23

In typical Tracey fashion, she handled so much more than I could ever think about and way over what I’d planned. She had a commercial kitchen rented for three days that was completely ours… With keys in her hand first thing Saturday morning.

Of course she did.

Since she had to be at school with Wyatt and Winter for the sheds being delivered and built, she roped in Kelton and Sergey’s moms to help us. They were a bit shocked when Mrs. Oliveria arrived with two of her staff as well.

I shrugged. “It’s all last-minute and Tracey is swamped, so I went to get other help and…” I shrugged again.

“Yes, well, anyone Tracey trusts are good people, and we’ve got a big job to do,” Mrs. Oliveria graciously accepted. “I was inspired and stayed up thinking of other recipe ideas. How to even make this work and profitable for your plans. Partially selfishly since my dear familiar wants more treats now and those cookies aren’t really what she should have.”

“I had an idea too,” I hedged, shaking my head when people asked. “Let’s see if this works. It might be silly or cheesy given the brand’s reputation. I’ll have to ask Tracey later.”

Link arrived with his truck loaded with what we’d already discussed and handed me back my card. He and Kelton’s brother, Kevin, could only help for a few hours, so they were ready to get going.

Sergey had picked up the unflavored gelatin and catering trays. That was all we needed to start. Everyone tried the cookies and seemed to have the same impression. That it maybe made them feel less stressed or more chill, but nothing big.

“I understand the goal, but I brought a stack of little plastic cups from work that we use in some of the fancier bathrooms,” Rita told me. “I thought if you’re doing it like a tea party, you might want these on the plates you’re sitting at for flare.”

“That’s smart,” I agreed, thanking her. “I was thinking of doing it up and making it—I was going to mock my father a bit and make it clear—I have an idea. I also was hoping to check with your familiar since she’s a macaw if this makes her feel good or anything.”

She promised that as soon as it was ready, she’d go get her familiar.

So we started with the parrot feed since that was what macaws ate as well. It really didn’t take long since I could pop it in the freezer after, but the mixing was rather laborious given the amount we were doing.

And I had to be the one doing it since it was my magic and I was the one doing the spell. It was a quick spell though and not a lot of magic. That was nice at least. One huge batch was a fraction of magic compared to what I used for one familiar toy.

Rita went and got her familiar and we all waited with bated breath as she offered her a cube of the mix. My eyes went wide as her familiar went bonkers after tasting it, going on and on that it was the best treat ever and she was so happy. That she wanted to go harvest all of the magic and was so excited for something so awesome.

I shared a look with Rita, both of us able to sense it. “Yeah, I think it works.”

“She’s so ridiculously happy it’s unreal,” she whispered, rubbing her chest. “I don’t know she’s ever been so driven to harvest magic and full of joy.”

“Which means you need to limit these treats with warnings,” Kevin worried.

“I have a plan for that,” I promised. I glanced at him and nodded. “It’s not about money with me. Yes, money is protection and yes, now people are getting needed jobs that Tracey can all handle, but all I care about is doing better by familiars and keeping safe.” I glanced back at Rita. “Do you mind if your familiar goes to my estate and harvests for us?”

“No, not at all. She would love time there. She’s smart enough to not let a predator get her,” she accepted.

Perfect.

Jasmine was able to bring us via circle, but then Rita was hesitant to go back, clearly wanting to speak to me privately… And Jasmine made it clear she wasn’t speaking to me alone.

Rita nodded, accepting that. “I hate to bring this up and I don’t want to take advantage of this—Kelton really likes you and I hate to risk ruining that, but I’m in—I know you talked about your plans for the spa, but that will probably be—”

“Something happened at work and you’re scared,” Jasmine cut in, interpreting what was going on for me.

She nodded. “My boss isn’t just hinting at or suggesting favors from me anymore, he flat-out demanded we spend some alone time Monday after my shift for me to keep my manager position. He says I owe him after all his niece has told him that I do wrong, and it’s—”

“It’s all bullshit,” I muttered, reaching out and rubbing her arm when she looked close to tears. “I’ll help however, but I don’t know—”

“She wants a job now,” Jasmine surmised. “You want to work making the treats however we do this and you can switch to the spa later.”

“Yes,” Rita confirmed. “I’ll help Nina with brushes, whatever. You and Tracey keep saying you’re exhausted—I can help. Please.” She cleared her throat and shot me a look I couldn’t read. “I was hoping to bring my team of four besides the manager’s niece. Make it clear to the owners it was because of them. They’re good workers. Hard workers. I swear it.”

“Okay, okay, take a breath, Rita,” Jasmine comforted before hugging the woman. “And you won’t tell your sons because you’re afraid they’ll kill the manager or get themselves into trouble.”

“The owners are a top-tier branch family,” Rita confirmed.

Oh boy.

“Yes, we can use the help. It might be a bit of this and that and crazy for now. I need to pack my apartment and move in here because I don’t have any real security. There’s a list. Keke could use help to finish product because Bevin has ramped up on getting her the fillings. So if someone is best with their hands or willing to train—basically, someone who knows how to sew or—”

“One of my team does!” Rita gasped. “She’s—I can show you some of the adorable designs and things she’s made for her daughter. She loves sewing.”

I shrugged when Jasmine looked at me. “I’m fine with whatever. Tracey handles all of this.”

She smiled. “Yes, I know. I was implying it’s time to tell me whatever this idea is that you have for the treats to start.” She let go of Rita and gave me a half hug when I didn’t say anything. “Bevin, your ideas aren’t stupid. Sometimes they need some refining, but that’s true for all of us. Trust us to have faith in you because we do.”

I sighed. “Like an ice cream truck.” I went on when they both seemed confused. “I think it should be like an ice cream truck that has a calendar with all the colleges and high schools. People can come with their familiars and buy one treat like you would a pup cup or ice cream. That way they’re not giving too much to their familiars to break them harvesting like my family would.

“And we can control the right treats are being given to the right familiar. The only complaints we get now are when they don’t buy the right toy for their familiar no matter what we say. And people have learned to ignore that complaining and know the person was being a jerk.”

“Yes, I’ve heard that even,” Rita confirmed. “One of our clients was going on and on about Familiar Treasures being a con, and someone immediately replied that they shouldn’t have gotten a cheap cat toy for their familiar because they’re meant for specific familiars. People know the score, especially with the waiting list.”

“Exactly. But this is new, and people are children who push or will buy all the treats if we allow them. So it couldn’t just be a student selling or whatever, but we should start with students because they need to work on their bond with their familiars and they won’t risk being as big of assholes to whoever runs the truck because it’s on campus,” I rambled.

“That’s brilliant,” Jasmine praised, nodding when my mouth dropped open. “Bev, you are a genius businesswoman. You aren’t the best with details, but that’s for those of us who are to handle. You keep thinking of the big picture and we will handle the rest. I think Tracey should catch word about your prank Monday morning and come right over saying you got her attention.”

“That’s smart,” I agreed, feeling more confident.

Jasmine promised that she would handle everything with Tracey and that Rita and her team should call in sick for whatever sick days they had until she could get things worked out. She only had five, but Jasmine promised that was enough time and fuck the company.

Okay then, so now I was employing Sergey and Kelton’s moms.

Awkward.

Really awkward.

But it also left me seriously overwhelmed. It was the normal business, plus now brushes. Also, the paint for sheds which I hadn’t even played with yet and didn’t know how it would work.

And now treats for familiars?

This seemed like a recipe for disaster. Seriously.

Mrs. Oliveria clearly understood where my mind was and decided how to handle it… Which was looking up more recipes. I had no idea how that would help, but I felt like I blinked and we had a list of everything for ferret treats for Woodchuck. Frozen pup treats for her familiar. Ones for house cat familiars—which was someone’s and I forgot.

Something for Loki and Spike.

I even mixed some really good cuts of meat for Bubba and froze it in a chunk. That would work—hopefully—for the large predator carnivores. I couldn’t forget Teddy and did the same with cuts of fish.

I understood where her mind had been when we took a break and I got to go give Bubba the treat as a thank-you for saving me. Seeing how happy the surly tiger was and grateful to be appreciated after so much abuse in that small pen was… Yeah, I felt a lot better.

Mrs. Oliveria simply winked at me. “I have grown children and know how to help at times, dear. It also helps that I have an outside perspective, and you keep being in the middle of the storm.”

“Thank you for everything you’ve done. Really.”

She leaned in and gave me a hug. “You make sure to supply our familiars with treats and we’ll call the deal done. I’m just happy that my family’s spell is finally going to some good use instead of sitting on a shelf being forgotten. It makes me ridiculously happy too.”

She was a generous person to ask only that and I wouldn’t forget it.

The only hiccup for the weekend was some of the council pushing back on the changes. They thought the idea of changing the large familiar housing at the school was too radical. Same with bringing their familiars with them to work and especially having them in court.

Tracey didn’t know what to do about it, but I did, sighing when I told her to invite them informally to our house. Understanding filled her eyes and she groaned, knowing it was another can of worms that was being opened, but at least we could get over this step when we needed to.

And we needed to, especially with everything else we had planned.

She pulled a miracle out of her ass but made it clear also that it was now or now, so early Sunday morning all the councilmen met at their estate. They were beyond impressed when Tracey laid down a circle large enough to include all of them and the golf carts the guards used for the High Council grounds.

“I’ve been here,” Councilman Oliveria said after they arrived, glancing around. He got out of the golf cart and studied the house before looking at me. “This is where I first met you, Bevin. This was Henry’s family home—vacation home maybe?”

I nodded. “It was the last thing Grandfather was able to save of the Millen’s holdings. He used the last of their money to start the trust and pay the taxes.” I glanced at the others and gave them the same speech I had the others when we’d shown them.

And then we showed them what I’d done. They were all gobsmacked to say the least.

“I’ve been here ,” Councilman Oliveria reiterated when someone said this wasn’t possible. “I’ve been to this lake. It’s been ten years but—” He turned and looked at me with wide eyes. “There was no magic here like this. I remember the picnic we had here when you were just a teeny thing. This was what Henry talked about and your power? Listening to you and what you built?”

I nodded. “Part of it. I told him the land was sad and I wanted to fix it. He let me. Tracey has been doing it for me ever since Grandfather died and I couldn’t come here.”

“So, Ms. Anderson actually did this,” one of the councilmen corrected.

Tracey snorted. “I brought in the birds and worms like Bevin wanted. With all due respect, Councilman, you’re coming in late to this, so don’t make the call on what you think happened. The ball was rolling before I even met Bevin. I kept the ball rolling which we all know is much easier. Much, much easier. This land was left undisturbed besides what she told me to add.”

“And that’s why it thrived.” I cleared my throat and decided to go for broke since they were all gathered. “I also plan to do this for the familiar spa we’re going to open as Familiar Treasures. I’m going to do this again to a large piece of land and have what’s basically zoo enclosures.

“A bear can go swimming and catch fish in the right water it needs on land that teems with magic like this. Equine familiars get their hoofs and fur treated after running through this type of magic. All of it. We’re going to start and build on different facilities and enclosures as we go. The location is undisclosed so no one can steal or harvest illegally.”

“That’s quite the undertaking along with what you’ve already decided to branch out into,” Councilman Reid worried.

“I’m not the one doing it since I’m just a kid people would plow over,” I promised him, fully understanding where his head was and not taking offense. “That’s all Tracey and Jasmine. I just need people to listen to me when I say it’s what familiars like or what they need—what the animals need to make the magic like this.”

“Plus, everything Bevin already has done was under her parents’ controlling and abusive noses,” Tracey defended. “You have no idea what she’s actually capable of now that she’s free and supported. I have no idea and I’ve known her for years. What we’re trying to politely tell you is to bet on her because it’s a sure gamble with odds in your favor.”

“And one you’re not offering to anyone else,” one of the councilmen muttered, eyeing me over in a way I didn’t like.

I moved closer to Tracey. “This took a turn and I’m certainly not for sale. War is brewing between the council and the top-tier families. I’m saying I’m not on their side given what my father and family would want from me. But I’m on my side. I want what’s best for me, and the council winning that war is what’s best for me as long as things stay as they are.”

Meaning they stayed honorable and didn’t become corrupt.

I was glad when Councilman Reid said that, obviously understanding what I meant.

It worked though, and they were on board with everything after feeling the power. I was a bit worried as a few looked at me in ways I didn’t like and like I could be theirs. But Councilmen Reid and Oliveria saw it too, and I had hope they would handle it.

Tracey also seemed to notice, and I had a feeling I would never be meeting with those councilmen alone. Good.

Wyatt was right that the council wasn’t exactly great men and people who could be trusted… But they were still a better option than our families.

By. Far.

There were four council members who hadn’t dragged their heels and had immediately done as I suggested. So when we went back to the High Council grounds, I actually went inside the courtroom with them and their familiars.

“This is the bed my familiar liked best of the ten options I purchased,” Councilman Oliveria told me, shocking the others.

“Good, whatever he likes best,” I agreed.

I gave love to his familiar and got him settled in a spot that was out of the way, but he could see the action and get some sun. I went over the rules with him and which door the guard would be at for when he wanted to stretch his legs.

“Now, this is the part that’s going to be difficult,” I warned him. “No matter what is going on, you stay out of it, okay? Your warlock is strong enough to fight his own battles when you are here . The High Council grounds are his domain and you are a guest . It doesn’t matter if anyone yells at him or threatens him. You must remain calm and not involve yourself.”

The lynx seemed to mull that over. “What if he asks me for my help?”

“Always involve yourself if your warlock asks for aid,” I agreed. “ Only then . Many do not want this and your bond to be stronger. Many will poke this idea and try to set you off. Show them that you are worthy of being a councilman’s familiar and this was a wise decision on his part. Otherwise, you will go back to the way things have been.”

He leaned in and licked my cheek, promising he would be exemplary and not embarrass either of us. Then he asked to be shown where he could do his business and stretch his legs.

One familiar accepting it made the other three easier to deal with as well.

“They’re nervous because others here are nervous, and that will compound with others being agitated coming in,” I told the councilmen when we were done. “I think only this for the first week and we’ll add as they can. If these four are cool as cucumbers after a week with nothing going wrong—”

“The other familiars won’t be worried and now we have a set procedure,” Councilman Reid muttered, nodding when I did. “Wise. Unfair for the moment, but wise. I would ask you work first with those we would bring in last to have their familiars there.”

“That’s fair, but I will warn you that a lot of it will be your own homework,” I told them all firmly. “I gave Tracey the path to walk, but it was her hard work and dedication that makes her so powerful.”

She took off her muting charm and showed them, shocking the shit out of the men in a way they couldn’t even hide it.

“She needs to have sessions with the guards and—” one of the councilmen declared.

“Please don’t speak about me like I’m not here and I’m something you possess,” I said bluntly, a few of them covering snickers. “I also had to hide I could do all of this until recently. I only worked with Tracey and Grandfather until last week. I passed out from doing too many sessions since I didn’t know my limits or how it all works.”

“You will see during the session, but she puts out gobs of high-level magic to maintain the visual representation of your bond with your familiar,” Tracey explained. “And it’s like therapy, not a personal trainer at a gym. You get more from it from the solo work you put in, not someone guiding you each time. I can give you guidance on some of that and will since I know this end.”

Most of them accepted that, but I saw the greed and more in the eyes of a few others.

No good deed really went unpunished. I would definitely have to make better friends with Councilman Reid and the three others who were truly good men.

There was good news though after that and it turned out all I had to do was mix the paint or stain before it went on the barn to infuse it with my magic. I didn’t actually have to be the one to apply it, so that was super easy to handle hidden and then someone could bring them for the day.

I did need to work with each familiar though.

So yeah, it was important to get me on the Familiar Treasure’s payroll according to the public and act like I was working with the familiars about treats. Or at least when people weren’t looking and we could handle the situation.

But that was also easier because Tracey had insisted on huge construction privacy fencing. The whole area was blocked off and guarded, and part of that was because the familiars were still vulnerable without their normal barns and the school was responsible for that. Some of it was High Council guards picking up extra shifts or ones in training getting some hours.

Awesome.

Seven barns were up Sunday night, and I was able to quickly sneak in and talk to each familiar about what color they wanted and where they needed to do their business. Also, the same rules as I talked to the familiars of the councilmen.

I flagged one as having an attitude and refusing to listen to a stupid, dumb witch, so he lost his shed and went back into the pen. People were shocked I would be so harsh, but his attitude risked all this progress and doing better by the six other familiars. They hadn’t done anything to deserve their chance at a nice place being ruined.

And Bubba agreed with me, praising me for being so smart and snitching that the familiar was always a problem. But the warlock bribed the attendant to look the other way and always got the best of everything.

Yeah, that wouldn’t be happening when I was in charge of this.

But I did have a talk with Bubba that most people thought he was such a problem and it was time to show that the housing had been the problem. That Sergey needed him to really step up and I would make sure he came with me on runs and we spent some time at my house on the weekends.

The tiger was more than on board.

Good.

Awesome even because I had my own shit to handle and it was big.

Splashy big and I hated that.

Really, really hated that, but if it kept me safe, I would do it.