3
Winter
“Want to tell me what’s going on with you?” I asked Bev quietly after breakfast while we were walking around her lake. I’d seen the redness of her eyes. Not like she’d cried, but wiped them too much and messed up her makeup.
Which made her wipe them even more.
Then all the flowers, not just for me. She’d seemed guilty as she’d checked her phone and glanced at the door like she was looking for news. But also like she’d wanted the distraction of Clare talking about food and cooking.
Like she’d needed that nice moment to hold onto.
So yeah, didn’t take me much to figure out something was going on.
“I messed up at the factory,” she said quietly, embarrassment and worry about surrounding her.
“That’s to be expected,” I hedged, reaching over and sliding my arm around her. I frowned when she pulled away. “Talk to me, little sexy.”
She let out a shaky breath and did. She started off by telling me that her panic was about something she couldn’t tell me, only Derek, which grated on me, but if that was the way the gods wanted it… Fuck.
So I kept my patience in check and listened to her talk about making the massive batches of treats turn rancid. She thought she was broken. At first maybe a mix-up, but then sabotage, but then—she always went back to being broken.
And that broke my heart.
“Bev, listen to me,” I said gently. “That’s not what happened.”
She bobbed her head. “Tracey said I’m not in the headspace to hear what I did wrong, so it’s really bad.”
Fuck. I hated to go against Tracey, but that wasn’t the right answer for someone who had had so much kept from her.
I made a snap decision when I saw her head hang lower. I scooped her up, ignoring her cute little yelp, and held her against me until she wrapped herself around me like a monkey. I kissed her cute little nose and then stuck out my tongue at her just to be silly.
“This isn’t funny, Winter,” she rasped.
“I know, but I’m learning from what you told me about not treating you as too fragile and you can handle more than we think,” I told her honestly as I carried her over to a fallen tree. I sat down and kept her straddling my lap because… Why not?
She was hot and I wanted her on me always.
I reached up and booped her nose when she opened her mouth. “Just give me this because yes, everything is too crazy, and I even understand where Tracey is coming from. It’s been a few hours and—trust me too.” I was glad when she nodded and simply searched my eyes for answers.
Shit, her giving me the faith I had them after so many treated me as nothing as an orphan always healed me somehow.
“I’m strong, stronger than most would think for my age, even getting into Morrigan,” I told her. “You’ve seen my bond with Teddy. I put in the work and I’ve got a good support system.”
“Yes, you’re very impressive. Only one of your friends has more potential or magic than you,” she said… Too easily.
Well, now I had a new goal because I was a competitive man and I always wanted to be the best in her eyes. In every way. Even magically.
So not the point, idiot.
I cleared my throat and nodded. “After one summer where Teddy and I got to travel and really bond great, I jumped a big level like Link. We harvested all summer so I was loaded for the school year. I was pumped and ready to go.”
“Smart.”
“In theory, but just like anything else, you can go too far,” I explained. “You’ve felt it when you’re full of too much now. You get a bit all over the place and—you know now.”
“Yeah, I didn’t feel that,” she hedged.
“Because it became your new norm fast,” I told her. “You did too many heavy workouts…” No, I knew the right analogy and changed the tone of my voice. “You didn’t sleep too often besides from exhaustion because you weren’t safe and forgot what normal sleep was. It became all you know.”
She swallowed loudly and gave a slow nod.
“You’ve adjusted to this higher level, and just like with not sleeping as you should, things go to shit,” I continued. “For me, I’d pushed too much for so long I didn’t get it until magic was basically leaking out of me. I’m a higher level than the average witch or warlock adult.”
“I’ll take your word for that,” she muttered. “I’m not knowledgeable enough.”
I smiled. She was so sweet and fair like that. “Kelton’s mom is pretty average.”
Her eyes flashed shock. “Oh, you’re way more powerful than her.”
“Exactly. So you were around a lot of average people at the factory. That works in your favor and how they can easily clean up your mess.”
She studied me for several moments. “But you did what I did, right?’
“I did. Not so big but—yeah, I did. I went to do something basic and my power was at like—my voltage was cranked too high. I was running like a nuclear power plant. I just didn’t have the reactor core covered like I should have.”
She frowned, worrying her lower lip in a way that made me want to kiss her to stop, but also… I just always wanted to kiss her.
“I don’t get it,” she admitted, sounding so frustrated with herself.
“The blunt version?” I was glad when she nodded.
“You leaked radiation into the simple magic you were doing and contaminated everything. You’re oozing too much power with what you’re taking in from the treats and more.
We’ve gotta figure out another way for you to empty out better than filling forty vessels a week.
“You need more healthy in and out. The magic you’re doing is stressful with all the sessions that put pressure on you.
The magic to make money for jobs. The magic that isn’t fun enough for you.
You need nature, and… It’s not a filter but yeah, a cleaning system almost for your power plant.
I was a huge coal power plant and melted down.
I had to change to solar so I was cleaner. ”
“A very, very astute way of putting things into perspective, Mr. Green,” Mrs. Reid said from my left. “You are the gem that the headmaster told me, and now I understand why he has such high hopes for your future.”
I held Bevin tightly when she went to scramble off of me. I chuckled when she gave me a hurt look. “You would fall. We’re not naked and she’s seen worse. You’re not in class, but out by your lake on your land with your boyfriend. She came out here to find you because she cares that much.”
“Astute indeed,” Mrs. Reid chuckled. “And correct.”
Bevin relaxed and let me stand and safely set her on her feet, mumbling a thank-you… While still hiding a bit behind me.
Seriously, I was so in love with this woman.
“It’s always easier to explain when it’s something you’ve experienced,” I said, addressing what Mrs. Reid had said.
“But I’m no slouch. I believe you’re better read-in on the way our society and the council have failed orphans.
The way they’ve left them as easy pickings to be taken advantage of by the evil that’s been left unchecked. ”
Anger filled her eyes because we both knew I was taking a direct shot at her husband.
I felt bad when I felt nerves pouring off of Bevin. My heart melted and I backed down because she didn’t interject and would clearly support me.
But I shouldn’t make her. I shouldn’t make her ever have to choose.
“I’m just glad they’re working on it now,” I continued.
“Even the situation with the Shaws. Those of us with large familiars have few options and get trapped easily. Villains aren’t born; they’re made.
Your husband and others believe that, and I have faith they’ll take into consideration that those villains were trapped and made. ”
“Indeed,” she said cautiously, studying me carefully.
“Though you clearly have vast knowledge on the topic. I think it wise you and your friends who have that insight file a formal request to speak to the council. They’re going to start hearing the evidence and making decisions on these cases with the Shaws soon.
You will want to give your input before that. ”
I dipped my head to her. She was giving me the help without betraying her husband. I appreciated that.
Fuck, I understood Councilman Reid gave his best and truly cared. I’d seen it. The man was drowning and didn’t have the right help. He knew he was fighting a battle that would probably get him killed. I respected the hell out of him.
It just was harder when it directly affected me and mine.
Shocker.
“He’s right about your magic, Bevin,” she said gently, her eyes softening as she focused on my girl. “Tracey was worried about making the comparison to you going ‘nuclear’ while you were so upset. Also—and I say this not to worry you, but as her closest friend—”
“She’s exhausted. Beyond exhausted,” Bevin cut in.
“Woodchuck snitched. Tracey keeps falling asleep at her desk—fell asleep in her food last week, and Woodchuck is worried. She needs help. Now. We need a win now instead of people pushing back on waiting on brushes and more. They want it all now and she revealed how powerful she is to shield me.”
“And that comes with a cost to her,” I grumbled. I moved Bevin next to me and kissed her hair. “She did it because she loves you. Let her. The rest of us will help.”
“I don’t know how to help her.”
“Bev, you’re not the one to help her on this,” I said gently. “You helped her get this powerful and give her the goods Familiar Treasure needs. The rest of us will help her now, okay?”
“Agreed,” Mrs. Reid said firmly. “You have enough on your plate. I have to disagree with your assessment even.” She nodded when Bevin frowned.
“Tracey has had too many wins. She doesn’t need another.
She is taking this pummeling because she has shined too brightly as a woman in our society. Taylor will help and—”
“As her guard,” Bevin blurted too loudly.
I had to turn and look away, covering my mouth even to keep from laughing. Oh shit. Like… Oh shit.
“I see,” Mrs. Reid said carefully. “That is not a development that—”
A switch flipped in Bevin and gone was the scared and worried woman. The woman a goddess had blessed stood fearless before us. She stormed over to Mrs. Reid and went toe to toe with her.