Page 81 of Among the Screaming Trees

“Ms. Aspen. We have heard so many great things about your research. Your parent’s stellar legacy has continued with you, yes?”

My face flames. These men and women are my father’s peers; the tireless workers who fight against crippling disease hold my work in such high esteem? I think I’m going to throw up from the nervous reaction to their praise.

“Professor Wyldan, lovely to see you again. It must be wonderful to continue the relationship with another generation of Aldereyne. Your tireless work on this project is much appreciated. You, too, Dr. Bonner.”

Eli grimaces, a cross between his softened scowl and half smile. He has a European background.

“I was merely a facilitator, Lars Erik. Aspen’s knowledge has already surpassed Jack’s and mine—combined. She has a knack for knowing how an enzyme will behave before she’s even identified and extracted it. We are truly honored to have her continue her work here at Wyldan University.”

Oh my God. Professor Wyldan is saying nice things about me to people on the other side of the world. In class, he scowls at me. In his office, he punished me. I don’t know how to react to this version of him, only my core has answered on my behalf. The adjusted stance can be blamed on tired feet or an uncomfortable chair, and not the fact that my thighs are clamped together so tightly. The last thing I want is Elijah knowing his praise affects me like that. My God.

“From your detailed notes, Aspen, we have been able to formulate different versions of the bonding gel for clinical trials. That’s why we would like you to come to Norway in person to witness it and offer your opinion on phase two progression.”

My brain blanks. Me? Go to Norway? “I’d be honored to. Can I ask that I travel with a party to ensure my safety and security? Along with Professor Wyldan and Dr. Bonner, I have two further students whose input has been integral to my findings. Mr. Foxglove Muir, here to my left, and Mr. Lukaz Vaskari, who is absent on personal business.”

“Of course. We will confirm travel arrangements with you on another secured line.”

“Professor Eriksson, Professor Nilsen, thank you again for your tireless work on this Pepperberry enzyme. If Aster and Arthur were here today, I hope they would be proud of the edict they began with so much hope.”

“It is we who are honored, Aspen. One last question, you didn’t stipulate in your notes whether the samples of Malchoydian Pepperberry were from the Colorado subplot or the Alaska plantation. We don’t foresee any variables too great between the trees from one location to the next, but as you are aware, every variable must be accounted for.”

“Colorado,” I state. “Until recently, I was unaware that the Pepperberry grew in Alaska.”

“Really?” one professor queries, and Wyldan doesn’t explain. “Perhaps you can perform the same experiments with the Alaskan Pepperberry membranes before you come over? It would be helpful to compare notes, and we can run the data against the plot from Otta here in central Norway. I think this would be preferable, yes?”

“Absolutely, Professors,” Wyldan affirms, and all I can do is nod along with his sentiments. Where else does the Pepperberry grow? Alaska and Colorado are diverse habitats of temperate rainforest and temperate coniferous forest. Norway’s biome has both. This can’t be coincidental. It made sense that the Pepperberry trees were close to where my parents lived to make research easier, and a plot in Norway where the laboratory testing continued was also a wise move, but in the Wyldan Woods? Either Elijah planted the trees before he took off for Europe to work, fall in love and marry, or my father traveled up here to hide another plot of his beloved trees.

“We will be in touch,” is their final parting salvo. Dad’s work is gaining traction. Mom’s legacy wasn’t for nothing. The love those two had for each other was only dwarfed by their determination to see their beloved berry help save so many lives. I’ll be able to tell my grandchildren one day how fortunate we all were to descend from such brilliant scientific minds, assuming I have children of my own to enable me to become a grandmother. Well, the three strapping specimens surrounding me would make some mighty fine babies, as would the Russian weed whose call is incoming.

“Hey, gorgeous. I miss you so much.”

“Not as much as I miss you, baby. How is your dad?”

He grunts, his eyes rolling skyward. “Oh, stubborn as usual. Can’t be told what to do, or how to look after himself. He figures he knows best, even when he doesn’t.”

I want to ask if he can come back to us while his dad has the surgical part of his treatment. So we can study together and wake up tangled in each other like we did in the hut, but with an extra pair of masculine, muscled legs.

“I’m coming home. Pop needs two operations to repair his arm and shoulder. It’s too invasive to do it in one go. So, I’ll come home, stay as long as I can and then come back up here once he’s out of recovery for the second one. I figure by then, all the nurses will need saving from his wily Russian ways. I can’t wait to hold you and fuck you again, baby.”

“Same,” I pout, and he doesn’t buy it for a second.

“Hey, none of that! You have three stiff cocks to bounce on. I’ve got no pussy here. None I want to sink into, anyway.”

“Such a romantic, Lukaz,” Jack scoffs, and Luk laughs at his audience. All three guys haven’t left the study yet.

“I’ll be back late tomorrow, depending on how good the roads are. I’m leaving soon because I can’t stay away.”

“I’m catching up with Tali tomorrow afternoon. I haven’t seen her in ages. But I’ll hurry home if I know you’re on your way.”

“I can’t wait, little tree. Hey boys—give her a kiss from me, yeah?”

“We’ll give her more than a kiss, Vaskari,” Jack chuckles, and Luk’s eyebrow meets his curtain of icy-blond hair.

“Assholes. When I get back, she’s all mine for tomorrow night.”

“Nope,” Fox disagrees, and Elijah just stares off into the mountain void, carpeted in a white, ethereal blanket, just as the last of the golden light disappears.

“Mine for tomorrow night,” he repeats, with a middle finger raised at the trio over my shoulder, all while blowing a beautiful kiss straight to me.