7

“Oh, my dear, it’s so lovely to see you,” a woman said as I arrived with Wyatt.

I blinked at her several times as she approached and then I could have been pushed over with a feather. “Mrs. Olive? What are you doing here?”

She laughed and hugged me. “I’m so glad you got free of those monsters and are blossoming on your own.”

“I’m so lost,” Tracey grumbled from behind us.

She wasn’t the only one.

Mrs. Olive pulled away and smiled at us. “I met Bevin when she was just a tot and she couldn’t say Oliveria, so she called me Mrs. Olive, and I never had the heart to correct her when she was older.”

I blinked between her and the councilman. “But you used to visit Grandfather.”

“We were childhood friends and I was close with his sister. She died well before you were born and I would check on him given he was… He wasn’t happy in his mating.” She beamed at me. “But then you were born and he couldn’t stop smiling, his only heartache was he couldn’t take you from those people.”

“You do look familiar,” Tracey admitted.

“Yes, we’ve met but not for many years,” Mrs. Oliveria confirmed. “I’m glad Henry was right about you and you stayed loyal to Bevin. Henry was completely sure of you after seeing how you were with Bevin as a child.”

“She was just so damn cute. Only monsters could be rude to a child that polite and sweet.” She shook her head and gave me a wink. “You really were an adorable tot.”

I sighed. “Some of that is blurry between what I had to deal with at home, and then Grandfather died and I became…” I shook my head, not wanting to talk about it. “I hope you don’t mind that I brought Tracey, and Wyatt demanded he come.”

“I said you shouldn’t go alone, and I didn’t know of this connection,” he defended.

“I tried to tell you Tracey was coming, but you like to cut me off,” I threw right back with a smirk. “But at least you snuck us here without people knowing.”

His eyes flashed shock. “You played me.”

I shrugged. “It seemed fair after how much you kept from me or turned around to benefit you.”

“Oh, Henry must be thrilled how you turned out from where he sits by the gods,” Councilman Oliveria praised. “Come, let’s eat and talk before we get into your help.”

“Thank you because I have questions,” I hedged.

Councilman Oliveria nodded as he led the way. “I figured you would and that you would have already come to see me, but I understand how careful you have to be, so I didn’t make a move either.”

We ended up on their terrace, staff adding place settings without even being told to.

“I didn’t mean to impose,” Tracey stated, glancing between all of us. “I don’t need to eat and really—”

“Nonsense,” Mrs. Oliveria cut in. “We always have light and easy before we have a function. If you forgive sandwiches and picnic-type sides, we have more than enough.”

“Thank you,” Tracey accepted, taking a seat.

“I kept it causal since I didn’t know what type of familiar you have,” I told Councilman Oliveria before looking at his wife. “I’m fine working with yours as well if you’d like to join us.”

“Isn’t that too taxing for you?” she asked gently. “I remember how you struggled if more than one familiar was around.”

I nodded, remembering as well. It had been hard to ignore multiple voices, and they got a bit pushy for my attention before I’d learned to be more commanding and dominant in their presence. “Grandfather and I worked hard to push past that. He thought it would be the quickest way for me to get caught.”

Councilman Oliveria cleared his throat. “I didn’t want to bring this up around the others, but you made a very severe accusation against your former family that, according to High Council guards, landed a direct hit.”

“It’s true, and I have the proof, but I’m saving that if they come at me directly.” It was my turn to get uncomfortable. “I never told Grandfather. He would have died inside if he’d known his own mate sacrificed their youngest for Father’s power.”

“Yes, he would have,” Mrs. Oliveria rasped. “I cannot even imagine that pain as—” She let out a slow breath. “You’re free and it’s over now.”

I chuckled darkly. “It’s far from over, but I wanted them to know I had ammo too, and most importantly so Alex doesn’t do the same after he has children. I might not be part of that family, but I won’t let my innocent niece or nephew die for him.”

“Of course, you’re worried about that and taking it on your shoulders,” Tracey said, sounding like she wanted to shake me. “Fine, we’ve got loads of time before then. You were up to something today besides this consultation.”

“I am,” I admitted as food started being brought out. I spent the next several minutes going over what I’d seen at the familiar housing at school and even the attendant’s behavior.

“Well, I can certainly handle that attendant, but that’s standard housing,” Councilman Oliveria said, his brows drawn together.

“It shouldn’t be,” I argued.

“With all due respect, Councilman, this is going to be one of those times you see her as young, but you’re wise enough to realize you should listen to her,” Tracey cut in. She wiped her hands and extended one over the table to him. “Read me. I admit I was never a slacker, and Henry saw that in me, but read me and you’ll understand.”

He nodded, taking her hand in both of his and closing his eyes. They popped open and went wide as he gasped. “My word , you are powerful. I would never have guessed that, and I don’t mean it as an insult.”

“I don’t offend easily,” she chuckled. “I’ve known Bevin for ten years, and I listened to her advice and instruction from the moment she spoke to my familiar, Woodchuck. Ramon looked down on her for being a black-footed ferret, but she harvests magic at an insane rate and for both of us.”

“Quinn has been ramping up but still is holding back,” Wyatt echoed.

I nodded. “Because you need to have him with you more. Tracey takes Woodchuck with her all the time. If this wasn’t a meeting with a councilman, she’d be here racing around in new nature all excited and harvesting.” I looked at Councilman Oliveria. “And that’s the first thing I’m going to tell you to change at the High Council estate. There’s no reason your familiars are kept out.”

He frowned. “It’s not a rule, but it’s tradition and demeaned by—”

“The top-tier families?” I offered, smirking at him. “Yes, but you’re not them, and that’s a good thing. Plus, I know of one family that sacrifices a child for power, and I doubt they’re the only ones doing something so heinous. Father’s familiar doesn’t go with him everywhere, but he’s always harvesting more for Father. He won’t feed it otherwise and trained it— broke it to do what he wanted.”

“That’s—he’s such a monster,” Tracey sighed.

I shared a look with her. “We’re in agreement?”

“Yes, say what you want. I know for a fact Henry was friends with both of them, Mrs. Oliveria more than the councilman, but they’re both still the people he trusted.”

“You looked into us,” Mrs. Oliveria accused, her tone sounding amused.

Tracey simply gave a one-shoulder shrug. “People can change a lot in five years. I’d do a lot more to protect Bev.”

“What are you up to?” Wyatt asked, but I ignored him.

I only had eyes for Councilman Oliveria. “I get things are way more complicated than I understand, and I barely know any of the politics other than Father and his friends spoke of the High Council like a human county court that was easy to overrule and small-time. I also know from the many histories I’ve read that the council has handled a lot of the corruption and anarchy since its inception.

“The High Council isn’t all that old compared to our history. It’s about as old as the United States, and part of that was a group of warlocks wanting to take over this whole continent as theirs and live separate from the humans, subjugate them, which is no better than the monster vampires.”

“You know our history well. I would question why you were so focused.”

“Because Grandfather put a lot of faith in that the High Council would do the right thing and save me. Father thought I found the research interesting so I understood the importance of top-tier families when you guys were such a joke. No, it was the opposite. This is just all faster than I originally planned, but the plan was always to throw in with the High Council.”

“Why push faster?” he asked with a raised brow.

“Because of what I said yesterday,” Wyatt surmised, sighing when I nodded. “I told her that the top-tier families were pushing to have one of their own on the council as the leader of it.”

“And who would be at the top of that list as a contender?” I swallowed loudly as they all understood how serious this was. “Yes, my father. If that happens, I’m screwed . Forget mating me off for the Shaw family, he will… It can’t happen.”

“Especially given how incredibly important you are,” Councilman Oliveria hinted.

I sighed. “You do know.”

“Do they?” he checked, nodding when I did. “Yes, you’re a goddess. Henry… I wasn’t always the nicest man. There were many times I let the power of the council go to my head.”

“I helped smack that behavior out of him,” Mrs. Oliveria purred before toasting us with her iced tea.

“I didn’t want to get involved with the favors he was asking me for. You were a baby, and why should I care if one witch is pushed into mating? We would block that if you would simply ask. Henry told me the truth and reminded me what was at stake should a goddess come under the control of a top-tier family, especially one as dangerous as the Shaws.”

“Wait, I was worried for that because it’s me, but you make it sound like a thing .”

“Didn’t you read what I gave you?” Wyatt asked.

“No, I was too busy freaking out I was one ,” I drawled.

Councilman Oliveria choked on what he was eating, thumping himself on the chest. “Are you saying Wyatt informed you?”

“Yes, and we’ve had several miscommunications as I thought there was no way she didn’t know and was… Seeing it from her side and what she didn’t know—I’m honestly amazed she didn’t file an order against me or try to have me fired. I wasn’t thinking rationally as I had no idea she had any support and she wasn’t protected while completely oblivious of the danger.”

“Well, I’ll expect a fabulous apology from you and soon,” I stated, giving him a look I wasn’t kidding.

“Let me explain what you’re missing then,” Councilman Oliveria cut in before Wyatt could snark at me. “All the ‘top-tier’ families became that way because they were said to be the first who had witches or warlocks blessed by the gods in their families. It’s taught that our society was founded, our kind coming into being that way, and it all started with them.”

“Do we believe that?” I asked, thinking it sounded… Hinky.

“Yes, as they were once noble families who watched over territories almost like royals but without the land. That was how we were broken up all over the world.”

“I can’t think if that was true Father and Grandmother wouldn’t constantly have drilled that in me as they did that the Shaw family was the most important magical family.”

“You’ll like this part,” Tracey chuckled. “Your father would have called your family nobles if he could get away with it, but there were uprisings because they were selfish and didn’t take care of our people. It’s taught they fell out of favor with the gods and there hasn’t been a god warlock or goddess witch born to those bloodlines since.”

Councilman Oliveria nodded. “So while they kept their power and money, they lost the ruling factor. Most try to ignore that part or pretend it never happened so it wasn’t taken away then. It is why they push back so much against the High Council as we were able to do what they could never manage.”

“Unite our people under one set of laws and governing body,” I surmised.

“Yes, and that is why they push together to weasel their way in, but really they want to take it over, name one of them king, and stab each other in the back to get in that front spot.” He winced at whatever was on my face. “I won’t lie to you that your father is one of three front-runners, but all of the council are in agreement that it can’t ever happen. Order would be lost.”

I snorted. “And corruption taking its place.”

“Yes, exactly our worry, but while we’ve kept order and punished evil, they’ve been gathering people to their side with lies. Many fear us after having to punish harshly to keep order.”

“The tide is too close to turning, and while the average witch and warlock want to stay out of it, the top-tier families push on fears of the High Council while trying to act they are just like them,” Wyatt added.

“I can see that,” I muttered, shrugging when they all shot me surprised looks. “My family employs a lot of our people. So do a lot of the top-tier families. That’s their paycheck, and while they might mostly be evil, they do better by them than human companies do. You’ve focused on keeping them safe while the top-tier families have tended to their needs.”

“You’re not wrong, but it is exceedingly more complicated than that,” Mrs. Oliveria muttered. “But you have an idea, don’t you?”

“I do, and I’ll admit it’s not fully fleshed out, so I’m going to give the adults the parts and how I see them fitting while also saying I know I’m probably missing parts or we might need to adjust the full picture.” I went to say more, but I felt a familiar energy racing towards me… Which was Mrs. Oliveria’s familiar.

I hadn’t seen the rather large Doberman in years and years. I smiled widely and moved my napkin off my lap so she could put her head there.

“You never listen when it comes to Bevin,” Mrs. Oliveria chastised.

“I missed her too,” I promised, scratching the familiar behind the ears. “Education reform is always a popular stance among human politicians, and I think that’s where we start because I can help with that. The large familiars cannot be kept like that and it not affect them in the long term.

“You set the example with doing better by your familiars, forget what the top-tier families say. And that will help grow your power. Believe me, I can give you the edge you need. But also, we do a fundraiser product launch as I want to get into brushes—”

“Yes, yes, brush me, brush me!” the Doberman chanted.

“You were always such a goof,” I chuckled, kissing her head. “Settle down so I can talk now, but I promise you’ll be one of the first who gets one.”

“I love you so much, Bevin,” she groaned. “I’ll harvest.” She licked my hand and darted off.

“That girl loves you as much as me, I swear it,” Mrs. Oliveria teased, but I could see it almost hurt her.

I shrugged. “They all do. She’d pick you over me, but I’m not taken like others.”

“What about brushes?” Tracey cut in so we didn’t stay on that topic.

“I noticed the large familiars had matted fur from their living conditions and it triggered something.”

“We’ve talked brushes before and you were against them as you couldn’t—they wouldn’t enjoy it like your toys and that wasn’t what you could do,” Tracey pushed.

“Right, but I can do a lot more than back then.” I held up a finger to hold her off. “I felt the click like I do on other products except I can only do these personalized.” I nodded when she winced. “It was Winter’s crazy, bet losing blue hair that was the click. There’s not much I can do with the natural fibers or horsehair as it gets stapled in, but the handle itself I could infuse power into.”

“Wood? When have you ever worked with wood?” she challenged.

“I haven’t, but I wanted to when I saw how bad the barns were. I felt it. I also want to do that as part of all of this. I think we have a product launch where people get on the list and we explain how they work. Frame it that the High Council worked with us to return to taking better care of our familiars as our ancestors did, but having to hide so much from humans and technology has made us lax.

“And in that, people can donate to revamp the college familiar housing. We’ve agreed to donate power and help to infuse some magic into the stain after the High Council… Personally bought some brushes for their guards? I don’t know, something. But these changes need to be made, and not just because it’s cruel for the familiars, but it’s teaching bad practices and limiting their magic growth.”

“You act like you think it was done intentionally,” Councilman Oliveria muttered.

I shrugged. “How many of the colleges have received help or guidance during their inception from top-tier families? Some are older than the High Council. Could you see people like my father purposefully misleading people on how to grow their magic so they stayed at the top and no surprises shot up?”

“Yes, yes, I can, and I know my family has pulled some of that, so it’s not only yours,” Wyatt grumbled, scrubbing his hands over his face. “Unfortunately, the administration totally buys into the idea it’s crass to have our familiars around all the time and could lower the school’s standards and hurt donations.”

Of course, it came back to money. It always did. I glanced at Councilman Oliveria. “The High Council needs to start taking on roles of governing and pushing agendas instead of only being the law and order. That is punishment and being ‘the man’ stuff whereas you’ve missed out on a lot of the good people remember and rally behind.”

“You are not the first to say that,” he agreed. “The problem is where to start or how when we’re normally buried under cases and files and issues. My own magic is going down most years instead of growing because I work constantly and cannot harvest or work the magical muscles I have.”

“You’re being overly generous to offer this,” Mrs. Oliveria commented.

“She normally is,” Tracey sighed.

I shrugged. “Giving a boost to the High Council is partially selfish as it protects me. I can’t help the familiars alone, and seeing them like that just crushed me. It was horrible and they were miserable. There’s no need. The school has more than enough room, plus familiars don’t ever eat or attack each other as long as the school games are outlined for them.”

“What do you see changing the housing into?” Councilman Oliveria asked as we finally started to really dig into lunch instead of talking.

Good because I was starving. I explained how I wanted each of them to have their own shed, assigned by their size and height, so there could be a variety. Maybe they originally thought a stable because then they could control heating and cooling, but that could be done if they were all connected and hooked up with power anyways. They needed to have their own space.

And they needed to have more freedom. A tiger wasn’t going to randomly attack a student. Fine, sleeping over in the room when they had roommates was a bit much or like Kelton’s huge moose wouldn’t have fit, but they needed to feel more included instead of imprisoned.

I saw a flash of understanding in Tracey’s eyes and why I was immediately jumping on this when I had so much else going on. Yeah, it wasn’t just fear of my father getting more power and having the authority to make problems for me. Those familiars were in a prison of hell and I couldn’t take it.

Not when I could fix it.

We finished lunch and I met the councilman’s extremely depressed lynx familiar.

I squatted down before the handsome cat and smiled. “Your master called me here because he loves you and wants to fix things so your life is better. He misses you and worries for you. Do you want to be closer?”

His eyes shined and instantly he started talking. To everyone else it sounded like the typical noises a lynx would make, but I heard it all. I swallowed a chuckle that I was starting to become a familiar therapist, wondering if there was a degree for that and other snarky thoughts.

“Okay, I’m going to discuss a lot of that and get some of that handled,” I comforted when he was done… Or mostly as he probably could have gone on forever. “But we need to show that this will work and is the right path. So will you be a dear and harvest really hard for him all weekend? He needs your help and support just as you do his. It will keep him safe.”

He nodded, giving me a lick before darting off towards the tree line of the private woods I assumed the estate had. We were somewhere rural, so there was at least some land he could do his thing on.

“You need to start bringing him with you,” I told Councilman Oliveria firmly. “You can’t work from home or take meetings from your estate like the top-tier families do. They scoff at bringing animals out, but they pump their familiars to harvest for them constantly. You’re kinder and giving him a break unless you’re around and need it. Grandfather did the same and it bored his familiar to tears.”

“I would guess we will all want to do it after working with you, so it shouldn’t be a problem. What else?”

“Familiars are way more intelligent than normal animals and certainly human pets. However , they have some tendencies like puppies. They like your scent. You’re a partnership and he misses you. So if you have to go and can’t bring him, leave a sweatshirt or something snuggly that smells like you. When you do bring them to the High Council chambers, you need to have designated spots for them.”

“A dog bed for instance?” he asked, not hiding how weird that sounded.

“Yes, exactly that. Guards to know that if he goes by the door to let him out as he needs to stretch his legs and go. These are basic needs, but unlike pets they won’t run away. They won’t beg or make a racket for attention when you can’t give it. They won’t be disruptive if you go over what the limits and expectations are. If you need me to, I can be there the first day you bring them all and work it out.”

“I think that best and I appreciate it.”

He truly did, which is why I didn’t have a problem giving time to help. Councilman Oliveria heard me and what was needed, and I didn’t have a doubt that he would handle it all.

Especially given what I was willing to offer to help the schools, Morrigan first.