Page 21

Gloria

I knew Bevin skipped lunch in the cafeteria Tuesdays and Thursdays since she didn’t have class after. I didn’t either, and I decided to offer to take her out to lunch off campus to thank her for coming up with the prank.

And as a way to apologize.

Carmen, Robin, Kate, and I had gone over the line hounding her about where she’d taken our familiars that they’d harvested so well. The four of us had been gobsmacked by how much magic our familiars had gotten in one afternoon, much less two, so we were charged up for the prank.

It was seriously unreal.

So how did we thank her? By being complete pushy bitches and I was seriously embarrassed about it, especially after all Bevin had done for me.

She’d saved me from being abducted by werewolves and a fate worse than death. Though I would have also died in the end.

In a horrid, unspeakable way, and I’d never truly thanked her like I should. No, I’d helped with her prank and gotten points for that too and treats for my familiar.

Seriously, I was a shitty friend.

So I wanted to change that, almost catching her before she went into her dorm room. I was just about to knock when I felt fear from her so strong that I froze.

And then I used a spell to let me listen to what was going on inside her room so I knew if I should rush in there or call security or—I didn’t know what was going on, but it really wasn’t just to eavesdrop or anything.

But holy shit did I hear a lot.

A lot of things that made sense.

Bevin was a goddess witch. Of course she was. I felt stupid for not having figured that out sooner but… Maybe not. Clearly, she knew and was hiding it. No one expected it so young and to be so public. They were normally hidden away by family… Shit.

Okay, I would have to figure that out later. Right now, she was clearly in trouble and the son of a councilman was threatening her. She said Conrad.

I didn’t know who that was. But she did. I could feel the fear in that room and I didn’t blame her.

I jumped when I heard a noise behind me and thunked my knee into the wall like the world’s worst spy. I used a cloaking spell to be safe and then was really glad when he stormed out of her room a moment later.

Hanson. He was Councilman Hanson’s son. I’d seen him doing PR stuff since the family was setting him up to take over his father’s seat even if that wasn’t how they were supposed to work.

And apparently, he was just as much of a disgusting snake as the top-tier families.

I held my breath as he cloaked himself and left. I was about to go inside and comfort Bevin when I heard her crying, but… Would I be a comfort?

No, she’ll freak out that someone else knows.

But she needed help. This wasn’t something she could handle alone.

No one could.

Then it hit me. Professor Wyatt. Their relationship was definitely more than teacher and student. And I didn’t mean just the gossip.

No, anyone could see it in his aura when he looked at her at certain times.

Okay, not just anyone. I was talented in auras and he didn’t always do the best job blocking, but… The proof was there.

I booked it out of there with one goal in mind—find Professor Wyatt and make sure he was really on Bevin’s side.

Luckily, he was at the cafeteria and about to grab a tray.

“I need a word in private, Professor,” I told him quietly but firmly. I flinched at the venom in the look he gave me.

Then I realized he knew that we’d gone over the line with Bevin.

“I can’t think of what we could possibly have to speak about or—”

“I went to apologize to her for going over the line and take her out to lunch,” I muttered vaguely as I leaned in closer. “And someone was in her dorm room who broke through the magic. She’s currently crying in fear.”

His tray was back in the stack and he grabbed my arm to pull me out of there before I’d even finished. He cleared his throat when I shook him off but started jogging, making it clear that I better keep up. He had his phone out and in his hand. “Who?”

I didn’t answer until we were outside. “Look, I’ve already fucked up with Bevin, but I do like her, and she’s—she saved my life. I’m not going to destroy hers now by going to the wrong person for help.”

He studied me and then around me, checking my aura. “You know.”

“I don’t know that I know, but what do you know?”

He raised an eyebrow at me. “I’m not going on this fishing expedition.”

Damn. He was right.

But that didn’t mean I knew what to do. “If I’m wrong that you know and I tell you—I can’t make this worse. I just—I’m not enough to help her.” I flinched when a circle appeared next to Wyatt and that guard sent by the council appeared.

Except something hit me.

“You’re the nephew of a councilman, not just a guard,” I whispered as I got clued in.

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” he said easily.

“The hair,” I pushed. “I heard Oliveria’s nephew was super hot with red hair long enough to be in a ponytail. The woman you just broke up with was sloppy drunk in a bar bragging you were the best fuck ever, but you were fucked in the head and treated women like shit.”

“Fucking Crystal,” he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. He told me the app they met on and seemed relieved when I snorted.

It was a hookup app. It should have been called Fuckbuddies it was so well known for that. And she thought they had a relationship from that?

Fool.

“Look, I don’t know what is going on, but both of you are determined not to give here,” he muttered, glancing between us. “But my aunt and uncle are personal friends of Bevin. That’s why I’m really here. He assigned me here to protect her from her psycho family because he was tight with her grandfather, Henry Millen.”

I swallowed loudly. “So you know. You know the real truth about her?”

“I do. I promise I do and she keeps me in her confidence. If she’s in danger—please tell me.”

“Or at least who broke in past my magic to scare her,” Wyatt pushed.

“What?” Link gasped, fear all over him.

And nothing else. That was what pushed me over the edge.

“She called him Conrad and they talked about him being a councilman’s—”

“Oh fuck, Conrad Hanson figured out who she is,” Wyatt whispered in horror before reaching to grab me again.

Link blocked him though, his focus on me. “Calm down, Wyatt.” He let out a slow breath. “Yeah, this is bad, but we can help. What did he say? Please, I know you’re her friend even if you guys hit a bump. I know you’re grateful she saved your life, Gloria. Help us save her now.”

“Because if he becomes her priest, it could kill her?” I whispered so quietly that I barely heard myself.

“I swear to you that I won’t ever let that happen,” Link said firmly. “Taylor Reid and I are in agreement that if he made a move or tries to hurt her that we would rather put him in the ground. So I need you to tell me—”

“He tried to force himself on her, but she hit him. I heard it. I didn’t want to scare her by storming in or—I didn’t know the right call, but she’s scared and crying.”

“The last thing she needed was someone else putting their hands on her sexually, and he’s fucking thirty-two or thirty-three,” Link said, his tone disgusted. “Okay, get mad later. Right now, tell me everything.”

So I did, and relief flooded me as they were both on their phones getting backup and help. They thanked me when I was done and rushed off to go help her.

I actually plopped down on the nearest bench, the adrenaline and anxiety eating through me.

And maybe even a bit of jealousy that two men like that were so ready to jump on any kind of grenade to help Bevin.

“Hey, I thought you were going to take Bevin out to lunch and apologize?” Kate asked me when she found me a bit later. Worry filled her face when I glanced at her. “Gloria, are you okay? What happened?”

I shook off my worry and feelings. “Yeah, wasn’t my drama.” I might have said more, but Taylor Reid was walking towards me with his mother… And I was very sure I was about to forget what I had learned. “I’ll catch up with you later. I have to talk to Mrs. Reid about something.”

“Yeah, okay, take a rest if you can. You look wiped,” she muttered.

I promised I would and met them. “I didn’t tell her. I was just sitting there kind of zoning out after what I learned.”

“Good. Then you probably guessed why we’re here,” Mrs. Reid said gently.

I let out a slow breath. “Yes, and I understand you need to protect her, but I ask you gag me, not take away the memory.”

She seemed shocked by that, but Taylor’s lips twitched.

“Because you want to keep your ears out for any more potential problems and have access to groups and gossip we don’t,” he surmised.

“Yes.” There was no reason to deny it and again, Bevin had saved my life.

I should do at least this in return.

“Good. I’d heard you guys were on the outs, but I’m glad you’ve got a good heart that’s loyal,” he praised. “It’s the smarter play.”

“So be it,” Mrs. Reid agreed. “Let’s go somewhere more private and read you in a bit more.” She sighed when Taylor gave her a look that it was stupid. “Hanson’s son just threatened Bevin and we’re here two seconds later to clean it up. It—I would doubt us, Taylor. Let her understand that we’re doing all of this to protect Bevin and the future she can bring to our world.”

Oh boy. This was clearly much, much bigger than I understood.

I swallowed a hysterical chuckle. Her picking an Alice in Wonderland prank really was fitting because I was about to go down quite the rabbit hole.

Your familiar is a rabbit. You can handle it, Gloria.

I didn’t really have a choice either way.

The End

PLEASE READ THIS!!!

THANK YOU for reading this book!!

Thank you for coming back to a new series and I hope you’re as excited as I am to continue Bevin’s journey. There’s a LOT more coming for her and this world. I have a lot planned and up BOTH my sleeves.

PLEASE REVIEW. We need them as authors to keep being able to do what we do. They are vital to the algorithms and our livelihood. So if you want more of a series, any series—mine or other authors—please, please always review it.

Coming next is a trilogy, Ellie. It’s a supe hospital drama romance, present day but a world where supes are out. I’m kinda in love with the world and thinking some spinoff singles for a few of the other ladies I created. Probably July since I just finished the 2 nd book and it's in edits and I’m starting the 3 rd book. July/Aug and then it should be back to monthly releases.

I appreciate everyone’s support and cheering with me achieving my dream of buying a house. Comforting me during all the drama of it and pushing me to keep going. It’s been a fucking ride that I’m exhausted from and still can’t figure out how to set up and unpack my new kitchen. Seems silly but every time I try to plot it out I just get overwhelmed like I’m not cool enough to have a house if I can’t figure out the kitchen.

We’re all works in progress, right?

I know skipping months for releases sucks, but things are starting to settle down now with some updates and unpacking left. I should be getting back on track and my head in the game.

After Vader’s surgery of course. Always something…

Send butt scratches for Vader!

Erin & Vader