Page 3 of Amateur Goddess (Morrigan University #3)

Sergey

“Thanks again for all of the help,” I said as I set down the last box with a huff.

Link glanced around and seemed confused. “We can help with more. I planned on giving you my whole night.”

“We appreciate that and planned for it, but Sergey changed my mind,” Momma said quietly. “We need a fresh start and to be free. It seemed silly to put that on the furniture—”

“But all of it was tainted with what they did to us, Momma,” I whispered. “We packed the important stuff. Leave it. They were going to reclaim the house and—let them have it. We have each other and our futures now—a chance for real lives not controlled by them.”

She gave me a watery smile. “Yes, yes, we do, and that means more.” She sniffled loudly and glanced around. “Besides, with my new workshop, I am excited to branch out. I have always wanted to design my own bedroom set and now I can.”

“That stuff goes for a lot, and—I’ve always been jealous of people who can do that sort of thing,” Link said catching on quickly. “My parents are actually good at refinishing furniture and flipping it. They love finding gems and making them their own. I learned early all I was useful for was cleaning up.”

Momma let out a loud laugh and clapped him on the back. “But you are a good son to help and praise your parents like that. I would love to do the same. Please ask them to give me places to look if they don’t mind sharing.”

“No, they have a garage full of pieces they’ve picked up and not enough time to work on them,” he admitted. “I’m sure my mom would love to make a friend who enjoys the same hobby and would go hunting with her.”

I definitely owed Link a drink or four. He was a good guy and was always helping people every time I turned around.

We finished at the old house, and I went around one last time to check we didn’t miss anything before saying goodbye to the only home I’d ever known. Then we circled over to the new house. It had taken a couple of weeks to find the right place. We didn’t really care about location, as in state, but we did need rural so Momma could have a shop attached.

Something we could hide well since my birth families would be pissed when they learned about what we’d done. Tracey was really amazing and found us a huge farmhouse that needed some love but already had a barn that had been a workshop with an attached garage. It was on about ten acres and just perfect.

Momma fell in love with the wraparound porch and the promise that it got heavy snow in winter like Russia.

I didn’t care where we lived. I just wanted us free and to see her smile—to have a real life beyond protecting me.

“Your mom is really great,” Nigel whispered as he watched her talk to Link and his friends who offered to help us move.

I frowned. “I’ve never heard you talk about your family.”

He flinched. “There’s not really anything to tell.” He turned to walk away but froze. “I’m like Winter but without the love and he had loss.”

I wasn’t sure what that meant, but I let it go. Winter’s parents were great, so he missed them even if he’d never known them? He would have wanted to be around them if he could have whereas Nigel’s parents were bad?

Poor guy. My birth parents were monsters, but at least I’d always had Momma.

“Once we are settled, you will all come back and I will cook for you in thanks,” Momma told them before listing some of her best dishes.

“I know what none of that is, but I’m in,” one of Link’s friends said. “I just broke up with my girlfriend, and I swear I’m going to starve.” He winced when we all looked at him. “Okay, that sounded bad. She liked to cook and I did all the other chores and—I wasn’t being sexist. I did the grocery shopping too.”

“They broke up because she realized that she couldn’t have her dream life on a High Council guard’s salary,” Link grumbled. “I know it hurts, man, but you’re better off. None of us liked her. She couldn’t have it both ways and constantly bitch our society was sexist and then ream you for not being able to provide everything for her like a princess.”

Momma turned up her lip. “Women like her are worthless and make all witches look bad. You will find better after you heal. If you’re handy to help around here, I will make you pirog that you can take from the freezer and pop in the oven.” She chuckled when he simply blinked at her.

“It’s sort of like a Russian calzone but not pizza filling,” I explained, waving my hand back and forth. “Think of it like a meat pie. Momma makes a chicken and cabbage one that’s delicious.”

“You eat so many when I make them,” Momma chuckled and gave me a half hug. “We could try them with pizza fillings. That could be fun.” She kissed my temple. “A new start. New things.”

“A new start and new things,” I agreed. “I want to get a smoker and make some meat on weekends. Have some relaxing afternoons and learn from Bevin like the first steps to make her property how it is.”

“Good. Good, yes, something new for you too,” she agreed with a smile.

For now, we did order pizza to thank our helpers. Rita and her team had already been there to clean it since nothing beat former professional cleaners. Momma was touched by the help and really thrilled at the support.

So was I.

I checked my phone and my eyes about bugged out of my head. As much as I hated to miss the first time the “treat truck” was going to be at Morrigan, we had to move fast so my birth families didn’t find out what was going on.

“It was a huge success,” I told Momma. “Not too many issues and nothing big. But they need more help before they go to the other universities with more students. Apparently, the last student was served just before the two-hour mark and they started early.”

“Tracey doesn’t know how to be anything but a success,” Momma muttered as she read over my shoulder.

“Should we head out to help them?” Nigel asked, glancing between us. “Bevin’s not going to other schools when her family will probably try to nab her, right?”

“No, she’s not going,” I confirmed. “But yeah, I think they’ll need help.”

“Go, go,” Momma told them, packing up pizza for them to take with them. “I will call you soon to thank you. You were a huge help, and now I can unpack slowly.”

I thanked them as well, noting Nigel wanted to talk to me on the side. I nodded that I knew where his head was. “I’ll be there in a few. I’m going with Bevin to do the session with the councilman.”

“Good. Make sure to cloak her. I don’t like what’s been going on,” he grumbled.

I nodded. Me either.

“And maybe you’ll finally get her some flowers since you’re doing something with her on a Friday night even if it’s that,” he drawled, giving me an unamused look.

“Oh damn, being called out by your rival,” one of the other guys chuckled as they all seemed ready to laugh.

I frowned. “We’re not official or—she’s not sure—” I flinched when Momma smacked me upside the head.

“I raised you better than to not treat a woman with respect. You have gone out to eat and I’ve seen you kiss her.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Momma,” I repeated when she started rattling off in Russian that she would beat me dead and then revive me to beat me some more. I shot Nigel a shit look, but he simply smirked… Making it clear he’d done it on purpose so my mother would get me.

Awesome.

I nodded and accepted her yelling while I thought about the situation with the High Council. It had only been a week and a half, and… Some of the councilmen were being problems. They weren’t as bad as the top-tier families, but honestly it seemed to be because they hadn’t had the chance or the same amount of power, not because their morals would stop them.

It was upsetting.

And it was really upsetting for Bevin. I was at my wits’ end about it.

“Momma, I’m going to drop my other tutoring,” I told her. “I only had the one, and honestly he’s fine. He needed the bridge from one level to another and we both know it. And Bevin…”

“It’s awkward when you’re dating and she gives you so much—us,” she accepted.

“That, and I’m not what she needs,” I admitted, nodding when she seemed shocked. “She needs you, Momma. Wyatt is helping her with spell circles and she’s almost there. I raced her through the kiddie stuff, but she needs you to teach her all of the stuff you know to protect us. I know you’re going to teach Tracey and Rita because you’re smart.”

“I am,” she confirmed, hesitating for a moment. “And I was going to ask Link if there was anything he thought I could learn.” She nodded when I couldn’t hide my shock. “Council guards go through rigorous training. It’s silly not to utilize him when he’s such a good one.”

“He could teach Bevin then too, but…” I licked my lips thinking how to phrase it.

“You want me to like her.”

“No, you already do.” I snorted when she frowned. “Momma, you like Bevin. This isn’t to make you bond with the girl I want to date. I think—you’re a protector. It heals you after what you’ve been through. And you make people feel safe. I always have been even with the real threats we’ve faced. Bevin never feels safe. She was—she had to keep it all hidden living there.”

“That must have been hard,” she accepted.

“She cries in her sleep, and I don’t think she knows it. She’s scared and drowning. While doing all of this for so many. I think it will help her. Both of you.”

She rubbed my shoulder and I stopped talking. “You know I will always help. I do like her.” She searched my eyes. “I don’t know that I like you being with a goddess witch, but it’s obvious she’s a good woman and will treat you well.”

I swallowed loudly, unable to lie to my mother and disrespect her that way.

“We all know,” she said gently. “Rita is no fool. Kevin might have brushed it off and believed Bevin in that moment because Tracey didn’t even flinch and Kevin was watching her reaction, but Rita and I are both women who have had to hide secrets. We saw right through her.”

“She just found out and is terrified,” I whispered. “And all of this with the council—she needs more help than I can give her. I’m scared for her. Breaking emotionally taking on so much and people just want more from her.”

“Well, I will help her on the business side. The shop will be up in a few days, and I will handle the workers and make sure this isn’t a stress for her but more income for protection. We know this well as it was always the piece we were missing. Now she provided it for us, and we will give her what we can.”

I nodded. “Which is why Kelton and I agreed that we’re going to take some shifts doing the prep for the treats. Not a lot, but—we’ll keep our eyes open.”

She studied me and nodded. “If that’s what you feel is best. I trust you.” She kissed my temple again. “You are a wise boy—man. You have grown into a fine man and ask for help and advice. That is a smart man. Trust yourself.”

“Thanks, Momma.” I kissed her cheek. “Call me if you need help too.”

“I will.” She smiled. “I’m looking forward to taking my time. We have our new mattresses on the floor and…” She shrugged. “What does it matter if we’re a bit disorganized?”

“Not a damn thing.” I smiled when she did and thanked her for setting the circle to send me back to school. I wasn’t quite there yet as a sophomore, but I should be soon. It was annoying, but I understood why even my mother hadn’t taught me yet.

It was complicated. Like really complicated and could kill a witch or warlock if done wrong. Laying down transportation circles wasn’t a fucking joke.

And they needed to be treated with respect.

I arrived back at the student union and nodded to the students who were manning the counter to send people if they needed it.

“It’s just not fair because I always work Friday at this time,” a warlock said. “So I have to take off time to go wait in line to get my familiar a treat or just miss out? And no one is going to switch shifts now and get stuck with the same.”

“Plus, we make the most tips on Fridays and I need that income,” a witch grumbled.

I spun around and walked over to them. “I will talk with Bevin. It’s an oversight, and—they just launched the idea and are trying to make it work without assholes blowing it all up. She wouldn’t want to stiff you guys.”

The witch studied me a moment. “Yeah, she seems nice. Thanks. It won’t just be us though. I mean some students work in the cafeteria or bookstore and at the other schools too.”

“Or even jobs off campus like the coffee shop or in town. Dozens of us work at this time who have familiars that would want those treats,” the warlock added.

“I’ll talk to her,” I promised. “There has to be a way—maybe if you submitted proof or a list through the employer? Something that others couldn’t abuse.”

“Thanks, man, really,” the warlock accepted, looking relieved.

I decided to skip Bevin since she was already too stressed and sent Tracey a voice memo with what had happened and the points the two students made. They were completely valid, and there had to be a way to handle that.

I met up with Bevin, and she was full of apologies again that I was wasting my time going with her to one of these sessions. I gently shut her down and reminded her of several things.

First, we’d demanded to be there because we were nervous about the whole thing. We didn’t trust the council, and we felt better being there.

Second, she always bought us food or did something nice, so she definitely wasn’t taking advantage of us. Not in the slightest.

Third, we didn’t have to do anything. I normally sat there and did schoolwork unless I felt a spike in tension.

Plus, they weren’t even that long.

We went over by the front security station and found one of the guys who was looped in on the situation. He nodded and moved off to the side to set the circle for us. If we were constantly going to the student union to ask for transportation circles to the High Council after hours… That wouldn’t stay quiet long and would become a problem for sure.

I had Bevin cloaked before the circle was activated, so we were good to go. One of the guards nodded when we arrived, able to sense Bevin and clearly knowing the score. He waved for me to follow, and we did since we were now cleared to be regular guests at the High Council estate.

And Bevin couldn’t help them if she was wearing the magic suppressors.

I frowned when we reached the room she was working with them in and saw two men in there… And one wasn’t a councilman. I pushed Bevin back even if they couldn’t see her and told her to wait.

The councilman smiled when he saw me but instantly lost his smile when he looked past me and I was alone. “Where is Ms.—”

“Did you go against the agreement and tell this man her name?” I demanded, not hiding my anger. “The deal was no one else, and she was—”

“He’s my son , Mr. Koval,” the councilman drawled. “There’s no need—”

“I don’t care,” I snapped. “ No one means no one! The deal was no spouses or family.” I went on when it hit me what was going on. “And certainly not setting her up for a fucking blind date when you know she’s already involved. You’re abusing this situation and—”

“She’s more than capable of saying no, and I would remind you who you’re speaking with,” he snapped.

“Right now, I’m someone she’s dating, talking to someone who’s stepping over the line,” I argued. “Yes, she can say no, but don’t talk to me like I’m an idiot and can’t understand pressure and politics. If it was no big deal, you wouldn’t have done it privately when the other council members weren’t around.”

“Or lied to me,” the son growled, grabbing his father’s arm. “You told me that you met someone who wanted to meet me, Dad.”

“She will, she just doesn’t know it yet and—”

“No, no more spinning shit!” he blasted. “You—seriously, the power is going to your head. You’re supposed to be helping people and making our society better. That was worth the bullshit we put up with as your family. Now you just want the power and perks and it’s embarrassing. It’s shameful .”

“We put up with enough so—”

“No, because you manipulate us too, Dad,” he argued and shoved his dad, shocking the councilman. “I don’t want to be party to any of this! Now you dragged me into this where you’re pressuring a woman who you gave your word to that you’d protect? In front of her boyfriend who is scared for her? What—who are you? I don’t even recognize you anymore.”

“You’re both making this into more than it is,” the councilman said with a sigh.

The guy and I shared a look and I shook my head. “No, we’re not, and we don’t even know each other, so you really should take it to heart and listen to us. This is the same shit the top-tier families pulled on her she was meeting with this week to help your side. And honestly, some of the council have acted just as bad, and I’m shocked she hasn’t washed her hands of all of you.”

Fear flashed in his eyes, and I was glad at least that threat made him worry.

“I don’t know what’s going on and I don’t want to because obviously it’s serious, but I agree that you’re acting more and more like the asshole top-tier families, Dad. You hated them, but now it’s like you hate them because you can’t be them. Your own kids can’t stand to be around you anymore because of this crap, and I used to want to be you.

“This isn’t us. It’s you, and I’m waiting for Mom to leave you after the last whispers you had an affair.” His eyes went wide at what was on the councilman’s face. The son pulled back his arm and slugged his father. “You disgust me. How could you cheat on Mom after all she’s done for you? You wouldn’t be a councilman without her! Fuck off, Dad.”

He went to storm out but then covered his eyes at the last minute because he remembered there was someone he shouldn’t know about. He didn’t know that Bevin was cloaked, so I appreciated it.

“The session is canceled, and there won’t be another one with you until you apologize and take this seriously,” I told the councilman, not caring one bit that his lip was bleeding.

“She made an agreement with us, and you don’t speak for her,” he snapped.

“She did, and you’re not honoring it.” I snorted when he opened his mouth. “Fine, go tell Councilman Oliveria that you’re upset that Bevin won’t have a session with you because you tried to pimp her out to your son and expose it was her so you could push her into being with him. How do you think that will end?”

I felt better when he cleared his throat. Yeah, we both knew Councilman Oliveria would beat the shit out of the guy.

Which was why I was still going to snitch. Bevin hadn’t wanted to rat out the councilmen who had been problems, but I was over it. I was seriously over this shit, and it was going to get worse if she didn’t push back and smack them into line.

It always did with children.

I left and kept my hand on Bevin’s lower back as I escorted her along. She might be cloaked from everyone else, but since it was my magic, I could tell where she was.

And I could feel how upset and defeated she was.

Which was why I made a quick decision and stepped out of the circle for a moment after I escorted her there. I asked a couple of the guys if they knew of a witch or warlock-owned florist, and it turned out they knew just the place.

Perfect.

They set the circle, and I took off the cloaking after we arrived, smiling when Bevin couldn’t hide her confusion and then surprise. She blinked at me and flushed.

“Sorry I’m late, but I didn’t know what you liked, foxy,” I said as I brought her hand to my lips. “And then I realized that you might not have had a chance to find out what you like either, so now we can learn together.”

“Thanks, Sergey,” she whispered, leaning in and kissing my cheek.

I mentally pumped my fist for getting this right. Bevin was going through so much that she needed to feel special—because she was.

And she gave so much more back. The magical night we had was proof of that.

But when she was curled up sleeping, I decided to handle the situation. I grabbed her keys and snuck out, texting Wyatt that I needed to talk to him and we had to make a call. He met me in my dorm room since my roommate was always sleeping over at the woman’s room he was dating.

“What’s up?” he asked, looking as if he’d been sleeping too.

I held up a finger and called Tracey… And added Councilman Reid to the call. Wyatt’s eyes went wide and he tried to grab the phone. “He told me to.”

Wyatt frowned but stopped trying to hang it up. “This is dangerous.”

“More than you know,” I mumbled right as Tracey picked up, but then Councilman Reid did as well. I let them both know someone else was on the line and Wyatt was with me. “Sorry to bother you both and so late, but another councilman brought a son to their session to meet Bevin. Councilman Perry this time. The son had no idea it was a blind date.”

Councilman Reid swore under his breath. “You had her cloaked? Did he tell him her name?”

“I did, and the son didn’t seem to know and covered his eyes so he didn’t catch her. Oh, and the councilman is cheating on his mate and has no remorse,” I drawled.

Reid snorted. “We all know that. He’s a pig. The power of the council has completely gone to his head. I would toss him tomorrow, but more and more people are agreeing that one of the top-tier families should be on the council. We’re losing that battle, and our only stance is that there aren’t any openings. If one becomes available now, we’re in trouble.”

“You’re not wrong, but it’s a powerful statement to see others would want him out as he would be humiliated forever—and his family,” Wyatt said. “I think the rest of the council needs to make it clear that they would toss those troublemakers.”

“Agreed. And—I know unsolicited advice is always great to receive, but you are at the eye of this storm, so from an outside perspective, the council needs to divide and conquer more,” Tracey added. “All thirteen of you do not need to be involved in every hearing. Put a few additions on and let the problems handle traffic court basically and procedural easy.”

“We agree on that,” Councilman Reid sighed. “But it seemed like a risk to make things worse and not worth rocking the boat. I suppose we’re already there though.”

“You are, and while you know you probably won’t kick them out, they don’t,” Wyatt muttered. “All the top-tier families now smell blood in the water for the Shaws. Even my brother contacted me, and we haven’t spoken in years.”

“We will be discussing that later,” Tracey said, her tone harsh.

“You can listen to the voicemail I’m not responding to,” he chuckled. “But there’s about to be a power struggle, and a few of them will be taken out or at least down a few levels in the process. The same would happen if a council seat opened. Yes, no one wants that to happen and you cannot risk it, but it’s a good carrot to dangle for the top-tier families—”

“To attack each other,” I muttered. “Yeah, a few would eat each other for just the chance.” I snorted when Wyatt gave me a worried look. “Yeah, the ones I’m bastard of are the prime example. There’s about to be a shitstorm there too now that I’m free. Momma left her resignation, and we abandoned the house. I expect a representative to show up at school and order me home.”

“We should all be ashamed for allowing them to get this bad and I’m only thirty,” Tracey grumbled. “Well, Bevin is done with those four councilmen. They did this to themselves, and if they don’t keep quiet who she is and try to start problems, they will not like the shit storm I bring. Because I have absolutely no problem making one to protect her.”

Councilman Reid was quiet a moment. “I believe that, Ms. Anderson. I believe you would bring down the whole council if it meant protecting Ms. Millen. Your priorities have been clear from the beginning.”

“I have been because I’m a fair woman, Councilman. But I’m a woman , and some of the council needs to not focus on that. Because I’m a woman with more power than some of them and a lot of means to become their worst nightmares.”

I snorted. “Hell, they should be worried about Bevin. She was so upset at not only what he tried to do to her, but that he was cheating on his mate she was grumbling that his poor familiar didn’t deserve to be paired with such a horrible warlock. That she should try severing the bond and let the familiar live in peace at her house with all the magic.”

“Let’s not make that threat become something she says in front of people because I worry she would be dead the next day,” Councilman Reid muttered. “And we need her.”

They did. At least he was smart enough to understand that they really did.