Page 43 of Inked in Bloom
Blooms jump back from the chestnut rabbit springing from the wrestling vines. He lands on the ground with athud, scrambling against the last few tangled tendrils trapping his paws. Dirt puffs up around him and a loudpopechoes through the room. When the motes clear, Briar is on his knees, panting. Naked.
Inky anemones that look as though they’ve been drawn from shadow climb the length of his spine. Flourished vines wrap around one shoulder, weaving through bunches of hawthorn and a few other flowers I haven’t memorized the name for.
He shifts his weight to stand, and my whole body pulls taut.
Where empty space once spanned his chest, now resides a single peony with a stem crawling down his sternum. There’s something wrapped around it, crossing over the left side of his chest.
I stagger to the side, trying to see it better, but Briar hastily magics a shirt and pants onto himself.
Wobbling back a step, I jolt against Cherri as she catches me in a hug. She’s now fully dressed and the color has returned to her cheeks. “Did you see? I did it!”
“You did,” I exhale, shaken up from the last few minutes. Cherri’s beaming at me with so much pride. I drag her in foranother hug and hang on to her like she’s a lifeline, trying not to react. “Proud of you, but I could have done without you getting stuck.”
“Me too,” Cherri says, squeezing me tighter. “It was pitch black and the chute is like a vacuum. I’m so glad Professor Briar found me before it completely sucked me through. Gosh, that was so scary.”
“It really was.”
The dean pulls our instructor aside.
“That’ll be all for today,” she says, dismissing us. She hugs him tight.
Weird.
“Ready to get out of here?” Cherri asks.
I nod, grabbing our things. “More than you know.”
I’m about to follow Cherri out of the classroom, but a deep voice stops me in the doorway. “Dr. Tanner.”
“Yes, Professor Briar?” I don’t turn to face him. For some reason, I can’t stop thinking about his new tattoo. Though it’s hidden beneath his shirt, it’s inked into my memory.
We both just happen to have peonies on our mate marks… I mean, they are a fairly common flower. I’m sure plenty of Blooms have them.
“Please stop by my office before you head home. I’ll be there in a few minutes. It’s down the hall and on the left.”
My eyes dart to Cherri, preparing any excuse I can to leave. I need to slow down and process the last ten minutes. “But?—”
“It’s about your request.” His voice is firm, like the please was more of a formality.
“She’ll be there,” Cherri answers for me with a smile. So much more pleasant than any expression I’d willingly give him. “Thanks again for helping me. You’re my hero.”
I swear a little vomit gurgles up my throat.
“Don’t mention it. Glad nothing worse happened.” Briar lowers his chin. Is that pink staining his cheeks? If it were anyone else, I’d think it was adorable, but it’s him, so it’s not.
While I don’t trust him—or Fate, for that matter—I’ve waited weeks to hear back on their meeting. I clear my throat, shaking off the tension in my shoulders. “See you in a few minutes, Professor.”
19
BRIAR
After being chastised for my hasty actions in removing my student from the tablus vinnaus, I turn the corner toward my office, half expecting the hall to be empty. But Monroe is outside, pressed onto the balls of her feet, peering through the door’s window slats.
I’ve thought about this woman every day since Dani rescued me from the mortal realm. To her, I’d been a devoted pet. To me, she was a captivating illustration of a lifetime I never had. In all my years of bringing spring, I’ve never given a second thought to anyone other than my mortal family. But here Monroe is, a living, breathing masterpiece.
In death, she’s no less striking.
“Find anything interesting, Dr. Tanner?” I ask, coming up behind her.
