21

I thought Professor Wyatt was going to faint when I waltzed into the large meeting room only a few minutes before my hearing was to start. It wasn’t unnoticed by others, the sexist asshole, Director Hensley, immediately jumping on it.

“So nice of you to join us and give this situation the proper attention it’s needed, Ms. Millen,” he chastised.

“Director Hensley, last time you saw me, I was unconscious from overusing my magic,” I replied loudly. “Less than twenty-four hours ago. I woke at night to receive the summons for this morning, not even pushing it back to Monday as one would think civil people would do.”

“That has—”

“I agree with very little my birth father has ever said, but he ingrained it in all of us to never give respect to people who won’t show you respect,” I continued. “And it’s about the only useful lesson he ever taught me. You have repeatedly refused to treat me with basic respect and manners. That’s not someone I turn around and dance for as you find fitting.”

To say people were more than a little shocked was an understatement.

Several of the deans who were sitting as judges on the “case” gave me a look that they weren’t a fan of my attitude.

They could suck it.

I smiled at Headmaster Kerwynn. “I would like it noted that this hearing is not in compliance with the university’s own rules and I wasn’t given the proper notice and time to prepare.”

He nodded. “You are correct, Ms. Millen. You have every right to ask for an extension if you wish.”

“No, thank you. I do actually respect people and value their time. There was no way to send out notices of delay last night and so many have already gathered. Especially given the attack yesterday, we all have much more important things to focus on.”

“Yes, yes, we certainly do,” one of the deans said shooting Hensley a disgusted look.

Good.

I moved by Wyatt and realized the place was packed… And a lot of them were standing behind where I was.

“Word got around and many wanted to show their support,” he said under his breath.

Women. That was what he didn’t say. I turned and saw the seats and all the standing room possible behind me were packed with females who probably all attended Morrigan.

Awesome. Really. Even if some of them hated me or we would battle in class or competitions, they were willing to step up when it mattered and do something about the sexism of our society.

Nice.

The only question I had was why Wyatt was there and I quietly asked. I told him not to involve himself in this and ruin his career.

He gave me a surprised look. “There is nowhere else I would ever stand on this issue, Bevin. You were awesome, and I’d be on your side even if I wasn’t your advisor. But since I am, it’s totally normal for me to be here and advise you on the procedure and steps of this.”

Fair enough.

I stepped forward to the podium meant to be the questioning area—or maybe where presentations were given to the deans—and confirmed who I was in an official manner.

Then Director Hensley jumped right in. “Do you deny that you disobeyed orders and risked the lives of—”

“I apologize, Director, but I missed where I joined the military or police force,” I cut in, not hiding my amusement. “‘Disobeyed orders’ is rather dramatic. Dr. Haskins instructed us—as he was supposed to—where we were to go in an emergency. As an adult—a student and not an enlist—I made the choice to check on the large familiars that would be trapped. Yes.

“And I risked no one’s life. Again, this is not the military, and everyone had their free will to do what they wanted. I alerted the guards that the large familiar housing was under attack, and as several people told you yesterday, they were unaware of that. I’m unaware anyone was injured because of what I did.” I snickered. “Besides the werewolves that is.”

I was glad when several other people snickered and even a few clapped before they got yelled at.

“How many did you harm yesterday, Director?” I played up my reaction when he scowled at me. “Oh, forgive me, I assumed you had taken out so many that you were well-versed in how to handle them. It would make sense then that your objection to how I handled the situation was wrong because you had done so much more. Apparently not.”

“Dayumnnnnn,” someone purred behind me.

I thought it was a good point to make.

“You can play innocent all you want, Ms. Millen, but I know you forced someone to help you and risked his safety,” Hensley snapped. “You said as much yourself when you were boasting at all you did—”

“Please be accurate, Director,” I cut in. “I said I grabbed a fleeing warlock who ignored his hurt classmate. I did not force him to do anything. I did not put a gun to his head and walk them to the auditorium. I told him to help her and he did. Was he injured doing that because she was and it’s rather disgusting that I had to tell him to help.”

“You threatened him and stop interrupting me when I’m speaking.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “Or what? You’ll drag me in front of an administrative hearing because you find me rude? Do I get to bring you in front of a faculty review because…” I pulled out one of my note pages I’d gathered. “‘She’s a harlot that at least is doing what she should and entertaining the males here now that’s she ruined. It’s the only reason to have women here.’”

Two of the deans—the female ones—had steam coming out of their ears.

“Do you deny saying that about me, Director? Should I call the faculty you said that to about a student because I bet they aren’t happy you started all of this trouble after an attack to save your own job? Or should I file a harassment complaint with the High Council and have them placed under honesty magic to get everything you’ve said?”

The two female deans gave me an impressed look like I had balls the size of the sun.

Yes, but I would curl into a ball and cry for a week after having to do this. So no one was perfect.

He narrowed his eyes at me. “You can do whatever you wish, young woman, but—”

“Yes, ‘young woman,’ because I’m damaged goods and not worth being called a lady. Right, you’ve already outed that’s how you feel.” I smiled brightly at him. “I have a list of ways I feel about you and yet I’m much more polite about it. So please, pull me into another hearing about my manners when the rules of these hearings say I can interject at any time.”

“She’s right, and let’s move things along with a note of the clear biases,” one of the female deans said. “Ms. Millen, I would like to speak to you sometime soon as Director Hensley is facing an ethics and administrative review. I believe you have information that would help the hearing.”

“Anything you need from me, Dean,” I accepted. I moved to set my stuff by Wyatt as Frank Baig was called up. He was the warlock I’d made help the witch I’d saved.

“Now, Mr. Baig, did—” Hensley jumped in to question.

“Have you actually had one of these hearings before, Director?” Wyatt cut in before I could. “The student is to question any witnesses first. It is their right, and while we all know you don’t respect the rights of any woman, the rules you are sworn to enforce say otherwise. It keeps things fair when you have power over the students and their positions.”

“You picked the wrong side of this, Wyatt,” Hensley snapped.

Derek raised an eyebrow at him. “No, I didn’t. Even if I wasn’t her advisor, I saw what she did yesterday. I know I’m on the side of the hero who saved dozens of lives and hundreds of familiars. You barely helped at the gate and then ranted she’s an uncontrolled female like an animal who needs better training. I am exactly where I should be on this.”

The headmaster cleared his throat when people started whispering and reminded them to keep quiet before calling me up.

I moved in front of Frank Baig and smirked. “Are you really going to go on the record that a freshman threatened you to help an injured witch and that’s the only reason you did it? That I’m so, so scary that you felt threatened and had to help her or I would… What? Beat you up later?” I snickered, and I wasn’t the only one.

No, about half the women in the viewing area chuckled, a few bursting out laughing and setting off others.

And the headmaster didn’t interject. He kept his face blank but stayed out of it, clearly thinking the guy deserved it.

Nice.

I glanced over to Hensley. “According to you , he deserved it if he wasn’t strong enough to protect himself. That’s what you said about the witches who let themselves get taken , right? Or does your hypocrisy overrule that? Only us lowly women deserve what we get and you must protect the fragile, weak—I mean stronger, better warlocks?”

“You threatened me,” Frank snapped.

“I did?” I chuckled darkly. “So I said I would kill you if you didn’t do it? What was this horrible, horrible threat that made you so in fear for your life that you went against your selfish instincts to help someone in need?”

He ground his jaw but flinched when at least a dozen women started chuckling again. “You held up your hands to me after blasting a werewolf.”

I waited several moments. “And?” I snickered. “Oh, that’s all. That’s my horrible, horrible threat?” I snorted this time and glanced at Hensley. “And women are so stupid? Seriously? We’re weaker?” I rolled my eyes and turned to the headmaster. “I would like to call Ashley Wu as the only other witness to what happened in that exact moment.”

“As is your right,” he accepted.

Ashley moved out from the seating area and stepped forward.

“See, the funny thing in all of this is I’m a monster for threatening you to have basic decency and help someone who was injured, but you didn’t even do it ,” I said loudly for everyone in the back to hear. I snickered when Hensley frowned. “Yeah, there’s no honor among sexist jerks who refuse to help people.”

Yes, I absolutely meant him as well, playing off what Wyatt had revealed.

Ashley came forward but very clearly wouldn’t get near Frank.

“How are you doing? Are you okay?” I worried. “Let me get a chair—”

“I’m fine, Bevin, really,” she promised. “Because of you. Because you saved my life and didn’t leave me to a fate worse than death before I died.” Tears filled her eyes and she shot Hensley a disgusted look before focusing on the headmaster. “I came to Morrigan because I was promised changes were going to happen and I truly hope they do.

“Starting with advisors and advocates for the female students. We all know how sexist Director Hensley and half of the administration is. Some of the deans. A lot of the faculty. What I never thought was they would be criminally neglectful in their duties to protect all students.”

“I’m clearly missing something about what happened to you,” he muttered, studying her closely.

“Yes, and I hope you protect me for revealing this when Bevin has generously given me this chance because I got caught because of a male faculty member.” She nodded when people gasped. “There was a class of us at the barns when the attack started. We all hurried towards the auditorium. That’s why I was coming from that direction.

“A professor shoved me out of his way and practically at that werewolf to save himself. I would have been fine. We both could have maybe been fine if we’d just kept running even when they were only targeting witches. But he intentionally shoved me down and towards the werewolf to save his own ass.”

To say the room erupted was an understatement. I went over and hugged Ashley, her pain and upset hurting me physically it was so strong. I waved Wyatt to bring me one of the chairs and helped her sit down when he did.

“Over a dozen warlocks ran by me and did nothing,” she continued when the headmaster restored order. “Bevin—a freshman —helped me.” She shot Frank a nasty look. “And she didn’t threaten you. She held up her hands as if to say, ‘I’m a bit busy here.’ It was very clear what she was saying in that split second before she attacked another werewolf.

“She was saying if you couldn’t do what she was, do something else useful. Instead, you helped me for about ten feet until we were out of her view because she raced off to help someone else, bitched that I got blood on your clothes, and dropped me to the ground. You didn’t even tell anyone that I was injured. You just left me there.”

I met Hensley’s shocked face. “And yet, I didn’t go to blast Frank. So either I really, really suck at making threats or it wasn’t a threat. It was exactly as Ashley easily interpreted. I was saying I was a bit busy and I could help with the attack, so I was. Your precious, poor, terrified warlock wasn’t all that terrified if he just dropped her a few feet later.”

“He didn’t tell me that was what happened,” he seethed, giving Frank a look like he was dead meat.

So sad.

“And yet, you’re still not upset at his behavior hearing what he did to Ashley later,” I said, getting upset myself. “How are you in charge of the well-being of the student population when you clearly don’t care about them?” I smirked when he opened his mouth. “Or you just don’t care about the female students? Please, admit what we all know.”

That dean cut in again. “Clearly, you didn’t threaten this student, and the whole disobeying orders excuse is ridiculous as half a dozen of the most powerful master’s students went to help at the front gate while the deans kept order at the auditorium.” She gave Hensley a withering glare. “And yet you didn’t file a review for any of them . I can’t imagine why?”

I wasn’t the only one who snickered.

“The only valid charge brought against you remaining—and it certainly didn’t need to be made in this setting—is if you did damage to the school,” the dean went on.

“Yes, and I admitted that yesterday, Dean,” I accepted. “I told the faculty there that I would pay for the damages—though I would think the witch or warlock of the familiars I saved would be more than willing to replace the latches or anything their familiars broke getting free and safe . I blasted off the barn doors and many of the pen ones as well.”

She frowned. “I have here you also took out the first barn closest to campus with wild, inaccurate blasts.”

“Funny how that wasn’t in my list of charges, but I’m not shocked you didn’t receive accurate information,” I drawled. “I have a witness who will attest they did that damage and they weren’t wild or inaccurate shots. Hopefully, everyone here will believe him since he has a penis.”

Her lips twitched. “These two witnesses can be excused. Call your witness, Ms. Millen.”

“Councilman Oliveira,” I said, trying not to smirk as people gasped. The back doors were opened and the councilman came in with a few guards and people—probably aides. “Full disclosure, the councilman and his mate were friends of my grandfather before he passed years ago. I only recently learned of this after I filed for disownment from my family.”

“You are a shining example of honor to disclose such a minor thing especially when you’re being railroaded by someone corrupt,” the councilman praised as he came closer to me. He leaned in and kissed my cheek in greeting. “I’m glad you look well after all you went through yesterday. It’s disgusting that you aren’t resting and are dealing with this nonsense.”

“I’m fine. Tired and scared like everyone wondering how this happened and worried what changes will come about though,” I said honestly.

“Because you’re smart.” He went to the podium and smiled at the shocked people… Except the headmaster wasn’t.

He was amused. Not shocked.

Interesting.

“Let’s get this handled quickly since we’re all busy, shall we?” the councilman said with a smile. “I am the one who did the damage to that first barn. Others can attest to that if my word isn’t reliable. When we arrived on the scene, two werewolves were right there in troublesome positions. One had gotten on the roof, seeming to have caught Ms. Millen off guard.

“The other was racing around the corner while she was distracted by our arrival. I launched energy blasts to handle them, and given it has been many years since I’ve engaged in actual combat like that, I probably went over what was needed. Plus, I was not expecting the situation to be so dire.

“I was relieved when I learned the familiars were cleared out. I was supremely disheartened to learn that Ms. Millen was being forced into a hearing like this. She was the first to go after those abducted witches who Director Hensley said were lost because they were weak, clearly ignoring his duty to protect them.

“She is the reason we were able to capture so many werewolves which we never have before. The only ones we have captured immediately kill themselves so we could not learn anything and they won’t betray their pack. This time they were frozen and they foolishly think their pack will come rescue them, so they’re not trying to hurt themselves.

“We also learned information from what Ms. Millen observed in her bravery, and it’s crucial to changing how we protect ourselves. Morrigan should be shouting from the rooftops that they have such a talented, brave, and wise student that she accomplished so much under horrible circumstances. Instead, she’s facing expulsion. Partially, for something I did .”

“You are not the only one troubled by that, Councilman,” the headmaster said firmly. “Especially when it was done behind my back and without my authorization. So we have some trustees overreaching and I would guess reasons people wanted the wards to fall yesterday. I hate to even say it or point fingers, but we might have someone working with werewolves.”

“Everything does point to an inside job, but the question is why?” a different dean muttered, shaking his head. “It seems too horrible to even think of, but we all know there is evil in our community who would do much worse for their purposes.”

Yes, yes, they would.

Horror filled me. Could my father really have worked with werewolves? Was that his play to try and abduct me?

I couldn’t see him doing that, and not because it was vile, but because he would never trust beasts to keep to the agreement. Was it the Haddocks?

There had to be other drama all around campus and with other families that had nothing to do with me. No, Father was one to snatch up opportunities, and what happened yesterday was one for him.

But how? I couldn’t see how yet and that terrified me.

“Hopefully, we will find the answers,” Councilman Oliveria said firmly. “In the meantime, I will be personally funding the new housing for the large familiars. The owner and president of Familiar Treasures will be donating their time, management, and magic to the project because it is a vision we both share. I understand the university has limited resources though.

“And it is a vast change from the way we’ve been doing things. As such, I’m willing to put my own money on the line. I know Professor Wyatt has agreed to monitor the familiars and work with the witches and warlocks to publish a study on how the changes affected both the familiars and magic—specifically their bond. I’m glad the administration has gotten on board.”

“The new leadership is open to change at Morrigan as long as there are partnerships in place instead of demands and nothing to back it up,” the headmaster said firmly. “I’ve never been a fan of how the large familiars were treated, and I’ve always been ignored that I wasn’t knowledgeable on the topic. I have a large familiar. That gives me knowledge on the topic.”

Wow. Glad to know he was on our side of this.

Everyone agreed to dismiss the charges against me and even went further to place Director Hensley on administrative leave until his hearing. Ashley went with the headmaster to talk specifics.

Councilman Oliveria congratulated me but then breezed back out as fast as he’d arrived. Wyatt hurried to get me out of there, but I stopped and thanked the woman who came to support me, glad when I saw the eight witches who were saved. They had all offered to testify, but they weren’t even needed.

“This was too easy,” I whispered when I was back in my room with Sergey, Winter, and Kelton. “This was way too easy.”

“Foxy, nothing about this was easy,” Sergey corrected. “This was a disaster you averted. Take the win and let’s focus on your next win even if people don’t know it’s coming from you. This large familiar housing project is going to be huge for Familiar Treasures.”

“Especially your dream of the familiar spa,” Kelton added. “Tracey’s already got sheds being delivered soon—you could sell magical paint and stain for the sheds. Even have a team that installs them for people to look like normal sheds at home and hide their familiars. There’s a ton of potential in this, Bev.”

Which they were excited about and how their familiars would live going forward. They were thrilled and talking excitedly about it all… And ignoring me.

They didn’t listen to me.

Neither did Wyatt.

Nor Tracey or Jasmine.

No one.

What was the point of having friends or people who cared about me if they made me feel more alone than when I was locked up in my family’s home? Ignored me when I said I was struggling and scared?

Were selfish and made me feel small because they didn’t like how I handled something?