more than before,” Yasmin said.

The dorm’s window rustled as something whisked through the crack between the window and sill.

“What is happening?” Coral asked as the leaves spun straight into my lap.

I plucked the note out of the pile, trying not to grin like a fool in front of my friends.

“I have a feeling B’s about to ditch us,” Yasmin said.

Coral gasped. “Is that from Rhodes? Sneaking out at midnight to meet your lover, Juliet?”

I glanced at the clock on the nightstand, which read nine p.m. “It’s hardly midnight, Coral.”

“So you admit he’s your lover?” She raised her eyebrows, and I threw a fern-shaped pillow at her.

“No! But maybe I can get some intel on these new developments,” I said.

They all made expressions that said they didn’t believe me.

“Waylon never sends me leaf messages,” I heard Coral say as I made to leave the room.

“He doesn’t have a tree affinity,” Yasmin said. “What do you expect?”

“He could come up with something . Those two aren’t even dating, and he shows more interest th…”

It was the last I heard before I closed the door softly behind me and headed for the forest.