attending a university and learning new things. Being together without chaperones. After that, they could take his court back.
“I wish you all the best.” Vix took a sip of tea. “Are you also going to university, James?”
James snorted. “Me, go to school voluntarily? Do you think Hittie and Hattie would let me work with them for a bit?”
Steven nearly spit out his tea. Hittie and Hattie were ornery female air pirate friends of Vix’s. Hattie did seem fond of James.
Vix’s eyebrows rose. “Doing what?”
“Gunning.” James shrugged. “Noli, more sword lessons after you visit the shop?”
“Perfect.” Noli grinned.
They finished breakfast. Noli gave Steven her applications and quickly wrote requests to her teachers. Back at his own house, the first thing Steven did was consult the book he and Quinn used for messages. He’d forgotten to check it yesterday.
The page was blank. His finger traced the spot where there should be a symbol. Two days ago, there’d been a triangle, which had replaced the circle and rectangle that had been there previously.
No symbol. That could only mean one thing.
Dropping the book to the ground, Steven ran all the way to Mr. Thompson’s General Store. Chest heaving, he pushed open the door.
“Mr. Thompson, do you have any aethergraphs for James or Steven Darrow, or for Magnolia Braddock?”
Mr. Thompson returned with two papers. “I have one for Steven Darrow and one for Magnolia Braddock.”
“I appreciate it.” Steven handed the shopkeeper a coin. Noli’s was from her mother. But the other …
Stiofán, something is wrong. Come as soon as possible. —Mathias
Steven’s entire being went cold. Mathias was a very good friend of Quinn’s. As much as he hoped it wasn’t true, this message wouldn’t disappear or change.
Back at the houses, he found Noli and James gone. He moved all of Quinn’s journals and research to Noli’s room, where they’d be safe. After locating a schedule of airships to New York, he returned to town to visit the bank and buy some essentials. This time, he’d bring money before charging off on an adventure.
When Steven came home again, he found James giving Noli a sword lesson in her backyard. Jeff joined them too, his eyes shining with excitement.
“Noli, come quick,” Jeff called.
Noli put down her sword, hiked up her skirts, and followed her brother into the house. Steven looked at James, who shrugged. They followed Noli and Jeff into what had been Mr. Braddock’s office, which looked as if it had been set upon by bandits.
“You found it?” Noli’s jaw dropped.
Steven cocked his head, wondering what Jeff had been looking for.
“You never thought to look in here, did you?” Grinning, Jeff bent under the desk.
She shook her head. “We’re not allowed in here.”
“Which makes it the perfect place to hide things.” Jeff’s hand shot out from under the desk, holding a glass jar stuffed with money. He emerged and waved the jar at Noli. “University fund. This should get you started.”
Noli wrapped her arms around her brother, her eyes shimmering with joy. “You found it.”
Ah, the infamous hidden jar of money. Steven had helped Noli look for it, and yes, this was one place they’d never dared look.
Jeff hugged Noli back, shooting Steven a pointed glance that clearly said take that .
“I dropped off the applications and your letters.” Steven didn’t know what else to say. He’d figured he’d pay for Noli’s school. Somehow. He supposed all his father’s money and the house were his now.
Perhaps they could sell the house here and buy one wherever they went to university. Then they could, for lack of a better term, “play house.” Though he might have to marry Noli first. Mortal style, at least. Not that he minded.
He smiled. Yes, he’d marry her. Mortal and Otherworld style. Even with everything, he wanted to be with her forever. He was her other half. She made him a better man.
“What?” Noli
“I wish you all the best.” Vix took a sip of tea. “Are you also going to university, James?”
James snorted. “Me, go to school voluntarily? Do you think Hittie and Hattie would let me work with them for a bit?”
Steven nearly spit out his tea. Hittie and Hattie were ornery female air pirate friends of Vix’s. Hattie did seem fond of James.
Vix’s eyebrows rose. “Doing what?”
“Gunning.” James shrugged. “Noli, more sword lessons after you visit the shop?”
“Perfect.” Noli grinned.
They finished breakfast. Noli gave Steven her applications and quickly wrote requests to her teachers. Back at his own house, the first thing Steven did was consult the book he and Quinn used for messages. He’d forgotten to check it yesterday.
The page was blank. His finger traced the spot where there should be a symbol. Two days ago, there’d been a triangle, which had replaced the circle and rectangle that had been there previously.
No symbol. That could only mean one thing.
Dropping the book to the ground, Steven ran all the way to Mr. Thompson’s General Store. Chest heaving, he pushed open the door.
“Mr. Thompson, do you have any aethergraphs for James or Steven Darrow, or for Magnolia Braddock?”
Mr. Thompson returned with two papers. “I have one for Steven Darrow and one for Magnolia Braddock.”
“I appreciate it.” Steven handed the shopkeeper a coin. Noli’s was from her mother. But the other …
Stiofán, something is wrong. Come as soon as possible. —Mathias
Steven’s entire being went cold. Mathias was a very good friend of Quinn’s. As much as he hoped it wasn’t true, this message wouldn’t disappear or change.
Back at the houses, he found Noli and James gone. He moved all of Quinn’s journals and research to Noli’s room, where they’d be safe. After locating a schedule of airships to New York, he returned to town to visit the bank and buy some essentials. This time, he’d bring money before charging off on an adventure.
When Steven came home again, he found James giving Noli a sword lesson in her backyard. Jeff joined them too, his eyes shining with excitement.
“Noli, come quick,” Jeff called.
Noli put down her sword, hiked up her skirts, and followed her brother into the house. Steven looked at James, who shrugged. They followed Noli and Jeff into what had been Mr. Braddock’s office, which looked as if it had been set upon by bandits.
“You found it?” Noli’s jaw dropped.
Steven cocked his head, wondering what Jeff had been looking for.
“You never thought to look in here, did you?” Grinning, Jeff bent under the desk.
She shook her head. “We’re not allowed in here.”
“Which makes it the perfect place to hide things.” Jeff’s hand shot out from under the desk, holding a glass jar stuffed with money. He emerged and waved the jar at Noli. “University fund. This should get you started.”
Noli wrapped her arms around her brother, her eyes shimmering with joy. “You found it.”
Ah, the infamous hidden jar of money. Steven had helped Noli look for it, and yes, this was one place they’d never dared look.
Jeff hugged Noli back, shooting Steven a pointed glance that clearly said take that .
“I dropped off the applications and your letters.” Steven didn’t know what else to say. He’d figured he’d pay for Noli’s school. Somehow. He supposed all his father’s money and the house were his now.
Perhaps they could sell the house here and buy one wherever they went to university. Then they could, for lack of a better term, “play house.” Though he might have to marry Noli first. Mortal style, at least. Not that he minded.
He smiled. Yes, he’d marry her. Mortal and Otherworld style. Even with everything, he wanted to be with her forever. He was her other half. She made him a better man.
“What?” Noli
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