9

“So what is it you specifically want me to do?” Link asked as I kept giving Loki love. “Go to the Shaw house and tell Alex not to mess with my brother to cover your friend?”

I thought about that a minute. “No, if Grandmother is there, she’s too good at busting lies. Well, Father too, but I’ve never mattered enough, and he thinks all women are stupid, docile, idiots who wouldn’t dare lie to him.”

“Meaning he’s delusional,” Councilman Oliveria drawled.

“Yes, but it was the only way I made it through to get free.” I studied Link a moment. “Go there and ask to see Alex with a High Council order. Give him the one you already gave my family that has the information for my lawyer as apparently he couldn’t read the first one. Then warn him not to fuck with the student at Morrigan who called the guards on him or he’ll have you to deal with.”

“Implying I care enough to show up right away and I must be the brother. Smart.”

“I have my moments. It’s the only way I survived them.” I scrubbed my hands over my face. “I think you should also give over some of the proof I have of his abuse. They think all of it is a bluff as how could I ever pull a fast one on them even though they were clueless of so much. By now, they at least know I always hid my magic and this crap of being at Morrigan or losing my purity activated it.”

“How in the world did you hide your magic?” Link asked.

I could see his uncle also wanted to know, so I answered even with the others listening. I explained that the poisonous frogs would mute my magic dramatically and I realized that as a child.

I simply didn’t tell them why it was so imperative to hide it.

“If you have proof, you could go after them harder,” Link pushed.

I shook my head. “If I go directly for the Shaw heir, their golden boy, and embarrass the whole family by proving he’s a child abuser, things will blow up big time. Like they’ll directly challenge the High Council and get other top-tier families to make a move as well with lies of it all being a smear campaign of you guys taking them out and using me as a pawn because I’m stupid and na?ve.”

“You truly know your family’s playbook,” Councilman Oliveria sighed. “She’s not wrong, and that’s not a hit we can take.”

“Not yet, but we both know it will come to throwing down with those families,” I muttered. “If you listen to me, I can get you there, I promise.”

He nodded, glancing between Link and me. “Do as she says and then meet me at the function tonight. I want each of the council to read you and your magic.”

“Councilman?” Link didn’t seem thrilled with that, but I had a feeling it was because he didn’t want to appear at whatever function.

“You don’t have to stay for the full thing,” Councilman Oliveria chuckled. “I want them to see where you are before Ms. Millen works with you the next few weeks while you go undercover at Morrigan with their security and make sure she’s protected.” He smirked at me. “The proof is in the pudding. The question is can you deliver?”

“Without a doubt as long as he listens to me. You felt Tracey.”

“Yes, your business manager is exceedingly powerful and hides it well with that enchantment.”

“Councilman, I don’t mean to doubt your judgment, but how does a woman just out of high school have a business manager?” the other guard who was the only one who’d spoken so far asked.

I decided to handle that one as these guys getting stronger would help too. I might not have known magic at the levels and training most did, but I had lots of tricks, and one that I would never forget was what Grandfather taught me after opening the company.

Mostly because it made me always think of him.

I made several business cards appear in my hand and gave one over to him. “Thank you for your discretion. Anything you want for your familiar is on me. All you have to do is show that card and you’ll be moved to the top of the list.”

He took it with a frown, but then his eyes went bug wide. “Holy… You’re kidding me?”

“Not today,” I chuckled.

“No wonder your father freaked out he couldn’t get you back.”

“He doesn’t know, none of them do, and I need to keep it that way. That mating profile just had totals and some hints that are dangerous. But if they knew for real, I wouldn’t put it past my father and grandmother to send in a team to Morrigan and abduct several of us to throw off suspicion but only the others would be recovered. Me, they would keep forever and lie I died.

“Something easy like the others saw my dead body when being held, but I wasn’t really dead. And no one knows I’m the owner, so they’d work out something with Tracey that she keeps her mouth shut and I’m not beaten or raped or whatever line no one should ever cross. Then they’d use me as a workhorse as they never saw me as anything but a possession anyways.”

“We won’t let that happen,” Councilman Oliveria said gently, clearly understanding I didn’t say that on a whim, but it was one of my terrifying, reoccurring nightmares.

We went over a few more particulars, and not even ten minutes later I was circling back to the student union. Luckily, no one was waiting for me, and I was pretty sure after the day they’d seen me have, they’d give me some space.

They did one better and sent me messages to show they cared but left it all up to me.

Tracey: I heard what happened. What do you need?

Prof. A. Hole: What do you need, goddess? You want to snuggle with Quinn?

Jasmine: Tracey informed me, and I know you are in a painful spot, but please, please tell me if you are even thinking of going to the High Council estate or meeting with a council member. One of us should be with you. We can help. I will go there now and make sure all those guards sign NDAs.

Kelton: I’m really, really sorry. I’m here and I’m not leaving. I get it better after talking with Prof. Wyatt and Sergey. I’ll listen for real this time. I just didn’t… We’ve had only one date, Bev. That normally doesn’t put anyone on a bad guy’s radar. Your family is extreme. I hear you now.

Kelton: I’d give anything to hold you while you deal with this. Call me if you’ll let me.

Sergey: I don’t want you to be alone tonight—and it is my night—but I know you need some time. Give me permission to crawl in bed with you later, foxy. I need to know you’re okay.

And Winter sent me a link. I blinked at it a moment and then clicked it, doing a double take when it was to a food delivery site. Student Union Delivery.

Huh?

I burst out laughing when I read more. It was a company students started—and unionized, playing on the student union building—and the founders still ran now as adults. Only students could work there, and it was the only delivery service all our schools allowed.

And the options were unreal. They had ins at so many places just like Winter had known about that blind spot to use a spell circle. They operated just like that and delivered to your dorm room since the ones who delivered to Morrigan were Morrigan students.

I had a sinking suspicion Winter was one. It made sense, and as an orphan, there was no way he wasn’t working a side gig even if his school was covered.

The link gave me twenty percent off my first order, and all I had to do was use my school email as my login and create a password… And there was even an app for it all. That was sick and awesome we kept it all from the humans.

Magic was so cool.

I started there, knowing it was exactly what I needed. I ordered my weight in Chinese food, basically one of each on the menu since I wanted to try everything I’d never been able to and remind myself life was better now. Then I decided to handle the texts in the order they came in.

Me: I could use Woodchuck to harvest for me if she doesn’t mind. I’m going to work and eat too much and get our earnings up.

Tracey: Whatever you need, and when you’re ready to talk about brushes, let me know.

Me: Talk to Sergey’s mom. She’s a woodworker. I think we can get her on our payroll and off being jerked around by assholes. I know how that feels.

Tracey: Yeah, you do. I love you. We’ll figure this out.

Me: If Quinn doesn’t mind harvesting for me and then coming for snuggles after I work a bit that would be awesome.

Prof. A. Hole: Of course. I hate to keep seeming like I’m pushing you, but I think you should look over what I gave you. The information might help you feel better, knowing there are others, and learn how things work.

Me: Maybe. Maybe tomorrow. I’m overloaded. Thanks.

A miracle happened and he only sent me back a kissy smiley face instead of being a dick. Nice.

Me: You’re right. I shouldn’t have done that, and I’ll adjust to being able to call you guys instead of dealing with it all on my own to keep hidden. Thank you.

Jasmine: Good. Feel better.

Me: I’m sorry I blew up so badly. Tomorrow, you should meet your “brother” I managed to swing for you. Long story, and I’m not sure you should know it all yet, but he seems a good guy.

Me: I also think you should rethink wanting to get involved with me. The others don’t have anyone to lose or are prepared to go up against this level. You’re a normal guy, and while I adore that, I’d die if you got hurt because of me.

Kelton: I will rethink it because you asked me to and that’s fair. There’s something special here, Bev, and I don’t want to walk away. I’d rather learn what the others do and how to protect you and my family. That’s my gut, but I’ll seriously consider it and talk to them. It’s fair I listen to their advice as well.

Me: You being fair and a good guy is one of the best things about you. I don’t want to ruin that and bring you into the darkness with us who’ve had too much of it.

Kelton: You’re too full of light to be in the darkness. You might have grown up there, but you ran from it so you can shine. I believe that. I want to help. Let’s clear our heads and talk at breakfast?

Me: Maybe longer. I don’t know what’s my schedule just yet and things are coming up. Meet me for lunch so I can introduce your brother. The rest might take me longer.

Kelton: Okay, I can accept that. If you need me, I’m here.

Me: Yes, crawl in bed with me later. I’ll text you when I’m wrapping up for the night and gonna crash. Thanks for understanding. Warn your mom.

Sergey: Always. She can take on more than you would imagine, but I might ask you to help her so she’s got better juice to do it.

Me: I’ve got a better idea Tracey is working on but yeah, see if she’s available tomorrow for lunch. We should all have a session and get some good harvesting done.

Sergey: Your brain is so sexy.

Me: In or outside of my head?

Sergey: I’m letting that go because you’ve had a day. You know how I meant it.

Me: You’re awesome. I put in a huge order to sample a whole menu and now got twenty percent off. Thank you.

Winter: I know, I’m the manager on campus for the company, and I snagged the order myself so my smiling face will deliver it.

Me: I guessed that one right.

Me: Wanna eat with me if you’re cool with me not being in the best mood and wanting to get lost in my head and work?

Winter: Tip with a kiss and we can call it our first date. I will totally be chill while eating your leftovers.

I glanced at the mini fridge that was in all the rooms and winced.

Me: Yeah, there will be leftovers.

Winter: LMFAO. Yeah, little sexy, you ordered the whole menu, so there better be leftovers or you’ve got some explaining to do. Even I can’t eat that much.

Me: Have you tried?

Winter: No, but now I’m curious. Maybe on our second date we can try to eat an entire menu somewhere. I like stay-in dates.

Me: Because it keeps me safe on campus or you think there’s more of a chance to get action?

Winter: The first. I already know you’re totally into me and ready to get me in your bed again.

I burst out laughing and didn’t reply since I was going to see him soon. What a brat. It worked because I felt better.

But he was still a cocky jerk… Simply a harmless one.

I sighed as magic started flowing into me from one of the two familiars and I focused on work, getting a lot done given a second rush of magic hit me too. There was a knock on the door, and I was ready for food and some happy.

Well, trying to.

Winter was standing there loaded to the gills with food which was hysterical given how large he was. I hurried to step aside so he could come in, but he simply leaned down so his cheek was in my face. I gave him a quick peck and smacked his ass when he walked by.

“You’re too cheeky sometimes.”

“It’s my best quality,” he snickered.

I doubted that. He was a sweetheart, a gentle giant like his familiar, which I adored. “Are you still working?”

“I’m taking a dinner break, but I mostly manage orders and handle they get distributed fairly so the same person isn’t always picking up only orders with the big tips. I also handle the problems. I normally just have our ‘branch’ of orders and schedules up on my computer while I’m doing homework. I jump in if we get busy, but otherwise I’m mostly paid to keep it all running smoothly.”

“Yeah, I could see you being good at that job. Your personality is easygoing, you’re not a confrontational person, and you’re smart enough to just apologize when things go wrong. I would get too flustered around upset people after what I’ve been through. Apparently, I’m also starting to have panic attacks so maybe not jobs that would stress me out.”

He bit back a smile and nodded. “Plus, you own a company in our world that probably has the same revenues as PetSmart, so I think you’re busy.”

“No, not since Grandfather died and it was so much harder to get product to Tracey. The older I was, the more creative we became, but… This year maybe.” I gestured over to my work area that was piled with supplies and finished stuff as he settled all the food on my bed for a picnic. “Though if I can make these brushes work, then for sure, and we can expand like I’ve always wanted.”

He chuckled when I snapped my mouth shut. “You’re not bragging or rambling. I like it when you talk about your work. You’re animated and seriously sexy so talk away.” We sat down and he offered me the first container and chopsticks. “Seriously, tell me. What expansion? I won’t steal it.”

“A familiar groomer,” I mumbled as I opened the chopsticks and split them. “A spa really. They make an appointment at the store and take a circle to our undisclosed location that’s an oasis for familiars. I want to make habitats like at the zoo where familiars like your polar bear would be able to swim in colder water and dive for fish like he would if he was a natural animal.

“For Spike, having the right kind of trees he would want to rub his horns against and the best leaves for him to eat in the wild before he gets a fur treatment and tended to. Horses have hoof care, but no one thinks of the wild animal familiars as they don’t get that in the wild. But—”

“They’re not in the wild. They don’t run enough or climb on rocks to trim their hooves. Same with Teddy’s claws and yeah, he only gets to fish in a lake when I take him on trips over the summer.”

“Exactly, and if I do it right, it would be a place that would be perfect for harvesting magic which people could add as an extra service while their familiars are there and happy.” I studied him as I took a bite of sweet and sour pork heaven. “You don’t think it’s stupid?”

“No, I think it’s amazing and something awesome. I would love a job at a place like that. You’d have people lining up to work there even if it was the service industry for well-off people as they could get a discount to use the facility—assuming that was in your business plan.”

I nodded. “I’d let them have their familiars there all the time. That would help get the land ready to harvest magic faster.” I kept nodding when he shot me a confused look. “The more life you have at a place, bring there and let enjoy the land, the better it is for harvesting. That’s why most use forests or woods or places of nature.”

“I’ve never had a place to really get into all of that,” he admitted.

“I learned early from Grandfather, and we did it all over my estate that was originally of his family’s. It’s the details like bringing in more worms for the garden beds. We buy pet birds and set them free there. Nature appreciates that. Same with other animals and fine, they’re probably food for other animals still but in the wild. I’m going to have Tracey set up bird housing and get more, falcons and hawks.”

“Why would you… You can talk to them. That’s extra guards,” he surmised.

“Exactly.” I smiled at him. “I’m glad you like my idea.”

“It’s really great.”

“I’m working on a proposal to bring to Tracey.”

He frowned. “You’re the owner, little sexy. She works for you and—”

“Yeah, no, of course, and she is always respectful of that. But I just turned eighteen. I don’t have the business skills to bring it all to fruition. She wouldn’t like to deny the idea, but I want to do this so I learn and we can work on it together. She’s really good, and not listening to her is a waste of assets. Also, I get into the product more than the stuff to make it happen.”

“I get you. I’m glad she’s so on the ball and still respects you.”

I promised she was and reached for my phone as I kept eating.

Me: Who wants what Chinese leftovers? They won’t all fit in my little fridge, and Winter ate enough already to get all the rest.

“I take offense to that but cannot deny it either,” Winter grumbled as he read what I’d typed. “I will take this abuse for the food as you picked one of my favorite places.”

“It’s really fucking good. Not too greasy, just greasy enough, and fresh ingredients and quality.”

“Give them that review. They get shit on a lot because they’re priced a bit higher. They are because they do it all in-house instead of buying eggrolls and just frying them.”

Well, that was easy enough. I loved leaving good reviews. It was nice when I felt my money was spent well.

Prof. A. Hole: I would LOVE any tofu and lo mein options. Thank you. I was craving Chinese. And I like spicy dishes.

Sergey: I’m a fan of squid and chicken dishes as long as they’re not spicy, and if there’s any fried rice, that’s my favorite. You’re the best, foxy.

“Well, that worked out well,” I chuckled, showing it to Winter.

He burst out laughing. “Yeah, especially since I’m not a tofu or squid fan. I like some kick, but Derek is a spice freak sometimes.”

“He can have it.” I shivered, not a fan of spicy foods. Not that they weren’t good, it was simply how my body reacted.

Winter didn’t stay long after we stuffed too much food in our faces, promising to drop off food to Wyatt. I hadn’t gotten many spicy options—mostly the ones I didn’t realize were spicy—but I did have some of the rest. I loved tofu too, so he got the two containers I hadn’t been a fan of.

I put the rest in my fridge, and what wouldn’t fit I left out for Sergey before getting back to work. I went another hour before I was spent and decided to take a bubble bath in my tiny tub. I really missed my big tub. That was one of the few things I was spoiled about, and I think it was all women who couldn’t deal with a tiny tub after having a great one.

That was where Sergey found me when he arrived. I had my earbuds in listening to classical music in the tub full of bubbles when he came in and scared the crap out of me.

“It’s how I settle my magic when I use too much of it and under stress.”

He held up his hands in surrender. “I wasn’t judging, just wishing some of those bubbles would deflate so I can see you better, foxy.”

“Go eat your food and leave me be,” I drawled, smirking when he walked out laughing.

He was wrapping up eating when I came out in a robe. “That was fucking fantastic, and I ate way too much.”

“So did I,” I chuckled. “It’s part of why I need to crash hard.”

He heard me and nodded. “Let me clean up and use your bathroom and I’m right there with you.”

Perfect. I threw on a nightgown and was out moments after I slid between the sheets. I hadn’t even felt him climb in with me.