Chapter 6
I sucked it up and glanced at each of them before focusing on Winter… But then chickened out and stared at my hands, picking at my cuticles. “You don’t have family to lose and that’s still a risk. You’re the most powerful and have the best backup. I…”
“We won’t be upset, foxy,” Sergey said quietly. “I agree with your pick even if I hate it.”
I blinked back tears and met his gaze. “I’m as much of a liability to your situation as you are to mine.
If we go public, we know what people will say.
I was willing though, but your families are doubling down.
I think we use our situation and make it clear that there was interest, but I wouldn’t risk the issues, and even that made you realize you couldn’t have a life until you were free. ”
“Agreed,” he and Tracey said together. “And I’ve talked to Mama about this. She hates to use your pain, but she agreed that it would send a powerful message.”
I bobbed my head and focused on Kelton. “I don’t feel stable enough with you to announce it to everyone. I think we’ll be okay but…”
“I know, Bev. I hate this—I hate we have to be here and deal with this. That our world is so fucking sexist and shit all over you, but I agree with your choice too.” He sniffed loudly and looked away. “I hate that we’ll have to hide.”
“Not forever,” Clare said gently. “One day, things could be different. It’s much more likely you guys will break up than it will be forever.”
“I don’t think that helps, but maybe it does,” Kelton grumbled.
But she wasn’t wrong.
“And we know what we are,” I said to Nigel.
“And what I hope we can be one day,” he replied without pushing. “But I’m glad Professor Wyatt can be your priest and keep it platonic. I could be your platonic point with promise. There’s no rush, Bev.”
I felt my cheeks heat and focused on Winter, glad when he smiled.
“I want to call you my big sexy, but that’s too loaded.
” I rolled my eyes when a few people coughed or tried to cover a laugh.
“Exactly. But I feel the most secure with you.
You get me in a way that—you were the first person I told I could hear animals, Jack Frost.
“We’ve had the least amount of hiccups and I need that right now. I feel like I can come to you about almost anything. And you see me—appreciate how hard I try or when I do nice things. You appreciate when I appreciate you.” I frowned, hoping that made sense. “Plus, the other stuff.”
“Plus, the other stuff,” he chuckled. He stood and moved closer with his chair, moving Jasmine a bit so he could scoot in next to me.
He plopped down and booped my nose. “Yeah, I appreciate when you count my using my magic for our circles as little gifts. I make sure you eat when you get lost in work and check in because you’re always doing cute stuff for us. I get it.”
I swallowed loudly. “So will you be my public boyfriend?”
He opened his mouth but then closed it, studying me. “But for real, right? We’re going to be official, not just for show.”
I nodded. “Slowly. I don’t know how to be a girlfriend.” I glanced to Clare. “We don’t have to call it that, right?”
“No, you don’t, and I would suggest you say ‘dating’ or involved with, because most think girlfriend/boyfriend have already had sex,” she warned. “Then he’s going to be harassed about how much power he got from your purity.”
“Why is everything always so fucking complicated?” I grumbled.
“Because life sucks and then you die,” Clare answered evenly. She snorted when everyone looked at her like she’d grown another head. “Don’t come for me for sunshine and rainbows. I’m full of piss and vinegar. Always.”
I snorted and was glad when we shared a look that we were on the same page and I wasn’t making fun of her. It was nice actually.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered as I stood. Then I looked at Jasmine. “Thank you. I want to look over what’s said before the press conference is held over my fucking virginity and dating life.”
“Of course,” she said gently. “But why are you apologizing?”
“To Winter,” I rasped. “We’re declaring we’re dating and I can’t even have him touch me because there was fucked-up drama once again and…” I shook my head and walked out of there. Luckily, Emma was waiting out in the hallway and nodded that she understood me.
She took me back to campus with other guards and to my room, asking me what I needed but then froze.
Because people were waiting at my room.
“I can’t take anything else right now,” I said to Gloria, Robin, Carmen, and Kate.
“We just wanted to know if you were okay and what we could do to help,” Gloria promised. “Apologize when you’re ready—we’re just here for you, Bevin.”
“It’s being handled, but she could use her back watched and not a lot of questions to be asked while she sorts out the fucked up that happened to her today,” Emma answered for me.
She huffed. “And a fucking drink finally. Seriously, I’ll get you some alcohol but just a few sips, kid. What else do you want?”
I blinked back tears. “To be born of other parents so not everyone tries to use me constantly?”
She sighed and reached out to rub my shoulder but then dropped her hand. “Yeah, but I can’t fix that.”
“We’ve got her,” Gloria promised. “We’ve helped other friends who have been sexually assaulted. It’s why we’re here.”
“I was last year,” Kate whispered. “They—it’s time to be honest instead of everyone pretending the bad doesn’t happen or we don’t matter.”
“I’m sorry,” I told her.
She gave me a watery look. “Me too, Bev. Me too. Let us help.”
“I’m going to get the right magic here to lock things away in their minds,” Emma said, shaking her head when I tried to object. “You need the backup, and they need to not become targets because they were good friends to you.”
“We’re fine with it,” Kate assured her. “Gloria warned us that we were jumping into the fight. I’ll fight. We had no way to fight or—we’ll fight. We’ve been talking about how to fight and—we’re in.” She looked at me. “And to grovel. We were shit friends to you.”
“It was shock, but that’s not an excuse,” Robin muttered. “We’re drowning most days and you just snap your fingers and pull awesome out of your ass. I was—we’re jerks.”
Carmen cut in and said enough with talking in the hallway, so we went in my room. Emma must have alerted the others I was back in my room because Headmaster Kerwynn arrived with Wyatt to the shock of the four witches.
“It was a councilman’s son who broke in here to hurt me,” I reminded them. “No more trying to stay under the radar if…”
“I’m sorry I misread the situation,” Wyatt whispered, his voice broken.
“His ego didn’t let him see the plan was beyond flawed even if he wanted to get caught in my room,” I mumbled, gesturing to Gloria. “There are always people here and cameras. It was stupid. I guess we now just have to plan for reckless and stupid.”
He snorted. “We both grew up with evil and people who will step over every line but are smart. Yes, we will struggle to navigate stupid.”
We watched as he took down his magic and then actually worked with the headmaster to lay ridiculously strong wards and protection on my room.
It actually forced the witches and Emma back outside before they were even finished and then the headmaster explained how to invite people in or uninvite them.
I tried it a few times and couldn’t hide my relief when I uninvited Carmen and she was compelled to leave my room. Cool.
“You done?” she drawled.
“Sorry, sorry,” I mumbled, my cheeks flushing when the others chuckled.
“Well, if you’re done testing my magic,” the headmaster said, his tone deadpan.
“As much fun as it looks like you’re about to have, I would like to be anywhere else.
” He raised an eyebrow when Wyatt sighed.
“Oh yeah, my mate would love me to explain why I’m at Millen’s room at this hour with five female students and you. ”
I winced when he put it like that.
Wyatt shot me a look. “I can get a few extra treats for her, right?” He gave me a subtle wink when I nodded. “I’ll explain. Your mate adores me.”
“She does,” Kerwynn agreed, but then snorted. “You just want her to feed you. You’re hoping she made lasagna.”
“She always has extra in the freezer. Last time she gave me a tray and it’s damn good,” Wyatt agreed.
“I didn’t realize they were like friends,” Robin muttered after they were gone.
“That goes no further,” I warned, waiting until they nodded. “I guess Kerwynn helped Wyatt get free from his family—was his advisor when a student.”
“Cool that they kept that bond.” She held her hands up in surrender.
“Everything we hear around you goes in the vault. I get it.” She seemed a bit nervous and glanced at Gloria.
“We actually are hoping that Mrs. Reid locks our minds like Gloria. I wouldn’t—I would never forgive myself if someone got info from me that hurt you. ”
Emma came into the room. “What do you know? Something is in your tone.”
She looked a bit guilty and shared a look with Carmen. “Several employees heard Bevin bossing around the president of Familiar Treasures and others joked that Bevin acts like the owner.”
“Except it doesn’t really seem all that illogical if you look at the timeline.
Some people know Tracey was involved in her life before their supposed meeting for the prank,” Carmen continued.
“I saw her with Bev once at the security office. I didn’t realize it at first, but—Tracey’s pretty memorable. ”
“Being that gorgeous and confident leaves an impression,” I agreed, glancing at each of them. “You’re really good with locking your minds on my information?”
“And signing NDAs like others have?” Emma pushed, already texting.
“Yes,” they immediately agreed.