Page 15 of A Lesson in Obedience

“If he just stopped complaining, then we would be fine. I’m twenty, not twelve, you overprotective idiot.” My ears perked up and Beau’s tail dropped lower and started wagging incessantly.

“I’m not about to have my sister go off to a train station at fucking eleven o’clock at night. You are out of your mind.” I got up from the bench, sidling up next to Beau who looked up at me with his silly little smile.

His front paws tapped the ground as if he was anxiously excited. His bark flew through the open air and I waited but he only barked once as if it was some kind of signal. I heard the sound of someone running and then a shriek.

“Oh my god! Riley!” I noticed her neon pink headband before I realized Corrin was sprinting over to me, our bodies colliding when she embraced me in the fiercest hug. I held her tight, pressing my face into her neck. She pulled back, scanning my face.

Mateo and Ike were behind her, keeping what I assumed was a watchful eye on the perimeter, like two unnecessary guard dogs.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, watching as Beau circled around her legs.

“Asher called me. He somehow has your phone, but that part isn’t important.” She squeezed my arms. “The important thing is that you’re okay.”

“Uh, yeah,” I mumbled.

“Or…not.” She rubbed her hands up and down my arms, pulling me into her again. “You can tell me or not tell me, but we’ll take you back to my house.”

“You couldn’t have picked like I don’t know, a twenty-four-hour diner or something?” Ike complained, looking around.

I shrugged, not really knowing how to answer.

“No se.It’s eerie and quiet here. It’s kind of a vibe.” Mateo winked over at me, causing Ike to narrow and roll his eyes.

Ike pointed from his sister to her partner. “You two are made for each other with your never-ending optimism.”

Corrin widened her eyes at me shaking her head. “You should try it sometime, maybe you wouldn’t be so grumpy.” She bent down and scratched Beau behind his ear. “Aren’t you the cutest! You want to meet my cat?” Beau’s tail thumped as he panted in her face, fogging up her glasses.

“I think the only person Jax likes is you,mi amor.” Mateo bent down next to her and reached out to pet Beau as well.

I moved to head back to the bench I’d been sitting on. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“From the looks of it, you don’t want to go home, so where else are you going to go Riley?” Ike questioned, walking over and sitting down next to me.

“It’s not that, well it’s not that completely. Things are different…”

Corrin came to sit on the other side of me. “You mean when you blasted one of your boyfriends across the room?”

I clamped my mouth shut, whipping my head around to face her. She wrinkled her nose.

“That look on your face is insulting. I have two eyes, Riley. Also, that whole ordeal has been all the school gossip mill has been talking about the last few hours. While I am very fucking interested in how my roommate was a witch and I didn’t know it, I am more concerned with getting you to a safe place.” She placed her hand on my leg, patting it reassuringly. “And from the look on Beau’s face, so is he.”

I looked over at Beau, who was happily getting chest scratches from Mateo.

“How can you tell? Can he talk to you too?” I wasn’t really all that sure how magic, being a witch or having a familiar even worked.

Corrin giggled a little. “No, he can only talk to you. But he can understand anyone.” She called Beau’s name and he cocked his head to look at her. “Do you want to head to my house, so Riley’s comfortable?” Her voice had an excited tone that made his ears perk up.

He let out a few short barks and ran up to me, jumping up so that he could place his paws on my legs. His weight was heavy, but I didn’t mind. I grabbed his face and smushed his cheeks in. “Fine. I’ll go.”

“Oh, thank fuck.” Ike slapped the bench and started walking back the way they came.

“You and I both know Jade is going to want the dog to sit up front,” Mateo said, lightly punching Ike when they sidled up next to him. Corrin held onto me while we walked behind them, her tight curls tickling my face as she leaned her head towards me.

“Jade is here too?” I asked, confused.

“Well, we were already all together when Asher called and my sibling was not about to miss out on a search mission. It’s thatloboinstinct, always on the hunt.” Mateo turned around, giving me a big smile.

“There was no hunting. Asher sent us the address. Stop making yourself sound cooler than you actually are,mi amor,” Corrin pointed out, softly sighing when Mateo blew her a kiss before turning back around.