Chapter 9
Quentin hated to admit it, but his first instinct when he was upset was to go to Jaks. His lover always made him feel better. He teleported into Jaks’s bedroom and resisted the urge to flop onto the middle of the bed and stay wrapped up in blankets until his favorite vampire came to cuddle.
He was becoming needy.
A quick pulse of magic located Jaks in his office. His lover kept harping on how Quentin needed to work on sharing his burdens and leaning on Jaks more. Time to find out if he meant those words. If he really wanted deeper into Quentin’s life, he was obligated to listen to him whine occasionally.
Luckily, when he knocked on Jaks’s office and was bade to come in, his lover was alone. It would’ve been embarrassing to explain that he’d only come to share his terrible day. Not that he thinks Jaks would care, but Quentin didn’t want witnesses.
He didn’t know what expression he had on his face, but as soon as he entered, Jaks stood up and pulled Quentin into a hug. He must look worse than he thought. “What happened, darling? Besides going to class without your bodyguard.”
“Ugh. Sorry, I forgot.” Quentin rested his forehead on Jaks’s firm chest. “At least you don’t have to worry about me being attacked at school anymore.”
“Why? What happened?” Jaks ran his fingers through Quentin’s hair. It was so soothing that he might have to barter for hair-petting time for several minutes every day.
“I’ll tell you everything if you cuddle with me on the couch,” he bargained as he pulled away and sank onto Jaks’s ridiculously comfortable furniture.
Jaks tilted his head. “It’s like you confuse me with a teddy bear instead of the apex predator I am.”
Quentin nodded. “Yep, now come here.” He made grabby hands at the vampire.
With a put-upon sigh, Jaks sat on the couch, then pulled Quentin onto his lap and wrapped his arms around him until he was fully encompassed in Jaks’s hold and surrounded by his scent. “Now, what can I do to make your day better?”
Quentin snuggled into his lover’s touch and told him everything.
Jaks listened to the entire story without interruption. “Rendell didn’t give you the benefit of the doubt? You’ve been attending that school for years and are their star student.”
“Rendell has been looking for ways to get rid of me since I started teaching.”
“What did Dean Mearson say?”
“I never met with her. Rendell is the department head. If he wants to fire me, he can. I gave him a reason he could get away with it, even if he came down harder than I expected.”
“Do you think he was hoping you would bargain with him?”
“For what?”
“You have several valuable patents that the university doesn’t have rights to due to your contract. You’ve told me before that Rendell is always trying to steal your work.”
Distracted by Jaks’s stroking hands, it took him a minute to gather his thoughts.
He leaned back to look at Jaks’s face. “You think this is a plot to get me to bargain over my patents?” He hadn’t considered that angle.
His patents were valuable, and the inventions he was developing now would be worth even more in the future.
He had the locals already placing orders.
It was only a matter of time before it spread to other states.
Jaks lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug, careful not to dislodge Quinten.
“You’ve made no secret about wanting to branch out on your own after graduating.
Unless they offer you a grant or something, they have no way of keeping you or your knowledge.
I had thought the teaching position was their way of keeping you on campus, but maybe it was only a distraction.
You never promised to stay past this first class.
This could be a case of good cop, bad cop.
Rendell comes in hard and fires you, then Dean Mearson rescues you and offers you your job back with some concessions. ”
“You think that’s what’s happening here?”
“Maybe.” He rubbed his chin across Quentin’s head. “I could be wrong, but as you said, he was quick to fire you, and since you are Dean Mearson’s golden child, I think he would be more reluctant if he didn’t already have the go-ahead. Normally, you’d never consider giving up your patent rights.”
“Unless I’m disgraced and they’re claiming to help,” Quentin concluded. “Then I might agree to a more lopsided contract in their favor.” His stomach sank as he considered the implications. “I always thought she was a fair person. Not someone who would do something like this.”
“Maybe she is being pressured by upper management. I have a feeling we don’t know the full story.”
Quentin sighed. “You don’t think I’m being paranoid?”
Jaks ran a soothing hand down his back. “If anything, you are probably not paranoid enough. I remember twenty years ago when Dean Waldon, Dean Mearson’s predecessor, blew up the astronomy lab.
They had a fundraiser to replace it, and he’s now head of the astronomers’ guild.
From what you said, you only partially destroyed one room already in bad shape, and no one was hurt.
I think it’s a setup. They might not have caused the accident, but they are taking advantage of it. ”
“He harped on the fact that I used random chalk. He said I caused the accident by not using a school-approved product. No one had mentioned using only school chalk before, and I found it at the school. It should’ve been safe.
I know for a fact that the runes teacher makes her own.
Not that I can prove anything. I foolishly gave the chalk box to Rendell.
I won’t be surprised if he claims it never happened. ”
“Why didn’t you use your own chalk?”
“My box was missing.”
“Hmm, do you think someone took it?”
“I didn’t before, but coincidences are stacking up, and I don’t like it.” Quentin sighed and leaned harder into his vampire pillow. “So, I’m stuck. Either I completely cut ties with the university under a dark cloud, and they blacken my name, or I bow to whatever terms they offer me.”
“Or.” Jaks squeezed him tight. “You go independent. Those who’ve seen your work know your skill and will be more than happy to buy your products, whether you blow up half the university or not.”
Quentin’s laugh was a sad, tired thing. “I thought you didn’t like me being a bounty hunter.”
Jaks put a finger beneath Quentin’s chin and tilted it up. “When did the words ‘bounty hunter’ cross my lips? There are more than two possible jobs for you.”
Quentin blinked innocently up at his lover. This was the most fun he’d had all day. “Are you sure? I could’ve sworn I heard the words ‘bounty hunter’. Besides, you gave me permission and everything.” He nodded sagely.
“You have enough going on right now without chasing monsters.” He kissed the top of Quentin’s head. “Weren’t you going to investigate Grevin’s attack and figure out what was freed? Not to mention, we also have Glenn’s sire running around.”
“Strangely, they haven’t tried anything since attacking Glenn unless he’s the same one that freed the demon,” he mused.
“We don’t know if it was premeditated. They could’ve just been hungry, and Glenn was the closest food source,” Jaks pointed out.
“Maybe.” His mind was still focused on his interaction with Rendell. “Do you think someone took my chalk and planted the other, or does that sound too paranoid?”
“It does.” Jaks kissed him. “But that does not mean you shouldn’t be cautious. I have enough enemies that would enjoy killing you just to get to me.”
Quentin rubbed his hands on his jeans. “All right. I’ll be extra careful. I didn’t get the chance to tell you about my father’s visit, did I?”
“You talked to King Lars?”
“No. I talked to my father, who happens to be a king. He gave me this.” He shook his wrist, showing off his bracelet.
Jaks ran his fingers over it. “How did I not notice that before?”
Quentin tilted his head. “Hmm. He probably spelled it so it wouldn't be noticeable unless I pointed it out. Maybe.” Quentin scrunched his nose, thinking over possible magical camouflage that could have been used.
“And what does your sneaky bracelet do?”
“It hides my fae features. Apparently, there aren’t any half-fae, only full fae who haven’t gotten old enough to gain all their fae abilities. By the way, am I addictive?”
Jaks laughed. “Absolutely.”
After several enjoyable kisses, Quentin pulled back. “I mean my blood. Glenn said he heard that fae blood can be addictive.”
He was relieved that Jaks appeared to give his question careful consideration.
“I think it could be for others, but since we are magically bonded, I haven’t had any problems. Not to say you aren’t delicious.
” He playfully leered at Quentin. “But I don’t feel any compulsion to drain you.
Please do me a favor and do not feed any other vampire, not even your mother.
I don’t know what their reaction would be, or mine if I sense your blood in them. ”
“Can you do that?”
Jaks nodded. “Yes. We are bonded, which means I can feel the magical blood flowing through your veins. If it were to be transferred to another vampire, I would lose control.”
“Noted. Luckily enough, I don’t go around letting other vampires bite me. I’m an exclusive one-vampire feeder.”
“Good, keep it that way. I know it sounds bad, but I’m instinctively protective of my food source.”
“It does sound bad, but I’m protective of you drinking from others, so it appears to be mutual. Are you taking enough from me? You don’t bite me very often.” He fidgeted with the buttons on his shirt, avoiding Jaks’s eyes.
Jaks tucked a strand of hair behind Quentin’s ear. “You underestimate the power of your blood, Beloved. You pack a punch. I do not need much to last me for several weeks.”
Quentin collapsed against Jaks. Snuggling against his strong chest.
“Were you worried?”