Chapter 18 #2
“You are way too hostile and I don’t know why,” I defended. “I was prepared to throw up a barrier, and every student should default to that especially when I’m duty-bound to protect someone else’s familiar that I’m responsible for in this moment.”
“She’s right,” Dr. Haskins agreed, moving closer. “I can see it in your aura, and I teach my students to always be prepared. We all do. So I don’t know what the issue is here, but she doesn’t even have it at the ready, simply gathered.”
“The issue here is her flaunting her relationship with Wyatt and his familiar,” the administrator snapped.
“This again?” Dr. Haskins sighed. “Leave it be, man. They’ve been cleared.
Wyatt is two minutes older than some of the students because he’s talented.
We are lucky he recognized her talent and locked in on developing it instead of someone else bad scooping her up.
That happens to too many and it hurts our society.
He is an asset and she feels safe with him. ”
I couldn’t hide my shock at what he was saying and clearly had before. But he wasn’t done, gesturing to Quinn on my shoulder.
“You’ve heard the reports that people think she’ll be able to speak with familiars and animals.
Let her gifts develop! That’s a needed ability in our world, not the posers who fake it and hurt our people.
Look at this. Look at how protective another familiar is of a witch who isn’t family.
That is astounding. Even my familiar adores her. Stop chastising that!”
I wasn’t the only one who looked at him like he’d grown a second head. He—I had never seen him so upset before. Or ever really.
Wow. This really had pushed a button with him.
“He’s got a point,” one of the other administrators said before focusing on me. “It is unorthodox and can send the wrong message. You have to understand that, Ms. Millen.”
“No, I think it’s sends the right message and one of understanding and acceptance,” I countered. “My professors were worried about their student. Not just Professor Wyatt, but Dr. Haskins too.”
Dr. Haskins did a double take but then chuckled. “Yes, of course you caught on. Well, you might be na?ve on some things, and your formal magical education was worlds behind, but you were never the idiot people painted you.”
“Sometimes we all can be.” I shrugged and then explained that I realized he put me at the end to take the pressure off of me because this was my first structured test since I’d only had tutors. It was my first midterm besides Latin which was fill in the bubbles.”
“And of course Professor Wyatt would have known that, worried as your advisor, and his familiar as well,” that second administrator muttered. “You are correct then, Ms. Millen. I’m glad our staff puts in the extra effort and that can help our students thrive.” He shot a look at the first.
Who was a child and simply huffed before storming off.
I doubt I was the only one who mentally rolled their eyes.
“Well, with that lead-in, leaving you to wait and have the rest stare at you is cruel,” Dr. Haskins muttered. “Your choice.”
“Thank you,” I sighed. “I’d prefer to get it over with and be done. Sorry, that’s dismissive, but…” There was really no way to salvage that and I was glad he wasn’t offended.
I nodded to the person who was going to go next, glad when the guy took it in stride. Moving into place, I got set up with Quinn patiently—but nervously—waiting off to the side.
I let out a slow breath and went through the steps with slow precision as both Wyatt and Mrs. Reid walked me through. Also, Sergey, Kelton, and Winter.
And then I practiced with Nigel.
Dr. Haskins chuckled when I was done. He smiled when I glanced at him.
“You really put in the effort, Ms. Millen. You were behind—drastically even—at the start of the semester and now that was one of the most flawless midterms I’ve seen in all of my years teaching this class.
” He nodded when I blinked at him. “Flawless. Perfect control and execution. Well done.”
I felt my cheeks flush lava hot. “I practiced a lot. I didn’t want to mess up my first real tests at real school.” I cleared my throat. “Thank you, Dr. Haskins.”
“You’re welcome, Ms. Millen,” he replied, amusement in his tone. “Enjoy your break.”
I mumbled a thank-you and got out of there with Quinn, feeling too many eyes on me. I dropped Quinn off and assured the people I needed to that I did well on my midterm before heading to where I needed to meet Link.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” he worried, jogging over to me.
“She was praised publicly,” Taylor’s guy answered as if that explained it all… And it sort of did. “She rocked her midterm. I didn’t know Dr. Haskins could give public praise.”
“I’ve heard the same,” Link muttered as he slowed down. He reached out and moved the back of his hand to my cheek. “So you’re okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I chuckled, gently pushing his hand away. “It was—whatever, it’s over.”
He studied me a moment. “Okay, but I’m here to talk if you want.”
“I’m fine.” I cleared my throat and glanced at Taylor’s guy. “I’m good with Link. We’re just going to run, and I need to speak to him privately.”
The guy glanced between us. “I’d rather join you where you’re going and hang back. I can get—I would just feel more comfortable if you guys are going to be deep talking no matter how well Link has his shit together.”
“Fair enough,” Link accepted.
He put the circle under us and we arrived where people were working. I was shocked to see some I recognized as council guards and shot Link a worried look. He gave his head a slight shake and I just sighed.
I was glad when Taylor’s guy saw there were others around the property and left him with those people… Probably to get info to report back to Taylor.
I gave Loki love while we started walking for a bit. “Do I want to know why people are on my property?”
“They’re here to help in their free time and people who are on the right side of everything so not sure about the attitude,” he said, his voice tight.
That was fair and they were probably friends of his. “It’s a lot, Link.”
He let out a slow breath and reached out to rub my shoulder before leaning in and petting Loki.
“Yeah, it is. Sorry, most are tight with me and giving their free time to—I took it personally. We get shit on so much so often being council guards like we’re fucking attack dogs, and now we’re getting shit on for getting brushes first that… ”
“It’s a lot.”
“It’s a lot,” he sighed. “But Tracey and Jasmine know. They’re helping with the stuff for Winter and the people he reached out to find—that orphan’s network basically.
We need more here to get them on the land.
Enough to get trailers here. But also—I think they’re building more chicken coops and hatchers today. ”
“I saw that, yeah,” I accepted, adding for him to thank them for me. I did appreciate all of the help. It was just overwhelming.
Always overwhelming and sometimes a bit pushy since people always wanted more.
We moved onto slow jogging and it was a few minutes in that Link broke the silence which made me actually jump. “So what’s up, Bev?”
I sighed, feeling bad when he’d said he had a lot on him too.
“I’m not sure how to frame all of this or…
It’s like three parts and I just can’t carry it or I need to figure out one answer especially.
One is kind of a worry and—I just didn’t know who to dump this all on.
But now I feel bad because you’re overloaded too. ”
He grabbed my wrist and stopped me to face him, searching my face.
“I don’t take on more than I can handle, and honestly I needed the break and jog today.
Loki and I did, so just like you listen to us when you need the jog, I can today, okay?
Please don’t worry about me being overburdened ever.
I know my limits and I tell people when it’s too much. ”
I flinched and yanked my hand away.
He frowned and moved closer but didn’t grab me back.
“Bev, I was raised with supportive parents and have had training. It wasn’t a criticism of you.
You’re just starting the part of schooling to learn this—where most of us learn this.
You’ve done what none of us can. You’re awesome. ” He waited until I nodded. “But…”
“But?” I mumbled as I turned and went back to jogging.
“This is going to sound pompous,” he admitted.
Oh, I had thought it was going to be a slight against me honestly. “I don’t think you’re egotistical. Hit me.”
He chuckled, his cheeks a bit flushed when I glanced over.
“I’m good. I mean—yeah, I’m good. People aren’t team leads this young.
I’m good at what I do, Bev. Really good at it.
Hell, my last name and who I’m related to isn’t a plus at that estate.
Not with the guards. It was a strike against me, and I got this promotion ahead of a lot of others in spite of it. ”
“You are good and a lot respect you. I see it,” I praised, glad when that seemed to settle him. “This stays between us, right?”
“Always.” He cleared his throat. “Unless you’re being hurt—you know the lines.”
I nodded. That was fair… But also just told me not to ever discuss that with him.
Something he realized as he cursed under his breath, glancing at me and opening his mouth to probably figure out how to handle that.
Which actually helped me blurt out part of what was burdening me. “Tracey and Taylor are screwing.” I wanted to melt at feeling like a goober for saying it like that, but then I realized he didn’t have a reaction and almost tripped over my feet turning to face him.
Luckily, Link had really good reflexes and easily caught me, keeping us both on our feet even if I sort of ended up leaning on his arm.
“You knew,” I accused.
“I knew,” he confirmed, sighing when I pulled away.
“So I’m the fool who didn’t know. Awesome.”
Why did that always, always seem to be the case?
Why couldn’t I just ever be normal and catch things like others did?
Why couldn’t I be a good friend or get things like others and was always such a… Freak?
And how did I stop this feeling of hating myself each time it happened?