Page 13

“You’re fucking kidding me,” I practically growled as I took in the circus at the guard station of Demeter University, the main rival of Morrigan. There was tons of press and more all over the place.

I thought Tracey’s head was going to explode as she went right for the problem. The headmaster was standing like the cat that ate the canary.

“Get back,” Taylor barked as people rushed over, understanding that I was the owner of Familiar Treasures. “I will not warn you again, and do not think to touch her.” Several of his employees flanked me and showed they were armed, people acting like the victims and we were being completely over the top.

“Oh, shove it,” I drawled. “I can feel the magic on several of you to try and strip my glamour. Which is illegal.”

“It’s fine since she’s a former student of our prestigious university,” the headmaster said loudly.

“You didn’t even know that I was a woman until this moment,” I countered. “Don’t try to strong-arm me. It won’t end well for you.”

“You cannot ban all of us from your store and purchasing your wares or you won’t have any customers left,” he said with a fake smile, his eyes dancing with victory.

“And?” I snorted when people went quiet. “I’m the only one who can use this type of magic and I have money. I don’t do this for money or I would be charging for this service. It’s disgusting that I’m doing this for the next generation and to help their familiars and you’re using this opportunity for your own advantage. And people rant that I’m dramatic for hiding.”

“I think it was stupid you came out to do this even glamoured,” Taylor said for the millionth time.

“It was the only way to do this with the familiars and not break the law sneaking onto campus,” I reminded him. “I thought he would have had the same integrity as Headmaster Kerwynn and been accommodating. Apparently not, and it’s obvious why Demeter is ranked behind Morrigan.”

Anger filled the headmaster’s eyes at hearing that.

Lovely, now we were both pissed.

“Everyone needs to show ID to be allowed onto campus,” he said firmly. “Please show yours.” He gestured to the waiting guards.

“You jealous, petty man,” I sighed before moving towards him. He smirked like he’d won something, but instead I used my magic to call his familiar to me. I smiled as the koala came right for me. I picked him up and booped his nose. “You’re such a handsome boy, aren’t you?”

He soaked up all the praise I lavished on him. Since there were ears all around me, I decided to slip in a few lies, saying he reminded me of my familiar who was a snuggly one too.

“Will you do me a favor? Your warlock was mean to me and is trying to abuse a gift I was willing to give him. He should be punished, right?” I ignored when people gasped at the familiar nodding. “Good, you’re a smart boy. I’d like you to not harvest for him until he apologizes, okay?”

“But that’s my job,” he worried.

“You’re supposed to be a team, and he’s not doing what’s best for the team. So until he does—”

“Touch her and you’re dead,” Taylor warned, blocking me from the headmaster.

“She has my familiar and is using magic on him,” the headmaster seethed. “That’s against the law.”

“It’s actually not. The law is hurting familiars and you know that,” Councilman Oliveria said firmly from my right. “Here I thought I would be arriving to witness the next step of progress so Demeter could thrive as Morrigan’s large familiars have, and instead—have you lost your mind?”

I took the distraction and explained to the koala why it was the right move and his warlock needed some humility and to not abuse witches. Not when he was responsible for shaping the next generation.

“He’s going to get mad,” the koala worried.

“He can get mad and yell all he wants, but if he hurts you—even a smack—you can find me and my magic now. I want you to find me and I’ll give you sanctuary,” I promised. I met the headmaster’s pissed-off gaze and matched it. “I’ve done it before with familiars who were abused.”

Not exactly the truth, but I was loaded up with so much magic to hide and protect me that no one was getting much from me.

“A familiar is a gift , not a given,” I told him firmly. “You want to use me to promote yourself and seek fame that I don’t even try for. I stay hidden so people keep their focus where it should be. On them. On the familiars.” I kissed the head of the koala. “Our gifts from the gods that help us be more than human.

“And you’re selfish with that? You’re supposed to be an educator first. What are you teaching your students today? To lie, cheat, and steal is fine if they get the result they want? To use situations to their advantage, and screw who you hurt in the end? Or what I want doesn’t matter because I’m a witch? Because I promise you that it matters to the gods.”

“Are you confirming you’re a goddess witch?” someone called.

I turned to face the reporter trying to shove a microphone closer to me and remembered what Tracey had lectured about muddying things up. “Are you a complete twat? A sexist twat, yeah?”

There, that sounded a bit British and like we were using magic to make me sound American.

Or I probably just offended every British person—dead and alive.

Sorry.

“No one ever suggested the owner was a god warlock when everyone said over and over and over again the owner had to be a man,” I continued. “No, he was an impressive bloke who clearly had the best training. But now that I’m a woman, I must be a goddess witch.

“That’s the only way that it could be possible?” I snorted. “You’re an ignorant git. If I was a warlock, you would be asking me how I managed to develop new magic. What species my familiar is or if I know a secret place to harvest magic? Or if I did something differently harvesting to achieve this level of magic?”

“Did you?” someone yelled.

“Yes,” I answered with a smirk.

“We’re not playing these games,” Tracey said loudly, getting everyone’s attention. “Set the circle to leave.”

“You cannot just bail on the contract you agreed to,” the headmaster snapped as he reached for Tracey.

But he never reached her. Taylor was suddenly there pushing Tracey behind him and shoving the headmaster back.

“You just showed your true colors trying to put your hands on a woman when she tells you no,” he bit out. “And I read the contract, so I knew exactly what security we would provide. You broke the terms of the contract. You specifically agreed to no media—”

“I can’t help when they show up and I haven’t let them on campus,” he tried lamely.

Several of the reporters snorted, looking annoyed they weren’t getting their scoop now that they were clearly promised. One handed their phone over to Tracey and I bet it was an invite or something good because I thought she was about to explode.

“I will be back with teams to pull the sheds and transport them to another college that won’t pull this crap,” she said firmly.

“You can’t do that,” the headmaster growled, trying to shove past Taylor to get to her.

And failing miserably. The look on Taylor’s face daring the guy to touch him again even scared me .

“That is my magic on those sheds, and an agreement was made for that,” I said firmly, relieved with Councilman Oliveria next to me. “And as of this moment, there will be no more treat truck dates at Demeter University.” I smirked at the headmaster. “You overplayed your hand. How long until the board, faculty, and students demand your resignation?”

He struggled to keep his composure but had to with all of the cameras around or he probably knew he’d be out of a job before he could try to clean up his mess. He should be anyways.

I gave the koala another kiss, my heart breaking when he didn’t want me to let him go. He kept hugging me asking if we could play longer when I squatted down with him.

I blinked back tears. “I’m sorry, little one. I have to go. I’m sorry the gods gave you to someone who doesn’t deserve you. It’s not your fault. You are a good boy and a wonderful familiar. Maybe soon he will be a good warlock to you again.”

“Where is Bevin Shaw?” someone called out when we were moving to the transportation circle someone was setting.

I put on my best mask and acted unbothered. “Bevin Millen is at school and—” I flipped around and acted worried. “Why? What did you hear? Is something happening—”

The reporter smirked at me. “What’s your name? Information isn’t free.”

“No, but making up problems for you to supposedly solve them is fraud.” I glanced at his press credential, saying his name and station out loud. “You’re banned. Your whole family.” I glanced over at Tracey. “And let’s pull our advertising budget for the next month from that station. I’m done letting this bad behavior go unpunished.”

“Agreed,” she said firmly.

We circled away before people could fully react to that bomb being dropped, Councilman Oliveria handling the circle so no one could try and trace it or read the magic. It was very, very against the law to do that when it was a circle set by someone who worked for the council.

Well, the police too, but they were so damn corrupt that half the time they gave out the information… For a price.

I was so disappointed by what happened that I couldn’t handle what was going on inside of me. None of that had to happen, and that familiar’s pain and sadness were swirling inside of me.

“No, don’t cry,” Emma said as she grabbed me. “Don’t let them win. Get angry .”

“I am, but it also hurts!” I snapped, wanting to shove her away but couldn’t hurt her or Tracey who was taking all the magic off of me.

“Then let it out. Use your magic like I can’t. Shoot a tree or something. Just let it out in a way that is productive so you are in control,” she pushed.

“What the hell happened?” Mrs. Reid demanded, having been waiting at my house for her session.

“Things took a bad turn,” Taylor told her. “It will be all over the news soon and it’s going to be a problem.”

“Not helping,” I shouted. Then the setting sun cut through the tree branches in a funny way and I had a flash of a memory. Feeling this before. This mixture of pain and anger. Alex had hurt a familiar of someone who worked for us and I felt the pain. I broke Emma’s hold and turned to Tracey. “Take me to the new land.”

“It’s not ours yet. We have two weeks until closing and—”

“Tracey, take me there!” I shouted. “Take me to where we’re going to start. Now!”

She did it without another word, worry just about vibrating off of her. The second we were there, I moved away from everyone and knelt down on the ground. I put my hands in the dirt so my fingers were spread apart and let out all of my magic, yelling in frustration as I did.

I let out the pain, disappointment—everything that had been swirling in me for so long and just kept building. As much of it as I could without hurting myself.

I sat back on my feet and then plopped onto my butt, meeting Tracey’s shocked gaze even if she was a bit fuzzy. “That was how it started. I remember now.”

“What did you do, Bev?” she whispered. “The ground shook.”

I thought about it and nodded. “Yeah, Grandfather said that. He teased me that I was a little earthquake maker, but I couldn’t ever do it again, especially not at home because they would know then.”

“What did you do, poppet?” Councilman Oliveria asked gently as he knelt down next to me.

“I planted the seed of magic here,” I mumbled, feeling tired. “That’s what Grandfather called it. He found it in a book. He didn’t know at first either, but that’s how it started. That’s how fixing the estate started. I’d forgotten about that. He wanted me to forget it because—”

“It’s another fucking reason everyone in our world will try to abduct you or kill you if they can’t have you,” Taylor grumbled.

“You are getting a spanking later and not one you will enjoy,” Tracey snapped.

I blinked at her a moment and so did everyone else before people had amused reactions. Some of Taylor’s people full laughing, but I let out a few chuckles.

Tracey simply shrugged.

“I love you,” I told her.

“Love you too. Now fill in the blanks so I can go ream that asshole and get ahead of this.”

I nodded. “Alex hurt a familiar of someone who worked for us. One of the guards who wasn’t a complete asshole. It was the first time I felt attached to familiars.” Tears burned in my eyes, but I blinked them back. “It hurt so bad. I remember thinking I was hurt. All over I hurt, and I was so angry. He was a monster and they wanted me to die for him.

“Luckily, Grandfather came over right after and found me about to explode. He brought me to the lake and told me to let it out. It wasn’t like this time. It was probably a blip, but I yelled and pushed magic into where we were. He said the ground shook a bit and he felt magic. I don’t know what book he found it in. He said he hid it.”

“I know where he hid a lot. I keep meaning to start getting things out of storage for you to go through but…” She held her hands out to her sides as if to say we were already busy.

Yeah, fair.

“How do you feel?” Mrs. Reid asked as she gracefully squatted down in front of me. I felt her magic on me. “You’re a bit run-down and overexerted.”

I nodded. “Kinda like an overstretched hair tie. Yeah, that’s a good way to put it. Or balloon that let out the water?” I covered my face and scrubbed it before letting out a watery laugh.

“Let’s get you home to rest, poppet,” Councilman Oliveria offered as he helped me up.

I turned to him, knowing he would understand. “I’m so angry with him. All the time now and it’s ruined all my memories of him.”

Tears filled his eyes. “I know. Henry will apologize to you one day. He really did the best he could.”

“Did he even love me? Or was it just because he knew what I am? Because I had to be protected? I always thought it was because it was me, but what I told Clare was right and it’s just because I had to be saved.” I gripped onto his arms for strength. “Do you know what it’s like to realize the only person who ever loved you didn’t really and it was all a lie? That you’re that unloved?”

He pulled me into a hug. “He loved you, Bevin. As much as I love my children. I saw it again and again. He saved you because he should, but he loved you because you are special and healed him. Please don’t doubt that. We saw it.”

I let him comfort me and then let out a long breath before turning to Tracey. “Sorry.”

She hugged me next. “It’s fine. I just didn’t understand.”

I snorted. “I don’t normally either. I just get these pieces and flashes, and—I’m so tired Tracey.”

“I know. I know you are.” She rubbed my back and kissed my hair. “You’re doing great. I’m going to go handle this and be your dragon. Stay at the house for my own sanity, okay?”

“Yeah, I’ll get back on schedule.” I winced when I looked at Emma. “Reset the timer. My bad.”

She chuckled and hugged me too. “Girl, you’re the strongest one here. If I felt the pain of neglected familiars, I’d be in the corner blubbering every second of every day. You tried. That’s what’s important. You did something other than break down. You’re doing great. Seriously. I’m proud of you.”

I thanked her and was glad when we went home.

But I blanked on everything and like what was going on.

Right, I had sessions to do. I asked Mrs. Reid if we could hold off a bit until I recharged and got something to drink.

Mrs. Oliveria and Link showed up and she fussed all over me when she heard what happened. Link asked how I was too, but I was still a bit salty with him.

He sighed and scrubbed his hand over his neck. “You’re right, and I—I wasn’t being dismissive. I had another fire I was already putting out, but I should have figured a way to pass that off or manage both. You—go ahead and spank me. I deserve it.”

“What is with this group and spanking?” Mrs. Reid asked. “Or is this like a generational thing I don’t understand?”

Several of us snickered, and Link’s confusion was just the icing on the cake for sure.

I studied him and felt the exhaustion and… Defeat. Something was going on that just left him feeling defeated. I walked over to him and gave him a hug, surprising most there.

“Thanks,” he mumbled, accepting it and hugging me tightly.

“Your punishment is you have to help me with my next Wicked Challenges prank.”

“You have to have enough points by now,” he muttered as he rubbed my back, sounding a bit worried.

“It’s not about the points. I… Nothing ever changes because people just go along with things. It’s what they see or are used to. I want to do something different. Something I read about. Will you help me?”

“Yeah, I’ll help.”

I realized something more was going on when Loki came closer and wanted my attention. I glanced between them and almost fell over with shock. “Shit, I’m really good. You’re a better student than Tracey. You take things so seriously. So cool.”

“Um, thanks?” He frowned and looked at his uncle. “I feel like I was also insulted in there.”

“No more sessions for Link for a while,” I said, ignoring him. I nodded when Mrs. Oliveria gasped. “Scan him. He had a huge jump in power—how tired do you feel?”

He snorted. “Your hair tie analogy seems rather fitting. I mean, so much has been going on but—” He sighed and scrubbed his hands over his face.

“He might need a few days off. This is faster than I could have expected.” I glanced at the councilman. “Scan him. You’ve been tracking this.”

“I have. Step back, poppet.”

I smiled, kinda loving that he called me that. I knew he did his kids when they were younger, and it made me feel like I had family.

Well… Yeah, I knew what I meant.

“By the gods,” Councilman Oliveria gasped after a moment. “How is this even possible?”

“His hard work,” I said proudly. I nodded when they both looked at me. “I gave them the path and helped, but—this is all Link and even Loki.” I snickered. “Tracey is going to freak and double down.”

“How big of a jump could it really have been in… How long have you been working with him?” Mrs. Reid asked, moving in to scan him once Councilman Oliveria stepped aside.

“Almost six weeks?” Link muttered, giving me a look. “Yeah, Saturday is six weeks. And she gives me a session every other or third day. It’s been a lot.”

“It has been, but the brushes—don’t use them for a week while you settle in this power level,” Councilman Oliveria decided, glancing at me. “Don’t you agree?”

I held my hands up in surrender. “I have no idea. I’ve never seen this—a real adult needs to handle this. I just know how to help the bond and do the sessions. I promised you results.”

“That you did, poppet,” he agreed before throwing his head back and laughing. “This is astounding! Do you have any idea the miracle you’ve pulled off.”

“I really didn’t. Link did all of the work,” I repeated, feeling uncomfortable.

“Thank you, but all the work wouldn’t have done this without your magic, Bevin,” Link said firmly. “You gush magic when you do those sessions. That’s what we’re saying.”

Oh yeah, that was fair. I was just so used to it that I didn’t think much of it.

Mrs. Reid immediately called her husband and even Professor Wyatt. After a moment, she called Headmaster Kerwynn saying he was one of the best in his field and would know to keep this quiet.

Okay then. Weird.

Other councilmen arrived and even a few of the nice wives who knew about me. It became a flurry of comments and Link giving me dry looks like he wanted to go home.

Yeah, I felt the same… Except I was home.

At least I had something to drink and snacks.

“You did this?” Headmaster Kerwynn checked. He waved me off when I went to reiterate that Link had done it all. “These are the sessions? These sessions Laura was telling me about?”

“Yes, and the brush,” I muttered. “I think.” I shrugged.

“This isn’t possible,” he muttered, looking like he needed something to lean on. I figured it out and quickly guided him over to one of the seats on the half-finished patio. “Thank you.” He stared at me like I’d grown another head. “How?”

I shrugged again, glancing at Wyatt for help.

He nodded like he had it, clearing his throat. “I’m a bit shocked you know—how do you know the level he was at?”

“He checked me before he would let me slip into the school’s security,” Link answered. “He said it’s standard protocol for the headmaster to scan the magic of all security.”

“It is,” several people said at the same time.

“That’s the piece I was missing,” I muttered, several others agreeing with me. I did a double take when Winter came jogging around the house to the back with a few of his friends. “What now?”

He held his hands up in surrender. “You weren’t answering your phone, and I heard Derek left campus in a rush. I figured it was about you. So you saw the press conference?”

I sighed and plopped down on one of the other ottomans. “What press conference?”

“Okay, someone is breaking out the hard stuff soon, right?” Emma drawled.

“Yeah, thanks, I can’t drink yet,” I drawled.

Headmaster Kerwynn snorted. “Since when has that ever stopped college kids?”

I had nothing to say to that and I felt weird, so I left it alone and simply focused on Winter for the answer I probably didn’t want to hear.