20

Derek

Relief filled me when Winter appeared, clearly having heard Bevin was involved. No, others with large familiars started showing up as well. I was glad when I saw Sergey too and nodded for them to follow me, handing Bevin off to Winter.

“Get on the phone with Tracey to get here now and Jasmine,” I told them. “I’m sending you to Bevin’s home. Protect her. I’ll send word or be there as fast as I can.”

“Got it,” Winter accepted as his familiar joined us. He was experienced and mature enough to know just to deal with the situation as it came.

Sergey was ready to throw down and demand more answers, but even his familiar nudged him closer to Winter. Kelton showed up at the last second, and luckily Spike had already wandered over since it was Bevin and our group.

I sent them before he could even ask me what was going on, noting Quinn went with. He let me know he felt my exhaustion and would harvest on her lands for me.

Perfect.

Tracey must have already heard something had gone down since she always had her ear to the ground or that woman was just seriously amazing and ready to go. She showed up before I could even jump into the mess that was before me of people pointing fingers and throwing accusations around.

And she didn’t even bother with any of that, going for the real power.

She dipped her head to the councilmen there. “I was informed of the attack and destroyed large familiar houses and thought I could be of use given what we’d already discussed.”

Warning was in her eyes, and I hoped they were on the ball with this.

She did a double take when she saw Kerwynn. “Headmaster, I apologize for interjecting, but I don’t know if you’ve been looped in yet.” She extended her hand like they hadn’t already met. “I’m Tracey Anderson, president of Familiar Treasures. I’ve been in talks with the High Council about reevaluating how we integrate our familiars in this updated age.”

“And Ms. Anderson wisely suggested we start from the beginning at the education level,” Councilman Oliveria smoothly took over. “And given we’ve recently heard more and more complaints about the large familiar housing, she was developing a plan with the owner as to what would actually be best for our future’s most promising witches and warlocks.

“Professor Wyatt was able to join in on a quick meeting at my invitation since he teaches the classes on familiars and would be integral to the project. I was insistent on starting with Morrigan, though not remotely yet as we just met a few days ago to start tossing around ideas and I haven’t discussed it all with my colleagues.”

“Which was why I also haven’t brought it up to the administration,” I interjected, focused on the headmaster. “Ms. Anderson and I met in passing, and she asked me to join so she could pick my brain a bit—”

“Especially since I’ve suggested partnerships with Morrigan before and was brutally rebuffed,” Tracey purred, focused on Director Hensley. “I believe I was told that you didn’t even want to hear the proposal from just a witch and not to disrespect you again by wasting your time talking with me . But you would be open to hearing about it from the warlock owner .

“Because you ass ume the owner is a warlock. In your tiny, tiny little mind, only a warlock could be powerful enough to be the owner of such a successful company though you made it known he was lacking in your eyes to have put a female in the position of president. Funny because this female has more power than your tiny, tiny… Ego.”

Yes, clearly , she was the right person to call in and generate a distraction from what Bevin had done.

She smiled at the headmaster. “But that was before you took over. Wyatt assured me and the councilman that you had no such outdated notions and were a fresh breath of new ideas and doing better than old fools listening to the wrong people who intentionally trick those of us not born of the right families to keep our magic and power—also bank accounts—lower than theirs.”

That was a lot to say in one sentence.

And not just because it was long.

Wow, she was truly impressive.

The headmaster’s lips twitched, but he kept it professional. “Given my wife and I love the quality of the toys our familiars use from Familiar Treasures and the value is there for the products, I would absolutely listen to anything you or the owner had to say. I am not a fool who ever turns away good help, Ms. Anderson.” He gestured over to the mostly destroyed barn.

I mentally winced. Bevin hadn’t done all of that.

I met Link’s gaze and he gave a slight headshake, probably knowing where my mind was. Okay, so that was done in the fighting.

“Professor Wyatt, if you could inspect the damage and see who can return to their holding pens for now or what we need to do to keep the familiars safe,” the headmaster said to me. “Or how we get through the next twenty-four hours basically.”

“Yes, but I suggest we get new attendants after the dust settles,” I told him, not backing down when several people around us scoffed. “They fled without releasing the familiars or sounding the alarm there was a problem. We were all alerted because Ms. Millen cared enough to worry about them. That is part of their job description and they failed. Miserably.”

“Agreed. And I want to hear about these other issues that have reached the High Councils ears but have been kept from mine ,” he said, giving several of the administration a pissed look.

Good. He should be upset at that bullshit. A lot of them were pissed they didn’t get his job, wanting it for the pay and power and thinking it a cushy position they earned.

Kerwynn wanted it to make change and do well for the students and education of our society… Which was why he got the job over others.

The other two barns weren’t that bad, but the first—which was closest to the fighting—wasn’t stable for anyone to be in. Luckily, that was the smallest and oldest, so that was something. The students with large familiars all came and kept their familiars calm and exercised them while some of the master’s students gave me a hand getting everything cleaned up.

We had to reassign spots on the fly, but it was the best we could do since some of the more docile herbivores could be together in a pen. Also, the familiars of freshmen who were basically scared of their own shadows and there hadn’t been any issues of pranks yet for their familiars to get involved.

From the way Tracey was already plotting and working things out, it wouldn’t be very long until the new housing got into place. That woman did not mess around.

I respected that as someone who liked to get things done.

The High Council was mostly focused on getting the werewolves out of there and somewhere secure to be interrogated and studied. I couldn’t even imagine how much power that would be for them and worried about that.

Especially when the wards went down at the school. That had to be a witch or warlock who did it. It couldn’t have been werewolves. That hadn’t ever happened before in an attack.

And I’d never seen an attack this large before. Was this really one pack?

I shook my head and focused on my own task, the fear of what could have happened and what was going on almost swallowing me up. I texted a few updates and was glad when Winter let me know that Bevin was awake and fine. Jasmine had gotten them food but had left because I saw her helping Tracey as well.

And Quinn was being doted on from the way he was happily gathering magic and the vibes I was getting through our connection.

I want to lay with my head on her lap and have her feed me blueberries.

Great, now I was jealous of my familiar.

She wouldn’t like it if I had a fluffy tail.

I snorted as the random thought hit me.

We finished before dinner and I thanked everyone, sending them off to get fuel and rest. I put a few more bungee cords someone picked up over the broken latches and gates I saw and was about to leave when I realized I wasn’t alone.

“Good work today, really impressive,” Kerwynn praised. I was about to thank him, but he went on. “But it’s time to loop me in on Millen and what’s happening at my university under my nose.”

I was too good of an actor to let some probing get me even if I’d messed up when it came to Bevin in the past. The setting and worry for her messed with my normal armor.

But this I could handle, and I was more than used to it.

“She’s a talented witch,” I said easily as I set the other bungee cords on the shelf in case we missed anything. “She isn’t the first and she won’t be the last. I’m just glad she’s here where she can get—”

“Cut the shit, Derek,” he sighed. “Let’s skip the part where you play stupid with me of all people and insult my intelligence. Let’s not piss me off on a bad day and try to think I wouldn’t have figured out she’s a goddess witch. Because I did before today. Today just made it abundantly fucking clear and she needs to be more careful.”

“I couldn’t tell you even if I wanted to, and given it’s not about me, you know how I feel about that, Andy,” I whispered, unable to look at him when he treated me like his student again. He had been my advisor as well and the one who helped me get free of my own circumstances. “The High Council gagged me.”

“So they know. Good.” He chuckled when I did a double take. “You know I like to stay neutral, but if I’m picking a side, I’m picking theirs. You know that. Fuck the top-tier families. She needs to be more careful if she doesn’t want to get dragged back to hers, and that could mean the end of a lot given what she is.”

“She would have rather died than let those eight witches be carried off to that fate and ‘lost,’” I told him firmly. “The rest and consequences be damned.”

“Oh, she made that abundantly clear,” he chuckled. “The gods or whatever goddess chose her well. From what she’s already been through here, she’s a strong woman to have overcome, and being a Shaw… You’re involved with her.”

I swallowed loudly, finally meeting his gaze. “It’s not against the rules, but if I don’t stop fucking up, apparently I’m going to lose her.”

He let out a sigh loud enough that it probably could have been heard around campus as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s not against the rules, but you know it will be the easiest way to attack both of you so be careful. I suggest you have someone trusted review her projects and grades.”

“And who would you trust at this holy place of vipers to do that?” I drawled, shrugging when he shot me a less than friendly look.

But I noticed he also didn’t argue with me.

“There’s one thing I need to know for my conscience,” he said after a few tense minutes. “Is she the owner of Familiar Treasures and this Tracey Anderson is protecting her or using her?”

“Tracey would give her life to protect Bevin, never doubt that,” I told him firmly. I snorted. “If I ever go missing, suspect her first because she made it clear she would murder me easily if I broke Bevin’s heart and I believe her. Really believe her.”

He blinked at me for a full moment before letting out another huge sigh. “You were always so much fucking work, Derek. Seriously. You couldn’t have just kept a low profile and had a calm life, met someone normal and fallen in love like I did with my wife? You had to go for a student with a psycho in her life and she’s a goddess witch. Great.”

“She’s going to change our world, Andy, and I want to be the one supporting her as she does,” I said quietly, feeling like a kid instead of a man somehow.

“Well, I hope she’s strong enough to get there because she’s got another target on her now,” he replied sadly as he handed me an envelope. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t stop it. It was already done. The asshole did it while I was cleaning up the disaster today and helping the High Council’s investigation.”

Fear rocked me as I snatched the envelope and tore it open to see what was in it. I had to lean against the wall as my eyes raced over the words. “How could he do this without the headmaster , Andy? How—”

“The same way I haven’t been able to get rid of him. He’s connected. A lot of the vipers here are. I swear to you that I’m working on it. He took the shot to get her out before she could be part of an investigation against him. She needs to win this, Derek, so I can get him out, and I promise he won’t bother her again. Not here at least.”

Right, because Director Hensley was still connected and could make waves for Bevin.

“But he had help to make that happen with the board of trustees. I’m assuming some of them weren’t told the full truth, but they’re quick to place blame on what happened today.”

I felt lightheaded when his meaning sunk in. “They’re going to try and lay it all at her feet?”

“No, he’s not stupid enough to try that when the High Council was involved. But I bet he told them that he had some suspicions. They’re not fools and they want change. They want the top-tier families to stop having the hold over Morrigan and more. Over half of them. He had to do something underhanded to get that through.”

I bobbed my head, unsure of what to do and crushed I would have to tell her that I failed to protect her. Again.

It was the only real selling point I’d given her for being involved with me and I kept fucking it all up. She had way more in place and better protection than I could offer as such a fuck up and… I was seriously joking myself that I deserved her at all.

Andy clapped my shoulder. “The High Council cannot get involved. It’s in their charters because it’s overreaching. However , Ms. Millen can invite whoever she wants as witnesses. Since they know she’s a goddess witch, they’ll want to protect her, or at least if one has a tie—”

“Councilman Oliveria. He’s who you should speak with on the side if you want more information or are willing to…” I wasn’t really sure how to say anything without implying something I shouldn’t.

“I want to protect all of my students but no, I’m not looking to be in the middle of anything,” he told me gently. He moved his hand to my shoulder and squeezed it. “But no one really remembers this relationship. So always keep it in your back pocket and call me if the shit hits the fan. Don’t try and handle it all on your own like you did your disownment, Derek.”

I nodded, thanking him. I let out a long breath but then stopped him when he turned to leave. “She’s working on new products. Brushes for familiars that—I don’t really know. Her magic is unreal, and you know my bond with Quinn is top-level. I’ll make sure you and your wife get on the list early.”

He nodded and left. I felt bad how much that sounded like a bribe for his silence or like a kickback for his offer, but I didn’t mean it that way.

Hopefully, he knew me well enough to know that. He offered help, and I knew they both struggled to find the time to do much by their familiars just like the council members did.

Bevin was back at campus, but something was going on when I arrived at her room. She was reading over something and looked upset, and Winter was shut down, obviously wanting to pound someone.

“You heard about the hearing?” I guessed.

Her head shot up. “What hearing?”

I waved the notice. “You have a hearing tomorrow with the administration. Code of conduct, damaged property, and more.”

“No, it’s not that,” Winter bit out as he snatched the pages from me. “But it does fill in the missing blank. This is what she’s talking about.”

“Wait, back up,” I interjected when they started talking about… I had no idea. “What happened?”

“A buddy of mine gave me something that was handed off to him for me to give to Bevin,” Winter explained. “He wouldn’t tell me from who, but he apologized for being involved.”

“Her family,” I immediately surmised, dread filling me.

“No, one of my sisters,” Bevin clarified, handing me a note.

Bevin,

I don’t know what to believe or who to trust. I didn’t know anything it seems, and I don’t even know where to start to really unravel the lies.

I do know I want to find the answers myself and make my own decisions on what I believe and who I trust. So I’m not asking you for anything or information. I have no stake in this other than I want you to believe me that I had no idea about the sacrificing. Grandmother and Mother are still lying about it, but I know they are lying.

That’s what I now know. That our family is more fucked than I ever realized, and you were not the special princess we should all pity who didn’t get magic and could embarrass us, but a failed attempt to cheat for Alex. I assume he knew, but—I will get my own answers. I just want it clear that I did not know.

I also told Father that Gregg was a disgusting pervert who would embarrass the family and was unworthy of any of us. None of us knew Father did anything with that potion.

Actually, I will not speak for anyone else. I did not know. Grandmother says she did not know and it was over the line and told Father as much. Funny because she’s fine with sacrificing family, but the potion she is upset with? Probably because she didn’t think of it first.

We’ve never had a relationship, and now I see most of that was because of the lies I was told and the way we were pitted against each other. I need time to settle with that and how much is real or what was my childish jealousy you escaped living like I had to. Apparently, you were living a different hell.

What I do know is you are still my sister and all of this is madness. Sacrifices and forced matings after rape—we are not property and pawns for Father to use as he wants. I now think I’m jealous you got free, but we both know Father’s temper is worse than any demon, and he cannot get past you winning over him.

I do not understand the details or how it came about, but he is coming after you tomorrow. Whatever happened today at Morrigan, he was elated that it was his chance to snatch you up after you are ‘smacked back into place’ tomorrow.

He thinks it will go his way and the school will rule for you to be back under this family and overrule the High Council somehow, or you will be kicked out of there and lose the protection of being there and that makes you easier for him to get again. I don’t know if what he’s saying is true or if that mating profile from your attorney was accurate, but he wants all of it.

Father thinks you’ve stolen it all from him, and you know what he does to people who steal. I do not agree with him. I am telling you what we both know and what I’ve learned.

Don’t get caught. I’m not telling you to run because I wouldn’t trust that wasn’t a trap either. Just be ready.

And I’ve included one of Grandmother’s journals that I swiped and read. That is part of why I believe in what you said that you were supposed to be sacrificed. It says in there that she couldn’t have any more children after what she’d done and it was a shame because there was more power to be had. I’m not as smart as you to get free, but even I can figure that out.

The journal is better in your safekeeping than being caught with me.

If it’s all true and what you’ve said, I am sorry for what you have suffered. None of us should have to live this way.

But if we’re finally being honest and acting as adults instead of spoiled children… I hate you for being the one Grandfather loved so much and saved. I loved him with my soul and more than anyone. He was my favorite, and all I wanted was a fraction of the love and attention he showed you. He always treated me as if I’d done something wrong and I never did.

I was a child. I was his grandchild and I loved him. It wasn’t like I grew up with love either with our psychotic parents. I played the part I needed to so I could survive in a job I hate now so I’m not destitute or forced to marry against my will.

But I will always resent you for being the one he loved and set free. He barely glanced at any of us before you were born, and then you were the only one he cared for when I loved him so much. I think that was why I hated you and now am only realizing it because all of this has come to light. I’m sorry I was a stupid kid and didn’t know how to say that.

I’m sorry we were both born into this horrific family.

I will pray you don’t get caught.

Your sister.

“It’s Clare,” I whispered, shocked down to my core. “Having spoken enough with both Jean and Clare—it’s Clare.”

Bevin gave me a funny look but then nodded. “She really did love Grandfather, and I remember her throwing a fit that I was going off with him alone and she wasn’t invited. She used to get in trouble for how that was unladylike and to be quiet like a good woman. I didn’t…” She shook her head and seemed to fold into herself.

“It’s not your fault,” I whispered as I knelt in front of her. “Something in your grandfather broke, Bevin. He mated a monster. She broke him and his family. That was before she murdered his youngest child and he couldn’t get free of her. His son is your monstrous father. I feel bad for Clare, but we all have issues and none of this is on you.”

“I know,” she whispered, her voice sounding hollow. “I just wish this wasn’t how it went for any of us.”

I took her hands in mine and kissed them. “I know. I know, goddess, but—”

“Stop calling me that!” she snapped as she ripped her hands away from me. “Why won’t you ever listen to what I want? I’ve asked you repeatedly not to call me that, but instead you get them all to call me that now. I’m not comfortable with any of this, and you just plow forward and do whatever—treat me however—”

She covered her face and broke down crying.

I moved onto the bed near her and ignored her when she tried to push me away. I heard her and accepted what she was saying, but this was more about her using too much power again than her feelings about my behavior in the moment.

“I’m sorry, my sexy spitfire. Pumpkin. Fruity cutie booty,” I murmured as she cried. “I won’t call you that again. I was trying—I’m a jackass, and I will purchase eardrops immediately. I get tunnel vision and I’m scared for you and focus on that. I’m scared for all of us. I’m sorry, muffin. Hot fresh muffin. Nummy big titties—that one won’t work. I’ll find something nice.”

She sniffled and mopped up her face. “Fruity cutie booty? Really?”

“It just came out but yes, your ass is tasty,” I promised, smiling when she flushed. Fuck, she was so ridiculously sexy that it drove me nuts.

“I’ve got some stuff to handle if you guys are good here,” Winter hedged, reading the room and that we needed a moment. He nodded when I thanked him but waited for Bevin to confirm it was okay for him to leave.

I gave her a soft kiss.

She pushed at my chest and turned her head. “That wasn’t why I told him to leave.”

Fuck, I really was such an asshole. I kissed her forehead. “That wasn’t what I was—I always want you, but I really was just coming here to hold you. I wasn’t pushing for sex now that we are finally alone with a bed.”

The look of seething rage she gave me was justifiably deserved after how I’d been behaving.

Especially since we had been alone in this room before and I’d scared the shit out of her by doing that.

Fuck.

I mumbled an apology and laid down beside her, holding her to me. “You scared the shit out of me today, fruity cutie booty. You were badass and bolder than I could ever be, but fuck—there aren’t words for how terrified I was to see you among all of those frozen werewolves knowing you’d handled them alone.”

“Bubba got one and saved me,” she mumbled as she snuggled up to me.

“Then we get the tiger a juicy fucking pile of steaks.” I kissed her hair again. “We’ll figure this out. We’ll figure it all out and get through this.”

“It’s fine.” Her voice made it clear that it was anything but.

And then I woke up alone, the sheets where she’d been lying cold.

This was why I lost my mind when it came to her. She was constantly slipping away from me—pulling away when all I wanted was to be closer to her.

The woman was going to make me fucking go insane.