84. Four Idiots

“…And that concludes it.”

Like some returning upperclassman cold-called by the professor and hauled up to the podium mid-lecture, I’d blasted through my entire presentation in one breathless, unbroken rush.

But once he’d heard me out, Professor Kairon’s face gave nothing away. Satisfaction, disappointment, plain bafflement? I couldn’t read a trace of it.

I swallowed hard and tacked on more, like a defendant pleading his case.

“She and I have already reached a full understanding. She’s promised she’ll never do anything that threatens the safety of the house or brings it harm.”

Naturally, I couldn’t very well spell out the...