Page 64

Chapter Sixty-Four

“ S he doesn’t answer to you.” That was Callan’s voice, and the strength in it made me smile and steeled my nerve.

The two brothers had moved out of the entrance atrium and were now at the bottom of the stairs. Callan and Wyatt were standing in tense positions across from one another, both falling quiet when I arrived. I couldn’t help wondering if they’d stood that way as little boys, arguing over a toy.

“Have you two had enough time to chat?” I asked, moving to Callan’s side.

Wyatt’s eyes shot to me.

“More than enough,” Callan said. “Wyatt thinks he’ll be searching my room. You may want to stick around for the show.” The muscles of Callan’s forearms were flexed, but his outward appearance suggested utter calm.

Wyatt followed as Callan turned swiftly and began to climb the stairs. “It’s fun that you think I won’t be able to get past your wards.”

The three of us climbed the stairs and stopped in front of Callan’s room.

Callan lifted a hand, and vines snaked across the door from bottom to top, forming an impenetrable wall of thick plant material.

There was movement down the hall, and I glanced in that direction to see Meadow’s head appear from her room. She kept her body behind the door, seemingly assessing the situation.

Wyatt sighed. “Play nice, Cal. I’m afraid I’m short on time, and I’m not leaving here without the quill.”

Callan’s face was stony. “I’ve already told you; I don’t have what you’re looking for.”

“Are you sure about that? Because I have evidence to the contrary.” Wyatt tsked. “Is Professor East aware of your excursion to the tree conservatory this weekend?”

I winced.

“He is, in fact. Though I’m sure you’re aware that visiting a conservatory is not against any school rule,” Callan said.

“It wouldn’t be if all you did was visit. I need the artifact, Callan.” Wyatt’s voice was losing patience now.

“And I already told you, I don’t have it.”

Well, he wasn’t lying.

I glanced at Callan’s door, which now had moss creeping along the cracks, as if sealing it closed. I glanced to Meadow, who flashed me a quick smirk.

Wyatt’s lip twitched. “Dealing in semantics now? Fine. I’ll lay out the evidence.

I find you by the display at the tree conservatory where said quill has recently arrived.

A bit odd since no one had expected you at the conservatory, but as a tree founder’s descendant, you have every right to stop by.

As part of—we’ll call it a routine check—we scanned the exhibit that night.

Imagine our surprise when we realized the defenses were down. ”

I winced again. That one was on me. If only I’d been able to put the defenses back up. The block on my powers was really starting to tick me off. My hands twitched at my sides.

“We take a look at the quill—just to be safe—and something’s a little off about it,” Wyatt continued. “Don’t get me wrong, it was masterfully done. It was unfortunate for you that someone I was traveling with has a specialty in these things. It didn’t take long to put two and two together.”

“Doesn’t sound like evidence,” Callan said. “Sounds more like conjecture.”

“I’ve been given leave to search your room,” Wyatt said, a note of finality in his voice. He turned to the door once more.

“Good luck.” Callan returned his attention to the door again, too, and gave a leisurely wave in its direction, but I noticed him frown when I assumed he spotted the moss. He glanced over his shoulder, but Meadow had already closed her door and disappeared.

Wyatt sighed, as if he was getting bored of the resistance. “Look, I was hoping to avoid turning this into a spectacle, but if you insist. I’m getting the quill. Now.” He raised a hand.

But before he could say anything else, Professor East stepped onto the landing.

“Quill?” our instructor asked, voice calm and slightly inquisitive. “You wouldn’t be talking about the artifact from the tree conservatory, would you? By the way, it’s nice to have you visit again, Mr. Rhodes. Your visit wasn’t announced.”

Wyatt’s gaze shifted to our instructor in surprise, and I saw Callan’s eyebrows lift slightly as well.

“Hello, Professor East. My visit is time sensitive, I’m afraid. You know about the quill I’m here to collect?”

I waited with bated breath as Professor East spoke. Callan, though his expression remained stoic as always, was rubbing the side of his neck.

“That’s what this is about? If so, I apologize for the confusion, Mr. Rhodes.

I requested to have the quill on a temporary display here for students to research this spring, with the agreement that it would be returned to the tree conservatory at the end of the year.

It arrived this weekend. Were you under the impression that it had been misplaced? ”

I cast my eyes to Callan as time seemed to slow down. Was Professor East… covering for us?

Wyatt hesitated. “You have the quill from the new tree conservatory display?”

“It’s secured in the library, ready for students when they return from the break,” Professor East said, and I nearly balked at his smooth-as-silk delivery.

“Well, then let’s take a look,” Wyatt said.

Wyatt and Professor East headed to the library first, and I let out a slow, deep exhale as Callan and I followed them.

“What is going on?” Callan whispered.

“I think we’re getting bailed out,” I murmured. We followed the two men into the library, and my stomach did a flip that I couldn’t decide was from tension or relief when Professor East led the way to a collection of magical botanical trinkets that was always on display in the library.

The quill I’d handed him was settled among a few other trinkets, resting underneath a clear phytoglass cover.

Wyatt stepped up to Professor East’s side, appraising the display.

Callan turned and caught my eye, giving a slight disbelieving shake of his head.

“Is this what you were looking for?” Professor East asked, hands clasped behind his back and posture straight. This man was getting my vote for teacher of the year, hands down.

“Let me see.” Wyatt removed the phytoglass then tested a few Floracantus on the quill, which resulted in several shivers of the feather.

I tried not to let on how nervous I was as we all waited for the verdict.

“Yes, this seems to be it. I’m not sure why it was released to the academy, but I’ll need to take it back.” Wyatt reached into his jacket pocket and flashed something at Professor East, who nodded.

I assumed it was a DBI badge or whatever kind of identifier they used.

“Of course,” Professor East said. “Perhaps we’ll be able to host it on display here another time.”

“Glad you got what you came for. See you around,” Callan said, turning to go.

Wyatt looked at his brother, and I thought I caught a flash of tenderness there, but then his business face was back on. “See you around.” He nodded to me. “I’m glad we finally met, Briar Whelan.”

Wyatt nodded at Callan then marched out of the library, Professor East shadowing him. As they passed us, I thought I heard Wyatt murmur, “I won’t be able to keep this under wraps.”

But before I could be sure, Wyatt and Professor East disappeared down the stairs. My heart was still beating so wildly that I wondered if I should have my health checked.

Before I could gather my thoughts to process what had happened, Callan surprised me by taking my hand and tugging me aside instead of heading down the stairs.

“What—” I began.

He reached toward a lantern on the wall that had metal flames shaped like leaves creating its sconces and pressed his peridot stone against a recess at its base. The light flickered, then a hidden door swung backward into the wall.