Jesse and the Magi Vault (Exemplar Hall Book 2) by Auburn Tempest & Ruby Night

Author:Auburn Tempest & Ruby Night [Tempest, Auburn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JL Madore
Published: 2020-01-08T16:00:00+00:00

SIX

Dean Belmont sits behind a massive mahogany desk with lion feet carvings and strips of gold inlay. He gestures a graceful hand to the singular chair set before him and I focus on my footing to cross the room without stumbling or doing something equally embarrassing. The office carries a classic old-school, boys club air: rich wooden paneling, a wall of books that, by the fabric spines and worn gold leafing, seem to be first editions, and enough polished brass to outfit a marching band.

“Jesse. How are you settling in?” He straightens a little dagger letter opener along the top of his leather blotter as I take my seat.

“All right,” I say, my voice tight.

He’s changed out of his Chancellor robe and now wears dark slacks and the sleeves of his navy dress shirt rolled up to his elbows. I thought him fit before, but now that I see him without the billowing folds of his robe, he’s a downright tank.

We shake hands, firm and quick, and I’m glad there’s a seat below my butt. The moment our palms meet, a rush of adrenaline shoots through me and sends the room on a spin.

My pulse pounds in my temples and I wonder what the first symptoms of an aneurysm feel like. Thankfully, the Dean doesn’t look all that composed himself.

“I apologize for my appearance,” I say, raking my fingers through my hair which isn’t there and trying not to fidget. “I didn’t realize I had an interview until a moment ago and I haven’t had a chance to clean up yet.”

“Not to worry,” the Dean says, and between the soothing tone of his voice and the smile crinkling the corners of his soft, hazel eyes, he seems genuinely unbothered.

Movement in a small alcove to my right brings my attention to a sandy-haired man at a computer. I recognize him. He was the clipboard guy beside Pink Floyd at the icebreaker start and at the finish.

“Martin is one of the Exemplar administrative assistants,” Belmont says, spreading a few papers across his desk. “He will take notes during our interview. Pretend he’s not here.”

Yeah, right. There’s a guy about to record my downfall. Let me put that right out of my head.

“Jesse, tell me. How are you feeling?”

I draw a deep breath and exhale. I’m still a little light-headed from the stress of the day and feel a bit like a knit sweater unraveling as someone tugs on a loose strand of yarn.

When I hesitate, he waves his fingers toward himself as if coaxing me to speak. “Go ahead. What’s on your mind?”

I’m not sure if I’ve lost my mind completely, or if it’s River’s suggestion to answer honestly, but I do. I open my mouth and the truth spills out like floodwater through a broken dam.

“Wyatt and I—well, we thought that at least if we were prisoners here forced to play your game we’d be allowed to room together. It’s important to us, especially with you asking me to keep up the boy thing.

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