Library

18

Giving him another chance seemed to be the wrong choice when I walked in the cafeteria the next morning to find him surrounded by women vying for his attention that he wasn’t brushing off.

And before class.

And they focused on him the moment the bell rang. Ice could have frozen on my ass by then.

And then I had to see it at lunch.

After dealing with that, I decided to have Quinn bite him in bad places for the next week. So he got me to let him have me again and… This was his idea of making things good? Or was this another game to show he was desired too when I wouldn’t kiss him in punishment?

Fuck worrying if he wanted to be my priest; I was worried I was going to deck him.

I was debating the best place to do that when Nigel sat down next to me in the auditorium for the freshman meeting after classes.

“You okay?” he asked quietly.

“Rough day,” I grumbled. “How are you?”

“Good. Glad Coach got placed on administrative leave while the school is looking into if he was doing more than hassling you.”

I nodded. Yeah, there was a huge shift in the rumors after Jasmine posted the truth about Gregg all over. From what I knew, she’d had four women already call her that Gregg had sexually assaulted them too at parties and he promised to bury them if they reported it. Great guy my asshole parents wanted to mate me to.

“Good afternoon, freshmen,” Headmaster Kerwynn greeted as he moved behind the podium on stage. Just like when he’d spoken at orientation, he didn’t need a microphone, a huge man like him having a voice that would carry without it. “I’ll make this brief as most of you have older siblings or friends who have undoubtedly already filled you in on why we’re here.

“The Wicked Challenge is a campus-wide competition with winners determined at the end of each semester. They are named Wicked King and Queen. Their ‘court’ are the runners-up, and they decide everything from themes of or new school events to prime seats at all sporting games and a list of prizes including exemptions from projects and tests.

“Everyone enters. Everyone participates. How involved you get is up to you, but you are all fair game starting Monday. We delay the start for a few weeks for freshmen to get acclimated, but now the real fun of the year will begin.” He gave us a moment to let that sink in. “Now, the goal of this centuries-old tradition is to put practical learning into reality.

“It is not meant to bully or hurt people. Accidents happen, but that will cost you points as they do in life. Now, the lines can get blurry, so let’s start with some clear examples. What isn’t allowed is destruction of property, so if you set off a glue bomb in someone’s room, you will destroy property and will be reprimanded and have to pay for the damages. Use your heads.

“However, we had a student set up a glitter bomb—completely harmless and acceptable—but they didn’t pay attention to the candle in the room. There was some damage to the wall, but it was put out before the sprinklers turned on, so it was a small deduction of points. There is no malicious intent allowed in any of the pranks. I want that absolutely clear. Automatic foul and you’re in trouble.”

He stared us all down for several moments to show he wasn’t kidding and he didn’t even need to go that far with me. He was not a man I wanted to piss off. He seemed the rare older warlock who wasn’t sexist even if I knew the school board and admissions selection committee were, and I liked him on my side.

“Now let’s discuss what’s ‘in play.’ Classrooms. Dorms. Your rooms are fair game . I cannot stress that enough, so protect them. You have until midnight Monday to figure out how if you don’t know already. Work with your roommate as you will need both of you as freshmen. You can ask your power assessor for guidance, not to do it for you.

“Anywhere outdoors on campus is fine. The places out of bounds are easy. Once you are off campus, the game stops. Even if it’s during the semester. This is a campus-only game . It’s simply harassment if you do it off campus, even in town. The library is off-limits. There are too many priceless books and artifacts there to ever risk. And as of a few years ago, the cafeteria is off-limits.

“No one could ever do anything without a domino effect of damage being done, and honestly the faculty got tired of dealing with it and having their meals disturbed constantly. So those are the places. There are also times that are off-limits. Not in relation to a clock, but you must take into account what people are doing. Yes, you can prank people in the rec center.

“However, if you do it when someone is weightlifting or running on a treadmill, there is no way it won’t end in someone getting hurt, so don’t do it. Same with during sporting events or training. Use your heads because people have been expelled for being so stupid we regretted ever letting them into the university. And I cannot say this firmly enough that nothing sexual is allowed.

“Every year, one of you idiots ‘accidentally’ pulls something while a female student is in the shower or while they’re changing or—just don’t. It’s not funny. It’s not cute. It’s illegal, and you will face charges with the High Council. It’s not a rule, but we highly suggest keeping female-to-female and male-to-male pranks when it comes to rooms or putting things in showers, etc.

“There’s less chance you’ll end up expelled for being stupid then. There is also no theft allowed. The goal is to show you bested someone’s protection or wards, but you return the items. This is not a chance to rob the well-off students or commit crimes. Anything like that will have you before the review board before you can blink. And undoubtedly, one of you will think to steal something and blame another.

“Don’t. We always find out and find the culprit. Anything you come up with you believe to be a brilliant way around any of the rules has already been done , so don’t do it. We’re quite a talented faculty and you’re freshmen, no matter your abilities, teachings, or families, and we will figure out what really happened and it was you. And if you are stupid, prank the guards. They love it and it won’t have you in cuffs.”

So clearly, it would, and I barely kept back a snort. I could see doing something nice and I might but yeah, only an idiot would mess with the guards protecting campus.

“The last warning I have is the most important, so make sure you hear this above all others. Do not even think to hurt a familiar. That means do not feed them anything they should not eat, do not touch them if you can hurt them, or mess with the familiar housing. I would suggest working on strengthening your bond with them. There are master’s students who can call familiars away from their witches or warlocks.

“That is fair game. Getting them to trust you enough to dress them up is always a favorite. But if you harm a familiar in any way, it’s automatic expulsion and a hearing in front of the High Council. None of our laws are to be broken, so take that into account. Honestly, most of you will be doing your best to dodge most of the semester as you’re the easiest targets, but don’t be stupid and lose your place here.”

Well, this was going to suck.

He turned the meeting over to one of the deans who spent the next half an hour giving specific examples and a list of favorite pranks. It wasn’t so much a hint list of what to do, but more a hint on what to try and protect ourselves against.

Awesome.

“That was depressing,” Nigel grumbled when it was over.

I snorted. I couldn’t agree more.

“I have to head to the library. You want to study?”

“Yeah, I need to start the next section of my independent study.” I mentally sighed there. So far, I hadn’t learned much of anything useful. The kicker was I basically knew the answer now as to why I could hear animals. And now I was stuck looking into witches and warlocks who were recorded to be able to do the same… But most of them were full of shit.

Yup, from what I’d found, it was complete shit or the people who wrote the books on them were liars. I’d been able to hear animals since I was a child and most of what I’d researched so far was complete horseshit, not even close to what animals would really say. But I couldn’t bust that as I would out myself.

Always fun.

Unfortunately, I froze outside of the library again and I couldn’t keep putting it off. I’d made myself go in once when I’d met Sergey, but then all the shit had come back up with Gregg and piled on and I hadn’t been able to go back. I’d read the books and done what I’d needed and dropped them off in the slot. Even that had been hard for me.

It was as if I’d had a delayed reaction to it all or maybe only once it fully sunk in what had happened to me did I have the issues. I hadn’t been back to the coffee shop since my freak-out and panic attack there. I was simply a mess with too many issues to get a grip.

“You’re not alone, Bevin,” Nigel said gently, snapping me out of my thoughts. “We don’t have to go in.”

I closed my eyes and swallowed loudly. “You saw his full confession, didn’t you? He said it was in the library, right.”

“Yeah, I did, and it was hard not to want to kill him,” Nigel admitted. “How about we don’t stay? We get the books we need, I won’t leave your side, and then we’ll work outside where there’s tons of space and fresh air.”

“Thanks, Nigel,” I rasped as I quickly nodded. “Yeah, I can do that.”

He moved next to me and held out his hand to me. He smiled when I accepted it and he opened the door for us, going through first to show he wouldn’t let anyone get me. We even went for what he needed, and I knew he was polite enough to have me go first except he wanted me to ease into this.

It worked, and I managed without too much anxiety until I saw the table I’d been at that day, thinking of what he’d done, how he’d touched me.

“Why is this hitting me so late?” I whispered as I stared at the spot.

“Because they were trying to use it against you, hurt you longer, and others didn’t help. People process stuff in their own way and time. You’re doing just fine.”

I met his gaze. “Am I?” I wasn’t trying for sympathy or comfort, truly asking.

“Yeah, you are. I want to break that fucking table and chairs for you and can barely hold it in. I didn’t even know you then and I’m about to burst at the seams to do it. I can’t even imagine what this is like for you, so you process however you need.”

I glanced back at it. “Yeah, I’d like to bust it up too.”

“I’ll check with Wyatt that it’s not something ancient or priceless, and if it’s not, maybe an accident just needs to happen.”

His teasing eased some of the tension in my chest. “Yeah, and then thrown in a fireplace.”

“Sounds good.”

I quickly found the books I needed as well and we checked them out. “Do you want to go hang with your familiar?”

He winced at the topic again. “He scares people.”

“I don’t scare that easily. As long as he’s not a snake.” I shivered. “I can’t stand snakes, and I’m sorry, I know it’s not fair and I’m sure they’re great, but I was bitten by one as a kid and—”

“Fangs is an anaconda,” he muttered.

It was my turn to wince, mentally smacking myself. “I’m so sorry. Is he big?”

“Yeah. Really big.” He shrugged when I gave him an apologetic look. “I get why he’s my spirit animal and I’m not sorry he is. They are strong, quiet, solitary, and protective of their territory. It’s me, but I also scare people sometimes without meaning to. It’s okay if you don’t want to meet him.”

“I do, I really do,” I promised. “Just maybe once I’m a bit more settled. So much is going on with me and my emotions, and familiars can feel that—animals fear. I’d hate to upset him.”

“Of course, you would think of him first and not your own fear. It’s okay, Bevin, really. You getting bitten as a kid is a valid reason to be afraid and not cuddle with my huge ass snake familiar. It’s very different than girls in high school just calling him gross and screaming when they saw him.”

“I’m not that bad. I’d only scream if he was in my room.”

“That’s fair.”

I still felt horrible though. Of course, the one animal I was terrified of… Okay, not the only one. Big spiders, some bats, and I was sure there were others like sharks but still, of course it was his familiar. I felt awkward, but after a while of sitting outside studying it disappeared.

“Woman, I’m going to start spanking you if you don’t pay attention to your phone,” Winter threatened as he came over towards us.

“Oh, sorry,” I muttered, reaching into my bag to turn it back on. “I’m not used to having friends or people call me. What did you need?”

“Wyatt’s looking for you,” he answered, doing a double take at whatever expression I made before I realized it.

“What did Professor Wyatt do?” Nigel asked, his tone ice-cold. “Do I need to remind him to treat you with respect?”

“Nothing, but thanks,” I mumbled as I tossed my phone on my bag, not even checking the messages. I caught Winter moving closer and glanced up at him in time to see him shoot Nigel a warning look to back off before he squatted down in front of me.

He seemed to study something about me for a moment before giving me a kind gaze. “Derek might hate his family, but he was born a Wyatt. Just like you being a Shaw wasn’t easy, it wasn’t for—”

“Yeah, I’ve been reminded of that and get it,” I grumbled.

“No, you don’t, little sexy,” he said gently. “I don’t even know the half of it, but Derek was the second-born male. Everyone tried to use him as a pawn to get to his heir brother or reminded him he wasn’t his brother or just—lots of crap. He’s completely desensitized to a lot, and it’s just buzzing around him. You grew up around a lot of games and hate them, but you tend to assume others are always playing them.”

I opened my mouth to argue but then slowly closed it. He wasn’t wrong… But that didn’t mean he was exactly right either. “Once someone starts them or acts like that I do and won’t give them the benefit of the doubt. That’s how we—I’m sorta valid in going there with him. I don’t with you or like Kelton who lays things out.”

“That’s fair, but he’s also done a lot of good and helped you in ways that you can’t see because you’re always drowning. Give him a chance and respect him too to lay it out instead of ducking and dodging him like you’re playing games. That’s the circle you guys are in, and I’m not saying you’re wrong in any of it. I’m saying you’re smart enough to just cut through the shit.”

I thought I understood what he meant until I saw the smirk and mirth in his eyes. What did he think was going to happen or I would do?

I wasn’t sure, but I nodded, not reading all of Wyatt’s messages but texting him I would meet him after dinner if he needed to talk… To which he said he’d meet me in his lecture hall, and I realized that was part of my problem. Or how he was treating me was more than what I’d dealt with that day.

Pondering it instead of studying, I kept thinking about it all through dinner and came to a decision. Winter was right. It was time to put my foot down a bit and stop going with everyone else’s flow.

I told everyone I’d see them later, but Winter insisted on walking me given people were still being assholes and couldn’t be trusted. I appreciated that as I wanted to feel safe.

Wyatt was waiting when I arrived, working at his desk and glancing up with a heated look when I entered. He stood and started towards me, but I held up my hand to him, setting down my bag and heading towards the far side of the room where there were bookshelves lining the wall below the window. I hopped up and spread my legs wide so my skirt hiked up.

“Fuck, goddess,” he hissed as he came closer.

I wasn’t done yet. I moved my feet onto the shelf as well and pulled my panties to the side so he got a good view of what I had. “This is what you want, right?”

“You know I do,” he groaned, quickening his steps.

I held out my hand to him, glad when he at least respected me to listen and stop. Then I ran my fingers over my folds and kept his gaze. “You crave this? My tight pussy?”

He licked his lips, glancing between it and my eyes. “You know I do. I crave you .”

“But you’re dying for it, right? You’d do anything for the green light to shove your fat cock in me and fuck me.”

He moaned deeply and nodded. “Shit, you are so hot. Yes. You know the answer is yes.” He was rock hard in his pants, itching to move forward and have me.

Instead, I fixed my panties, lowered my legs, and slid off the bookshelf. “Then enough with the fucking classroom shtick.”

“Wait—what?”

I walked right by him and moved my hands over his desk. “Enough with the desk bullshit. You were upset my first time was on your desk, but you keep making sure to fuck me on it. Stop treating me like a slut student you just bang on your desk like there’s lots of us as they fawn all over you to be the next one. So I deserved a bed and romance when I had my purity but not once you got it?”

He frowned as he stepped closer. “That’s not—why do you put words in my mouth?”

“Your actions are saying lots, Professor. What you are making me feel isn’t putting words in your mouth. You’re overbearing and treat me like the conquest you won and lead around by her nose, excited to be the priest to a goddess instead of what I hope you really feel about me. That’s why I think it’s all games and bullshit. It’s all you’ve shown me and I’m over it.”

“Wait, I didn’t mean—”

“You might want to reflect a bit on your actions before you give me some line that it’s not what you meant and I’m making assumptions that lead to misconceptions. If several people would have the same reaction to what you do, it’s not on us that it wasn’t what you meant. It’s on you for not paying attention to your actions and attitude.”

I turned on my heel and walked to the door, picking up my bag as I did. I didn’t stop until I realized Winter had stayed outside the whole time, almost tripping over my feet when I saw him.

And he was not happy at what he heard. When Wyatt snapped out of his shock and hurried after me, he had almost crashed into my back, but Winter pulled me behind him, going toe-to-toe with Wyatt.

“You might be forgiven a lot given the shit even I know you went through, but disrespecting her is never excusable that you’re oblivious, Derek. I get the first time she was drugged, but the fact that the next time you didn’t make love to her in your bed and spend the night, treating her as some fling, is unacceptable , and I fully understand her side better.”

“I do too,” Wyatt blurted before Winter could say more. “I wasn’t—I didn’t—she melts my brain and then—”

“Yeah, I get it.”

“No, you don’t ,” Wyatt growled, fisting his hair when I peeked out from around Winter. “You’ve not had her fully. It’s—there are no words for what being with her feels like.” He met my gaze then and I saw deep regret in his eyes. “But you are far from a fling or slut, Bevin. I’m sorry. It’s not an excuse, but I keep feeling that I’m chasing my tail, and you never—you dodge me, and it all gets messed up.”

“Did you plan on screwing me on your desk when I agreed to show up tonight?” I countered, seeing it all in his eyes. “Yeah, so don’t make it like it’s only the crazy.” I mumbled a thanks to Winter and headed to leave, only making it a few steps before Wyatt snagged his arm around me and pulled me back against his chest.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured as he kissed my neck. “I do respect you; I swear it. I was selfish because it’s fucking hawt to have you on my desk, in my classroom where I put up with so much shit. I was being stupid , but it is not a reflection on you. I promise that, goddess.”

“You told the council you planned to court me before telling me , and you’ve not done that at all or acted like a gentleman. What was I supposed to think?” I shoved his hands away and he only let me go for a few seconds, catching me again and spinning me so my back was pressed against the wall.

“ That was actually on my agenda tonight,” he murmured, leaning in and stealing a kiss before I realized it. “I know you don’t want the attention of us being out as dating and I agree your first year. So that limits what I would do to finally date someone for real, but I was hoping we could have a date at your house tomorrow and work on your power assessment, where you want to go with your power.”

“Fine, but we’re not having sex,” I decided after a moment.

He nodded. “We skipped right to that, and I’m fine with going back and slowing down. We won’t have sex until you start having sex with the others.” He smiled when my eyes went wide. “You have your five, goddess.”

“You won’t keep us all,” Winter said as he moved his shoulder against the wall next to me. “I’ve read a lot of what Derek’s found and is making us study if we want to be with you. It’s a lot, but for as much as he’s been failing you personally and showing he doesn’t respect you, he’s really been working hard to keep you safe and give you what you need.”

I glanced between them and nodded. “I don’t really get it all and honestly, what I’ve read is terrifying.”

“It is,” Wyatt agreed which actually made me feel better, like I wasn’t overreacting then. “And even more so when you factor in how you were raised and not trained as you should have been. We need to handle that and jump some steps, but I promise it will keep you safe in the long run and let your magic ramp up the right way.”

“It’s a good plan,” Winter agreed. “Nothing permanent, simply some structure when you’ve had only riding the waves of crazy and whims of others.”

That perked me up. That sounded really nice. And I was freaking out that my magic could like eat me alive. I mean, who didn’t want to hear that?

“Are you fine that he wants to be my priest?” I asked Winter.

“Yes, because he is the oldest and knows the most of us. But to keep you safe and act in that role, he’s going to need all of your power and gifts, so I think you need some time seeing he’s for real about you but then making that a priority.”

I nodded, hearing him loud and clear. I needed to tell Wyatt I could hear animals. We’d never record that or let the school know, but he needed to know the truth to work on grounding my power before it got too big.

Fair enough, especially since he put it back on Wyatt that he needed to step up before I would trust someone with it all. I liked when it wasn’t all my fault.

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