4

After Winter let Kelton out of the bubble, he clearly wanted answers but left it alone. We finished eating, and while Tracey and Jasmine were ready to go to handle what they needed to, the rest seemed content to stay.

Which amused the two women to no end.

I sighed, nodding they could go and kissed Tracey’s cheek before going into my closet to change. I threw on cozy, fluffy clothes that were always comforting before realizing what I really wanted. Calling him to me, I went back out into my room and plopped down on my floor pillow for work.

“Don’t close the door,” I warned Kelton as he went to do that after Tracey and Jasmine left.

Wyatt’s head snapped towards the hallway. “Something’s wrong. Quinn’s racing here.”

“No, I called him. I want fluffy.”

Everyone in the room froze. Wyatt was the first to speak after at least a full minute. “You can call my familiar?”

“Yup. Any familiar I’ve had harvest magic for me or I’ve interacted with. It’s how I called my brother’s familiar to help me when a guard tried to attack me since to him it was obvious my parents didn’t care about me and… It doesn’t matter.”

“He wanted the power of your purity,” Winter surmised.

“No, he thought since everyone believed I had no power, no one would notice if he took my virginity since they wouldn’t get the boost of my purity. And I’d just like never report it since I agreed to whatever my parents wanted and they painted me as a complete docile, idiot female who did whatever men wanted. It was fun how all the guards treated me like I was there for their eye candy.”

I shook my head and tried to let go of the dark thoughts. I was all twisted up after the hearing, disappointed in Ramon, and just… There was so much .

It was funny when Quinn came racing into my room—somehow managing to get in the building and up to my floor without our help—and came right for me. He completely ignored Wyatt and flopped onto my lap.

“Thank you so much for calling me and getting me out of his room,” Quinn said. It sounded like yipping and soft barks to everyone else, but I understood it. “He leaves me there all the time and I understand, but it’s too much. And he’s lazy. Plus, he feeds me kibble. Can you believe that? Kibble? Do I look like a domesticated dog? No. I’m a fox.”

“You poor thing,” I cooed before glancing at Sergey who was right by my fridge. “Can you get me the pint of blueberries in there, please?”

He nodded, reaching in and picking the container out before moving closer and giving it to me. To say they were all shocked when I started feeding them to Quinn was an understatement.

“Wait, that’s not part of his diet,” Wyatt cut in.

“I know. Stop feeding him kibble and give him real food foxes eat,” I lectured, giggling when Quinn whimpered in joy at the fresh blueberries. “Yes, yes, you can have them all. You poor thing.”

Wyatt gasped as he rubbed his hand over his chest. “Shit, he’s seriously happy. How did you know?”

I shrugged. “I just do. Most familiars get treated like pets humans have, and that’s not bad, but it’s not what they need.” I rubbed my face against Quinn’s soft fur. “I’ll take you with me on my runs since he’s so lazy.”

Quinn went ballistic hearing that, jumping off my lap and licking me like crazy as he danced all around me.

“Okay, okay, behave and eat your treat. I want snuggles.” I thanked him when he immediately flopped back on my lap with his paws up so I could feed him blueberries and pet him.

“Is that an option for anyone who comes into your room?” Kelton teased.

“Only if you have a fluffy tail,” I threw right back. I snuggled with Quinn and gave him the rest of my fruit, accepting kisses in thanks. “Will you go harvest magic for me, my sweet darling? I want to work for a bit and I’ve been too stressed to do it on my own. Can you help me? Hunt for fun and help me? I’ve got something very nice for you. I’m just waiting for it to be finished and it’s all yours.”

“Yes, yes, anything for you. More fruit?” he asked.

“I’ll get more fruit, I promise. I’ll start bringing it to class when I know you’ll be there.”

He gave me a few licks and hurried for the door. Wyatt let him out, completely gobsmacked his own familiar ignored him and wanted me.

I was used to it. Part of it was they had their masters all the time, so a different witch giving them love and attention was what they didn’t even know they craved. I turned and grabbed what I needed to start working, the waiting lists for certain products getting ridiculous.

“You need to let him hang out in your lectures,” I told Wyatt. “He’s small enough that he’s not an impediment and he knows that, but he’ll assume you don’t like him around. The hustle and bustle is interesting to him instead of just sleeping when you’re not home.”

“Some of the professors frown upon it,” he muttered.

“Well, you’re the professor who teaches about familiars, so you should be the authority on it. Some still have problems with us icky females being here which is why the ratio is three males to one female in a society that pushes for education. The girls don’t need to attend the top-tier schools to them. Too bad. You know better. Get him his special spot and talk to him about limits. He’ll do what he should.”

“Whatever you say, dear,” he mumbled, sounding shocked I was lecturing him.

Such was life.

I worked for an hour, lost in my own head until I realized they were simply watching me. I blinked at each of them. “Did you need something? I said Winter could stay over, but I sort of thought you’d all have your own stuff after we ate.”

Kelton cleared his throat. “Sorry, it’s just really fascinating. The magic you’re outputting is high-level, and most won’t let us see that, plus it’s not a magic I know. I got lost in it.”

“What were you thinking about so hard?” Sergey asked gently.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I muttered, bagging up what I’d finished for Tracey. I almost handed it off to Wyatt but then shook my head. “I’m gonna do a lot more to work through all of this. Might as well wait until the end of the weekend.” I stood and brushed the bits of work off of my clothes. “Okay, well, good night.”

“Um, you didn’t actually say I could stay,” Winter hedged.

I blinked at him. “I didn’t? Well, you can.”

“I can?” He frowned at me, and I realized how uninviting and rude that was.

I cleared my throat and fidgeted with my braid. “Umm, I’d like you to if you want. I mean, after today and what you did, I kinda don’t want you to go.”

He moved closer and slid his fingers under my chin, making me look at him. “Little sexy, I’m more than willing to stay—honored even—whenever you want. I’m not upset how you said it. I simply needed to know you wanted it, not accepted it because you thought a fight or fit was coming.” He smiled when I shook my head. “I’m going to steal a kiss if I sleep over. I can only do good night that way.”

I bit back a smile. That was why I asked him to stay. I knew he would somehow be able to help my mood and make me feel better. “Fine, but good night kisses do not involve tongue.”

“When done right they do,” he quibbled but let it go. He winked at me and turned to the others. “All right, gents, lovely to have you, but I’m taking Bevin to bed, so get the fuck out.”

I burst out laughing, grabbing my stomach I laughed so hard and fell onto the bed.

Sergey smirked down at me when I stopped before leaning in. “Good night, foxy.”

“Night.” I accepted a sweet peck, feeling weird that Kelton moved right into the same spot.

“Night, Bev. We’ll have some fun tomorrow and you’ll feel better.”

“Thanks.”

“Ah, about that,” Winter said after Kelton kissed me. “She’s meeting my familiar tomorrow, so you’re welcome to join us if you want to see her meet yours. I’m not hiding it, and she’ll probably figure it out so…”

Sergey gave him a firm nod. “See you at breakfast and we can go after?”

They all agreed that was best, but I snorted, shaking my head when they looked at me. “It’s so weird. It’s like group dates or double dates, but all the guys are for me.”

“I think you should be jumping up and down with joy we’re all cool with that, not questioning it, little sexy.”

I smirked at him. “I’m adjusting, and you’re all pretty damn spoiled already, so I don’t think you have anything to bitch about.”

“Not in the slightest,” he agreed as he peeled off his shirt. “Go ahead, Derek, get your good night kiss.”

“I beg your pardon?” Wyatt replied, giving him a harsh look, but then he sighed at whatever he saw on Winter’s face. “Of course, you figured it out.”

Winter rolled his eyes. “Yeah, not hard when you look at her like you’ve seen her naked and want to strip and fuck her every second she breathes.”

“That’s fairly accurate.”

“Yeah, I would too, but if you summon her to your office or whatever shit you pulled Sunday night to be your normal snarky dick self, I’m gonna fucking pound you. She was seriously scared and upset, and that was before she realized four guys were trying to chase her down. So not again.”

“And no more showing up in my room sitting here when I wake,” I added, sitting up and crossing my arms over my chest. “It’s too far and overbearing and just like when I lived with my fuckhead parents. You don’t have the argument that you own the house and can do whatever the fuck you want, and you promised—”

“I was triggering you,” he whispered, horror filling his face. “I-I didn’t…”

“Who did that to you?” Winter asked, realizing it was a real thing.

“Alex.” I cleared my throat and glanced away. “Alex did it to terrorize me. He’d sit there and wait for me to get up, and he normally came when he was pissed about something and wanted to take it out on me. He’d say it was because I did something, but it was all lies. I was his punching bag no one cared about as long as he didn’t injure or scar my pretty face that would get me sold for more.”

“Now I’m really glad I fucked him up a lot,” Wyatt growled but then froze. “Except apparently he went home and beat you when he couldn’t beat me.” He was on his knees in front of me in a flash. “I’m so, so sorry, Bevin. I didn’t know about you or—I never fathomed the Shaw heir would be allowed to get violent with his siblings.”

“Only the ones they thought defective and weren’t worth protecting,” I muttered, glancing at Kelton who didn’t look that shocked at what he heard. “You figured it out.”

He nodded. “My ma did when I told her your name. She wanted to know if you had any relation to Henry Millen who was actually a Shaw but never changed his name even if it was legally. Apparently, my dad knew him and he was a good man.” He cleared his throat. “ Apparently , you met Ma when you were a tot. She only remembered because her familiar kept asking to play with you again.”

“Ahhh, that sounds like me,” I sighed. I leaned in and kissed Wyatt’s hair, shocking all of us. “It’s not your fault as long as you stop doing that when I wake. You didn’t know. Alex is a monster, and later I want to know about all those times you beat him.”

“Oh, they must have been good because he pulled something fierce when Alex came back to campus after graduating to visit one of your sisters,” Winter told me with a wicked grin. “You threw gallons of waste on him from the septic tanks the school has and it was glorious.”

I swallowed a wince, but they all noticed, so I knew I had to confess. “Father was furious he’d gotten shit thrown at him. I didn’t know the details, but Alex wasn’t happy.”

“He hurt you?” Wyatt whispered sounding heartbroken.

I shrugged. “If it wasn’t because of you, it would have been something else. Alex has always been lacking in Father’s eyes because he’s not as powerful as he should have been. Alex blames me for that because I wasn’t strong enough to be sacrificed and for my power to be taken. They’re monsters. They are , not you. I’m glad you stuck it to him no matter the results.”

“I’m sorry, did you just say sacrificed? ” Kelton choked out.

“Shit, I’m too tired to keep straight who knows what,” I grumbled, but then nodded. “The Shaw family sacrifices the youngest child and gives that power to the male heir so they stay at the top of the top-tier families. They didn’t think I knew, but I found out and hid my magic. Alex did know and hates me because I didn’t give him the boost he thought he deserved, not caring it meant my death.”

“Alex knew?” Wyatt seethed. “I’m going to need help burying a body.”

“I’ll get the shovels,” Sergey muttered.

“Fuck that, I know some really great mountains we shove him off and he’ll never be found,” Winter argued.

“Don’t even joke about that,” I worried, shooting Kelton a glance.

He smiled at me. “I’m pissed too, but I’m not going to tell my cop brother about threats. I will however warn him to look into the Shaws—”

“Don’t. Don’t ever do that,” I gasped, my eyes going wide. “There is a reason my family gets away with so much, Kelton. Don’t even mention it to your brother. He’s just a rookie and will be chewed up and spit out and dead . If you don’t think my parents can pull that off—they can . I know they can which is why we’ve been going to the High Council, not our police.”

He took in a slow breath but then let it out. “Yeah, there is corruption there. I knew that from Dad. I hear you. I won’t.”

“Okay, enough heavy when you’ve had too much today,” Wyatt cut in as he stood, cupping my face and brushing his lips over mine. “See you in the morning.”

“I already know your familiar,” I reminded him.

“Oh, I’m not missing you meeting theirs . I know why mine is a fox as I had to be like one to get free of my family—just like you. But he’s—I’ve never been upset he’s not bigger or whatever, but I want to see your reactions to what they have.”

Oh boy.

Winter shooed them all out, Sergey grumbling it was fine as long as I wanted it… And Winter didn’t try for his Saturday nights.

“You get a night?” Kelton asked him as they left, and I did my best not to face-palm. This was all complicated, and I had no idea why any of them would put up with it.

“And then there were two,” Winter chuckled as he locked the door behind them. “Can I borrow your toothbrush, little sexy?”

“No different than having your tongue in my mouth which I denied for today,” I reminded him before strutting to the bathroom to take care of my nightly business. His laughter was loud and infectious which I enjoyed.

He was grinning like the cat that ate the canary when I came back out, so clearly he’d circled over to his room and gotten cleaned up. I shook my head at his antics and checked the door, hitting the light and crawling in bed.

After a moment, his deep chuckle was what I heard in the dark room as he climbed in behind me. “You are too much, little sexy.”

“Pot, kettle,” I drawled.

“That’s fair.” He slid his arm around me and pulled me against his firm chest. “This okay?”

I went to say it was, but then I flipped over. I wanted that kiss.

He leaned in and gave it to me, a soft brush of his lips that was perfect for how I felt but still filled with hot promises. “You’re going to be okay, Bevin.”

That made me crack. “I don’t feel like it or I can handle any of this.”

“You can. You will. I know it and you’re not alone.”

I nodded as I snuggled against his chest, feeling safe and protected. Which, of course, made me think of the one who had protected me for so many years. Tears were falling before I realized it, and Winter was kind enough not to say anything about it. Eventually, I fell asleep, and as shitty as I knew it was to be like that the first time he slept over… It was so fucking nice that he did and helped me.

Someone saying my name woke me, and it took me a few moments to realize I was in bed with Winter. His left arm was holding me to his side… Which wasn’t the side I’d started on, so that was interesting.

“That’s it, moan my name, Bevin,” Winter groaned. “Harder? You want it harder. Yeah, I’m gonna make those big tits bounce, little sexy.”

I was wide awake then, blinking up at him and realizing he was still completely asleep.

Well, at least I knew he didn’t fantasize about other women as he was pushing me to go out with him, right?

It was hard not to giggle, but then I saw his right arm moving. Was he doing that in my bed? I couldn’t help but peek under the covers. I swallowed a yelp and dropped them when I saw that he was and his dick was massive and peeking out from under his shorts.

“Fuck yeah, scream you want more,” he moaned, his arm moving faster. “Take all of me. Shit, you are so fucking sexy. You feel so good. I need more. I need more of you.”

I squirmed against him, dying to know exactly what he was picturing and totally turned on to hear his sexy sleep-heavy voice moaning about me. I gasped as his hand slid up my stomach and cupped my breast under my shirt. Seconds from waking him, I whimpered instead when he pinched my nipple harder than I would have thought I liked.

It was probably too hard, but it ached and radiated out when he stopped, making me clench my thighs it felt so good.

“You like that, huh?”

I almost answered but then remembered he was sleeping and I shouldn’t let this happen. Except he did it again, grunting my name as he climaxed.

And woke up. He was gasping for air as he blinked up at the ceiling. He glanced down and sighed, figuring out what he’d done, but then he went to move his hand that was under my shirt and flinched.

His eyes went bug wide as he slowly turned to find me awake and watching him. “Oh fuck. I’m so, so sorry, little sexy.”

“It felt good,” I forgave. “What were you dreaming about while masturbating in my bed?”

He swallowed loudly and massaged my breast until I squirmed. “Your fucking breast is even better than I imagined. Did you really—are you okay with me touching it?”

“Just one?” I teased, gasping when his hand moved to the other and played with it. “Shit, I’m about to bring out my vibe wand and finish what you started.”

“Oh fuck, please do, little sexy.”

I smirked at him and pulled away, reaching into my nightstand and pulling it out… And getting off the bed much to his confusion. “It’s waterproof.”

His eyes went wide. “You’re going to masturbate in the shower while I’m here? ”

“You did in my bed while we were sleeping,” I reminded him. “This seems fair payback.”

“That is—you are—fuck, do it,” he moaned, scrubbing his left hand over his face. “I’m just going to take care of my hard-on all over again.”

I glanced at his groin before meeting his gaze. “Again?”

He snickered. “I’m not a one and done man, little sexy.” He licked his lips as he eyed me over. “More like all night until you can’t scream anymore and you’re walking funny the next day if you don’t get healed.”

I shivered. That sounded wonderful. But not yet. I gave him a wink and turned on the toy as I put extra sway in my hips and walked to the bathroom. I closed the door on his groan and actually took care of myself so he could hear while in the shower. I came out wrapped in a towel and his eyes ate me up.

“You really did it? Not just messing with me and making noises?” he checked.

“Twice. I had to keep up.” I glanced at his covered groin as he sat up in my bed. “You?”

“Yeah, and it won’t go down with you looking like you do.”

“So you’re just going to stay in bed?”

“I don’t want to scare you,” he muttered, looking like he was genuinely worried about my reaction.

“I peeked,” I confessed, shrugging when he raised an eyebrow. “I wanted to see if you were really doing what I thought and he poked out to say hi.”

“Not quite the same as if I stand and let you see it in my shorts hard.”

I shrugged. “I already know it won’t fit unless you do a lot of prep and get me ready.” I almost said it wasn’t like Wyatt wasn’t huge but stopped myself in time.

He threw back the covers. “I’m bigger than Derek, longer.”

I shrugged again. “I wasn’t—I certainly wasn’t going to compare.”

“No, but we put things in our frame of reference, and yours is sex with him.” He slid to his feet and moved closer to me, letting me see that he was definitely long enough to poke out of his shorts if he was fully hard.

Wow. All I could do was stare for several moments before blinking up at him. “Yeah, that would tear me up if we jumped to sex.”

He leaned in and brushed his lips over mine. “I wouldn’t ever be so callous and hurt you, little sexy. Plus, I very much enjoy the foreplay and lead-up. No matter how tight you might be—and I look forward to feeling for myself—I’ll make sure you enjoy every second of the lead-up before I take you and rock your world.”

He grabbed his clothes, not even putting them back on before muttering he’d be right back to take me to breakfast and flaring up a spell circle.

I blinked at where he’d been standing and then glanced back at the bathroom. I felt like I was in dozens of movies where I now needed a cold shower.

Holy fuck , he was hawt and he knew how deadly sexy he was too.

“I’m in such trouble and there’s four of them,” I grumbled, heading to my closet to change for the planned day.