“The ‘rumors’ of you and Derek Wyatt are coming from one source,” she cut in, her voice tight, but I didn’t think with annoyance.
“His older brother,” Tracey surmised. “He’s been contacting Derek and the headmaster.”
“Correct. He made a point to brag to me that even if I now had Hughes off my back, it was a shame the damage it would do to me since he would now scoop up my lost little lamb and look the hero. That youkidswere so easy to play, making it clear he thought me the same.”
“And you said in response?” Tracey hedged.
“That clearly I was misguided thinking he was as intelligent as he was attractive because Bevin was smart enough to outplay Charles Shaw and the opposite of a lost lamb. That she’d chew him up and spit him out, and if she found out he was spreading rumors about the teacher helping her magically, he’d end up dead in a ditch.”
“And?” I pushed, thinking there was more.
“Something else personal and unseemly that others don’t need to hear,” Jean drawled. “I was feeling petty.”
Tracey snorted along with a few others, so I missed something there. “Well deserved with that dipshit. Thank you, that was useful.”
“I assume you have the issue of Conrad Hanson well in hand?” Jean hedged, something in her tone.
And that angered Tracey… Which confused me.
Taylor quickly wrote me a note and moved it in front of me.“Jean doesn’t care about your well-being but wants you still in play for her later.”
Oh, yeah, I knew that better than anyone.
“They can’t have made it to the council and be stupid,” I said with a sigh. “They have to know the threats were real and valid even if coming from someone young with breasts given who stood with me. Hopefully, it will be best-case scenario outcome.”
I frowned when Tracey waved for me to go on, mouthing for me to tell her more. Why?
But I trusted Tracey, so I would… Just not the whole truth.
“It was a stupid move by a moron,” I hedged.
“Yes, he’s never been my favorite person,” she drawled.
Right, they went to Morrigan together, that was what I was missing.
And then I knew what to say. “He made the same leap you did that I’m a goddess witch. I couldn’t fault your logic, but his was completely rooted in sexism, and he wanted the backing of the owner of Familiar Treasures to secure him taking over his father’s seat not knowingI’mthe owner.”
“Always thinking he was the smartest in the room,” she drawled. “But idiots are dangerous because they react too quickly and half-cocked.”
“Yes, but Hanson will want to keep his seat over his son’s ass when he couldn’t even get what he wanted,” I muttered. “Even if I was a goddess witch, announcing to the world that you were the priest of one wouldn’t endear you to most people. It would have just made him a target to the top-tier families. It was a stupid,stupidplay and most of the council was pissed.”
“Good, glad to hear it and you’re both safe then,” she said, sounding genuine.
But I wasn’t touched. I couldn’t be her pawn if I was someone else’s.
It was still best to move on. “I’m willing to help with your security issues if you’re willing to be sneaky.” I smiled when she snorted. “I’m thinking an off-site interrogation with magic would be best for your show, but bring their familiars and I can speak to them as well to get you more. That’s what I’m offering.”
She was quiet several moments. “Would there be some initial help so I can start with who I think is clean and then they could take over?”
“I would be willing to do that as long as there is a separate agreement that you would never come for my parents, family—the Oliverias as well,” Taylor replied. “My parents, the Oliverias, Moons, and Cooks truly want to give you a chance to turn things around. I want you to leave them alone as well.”
“Done,” she immediately agreed. “And what do you want, Bevin?”
“I want Clare and me to be able to visit Grandfather’s grave as we want and access to the Shaw family library,” I answered immediately, having wanted this for a while. “You know better than others why my education was lacking, but I filled in a lot. I’m trying to put too much together, but unfortunately I didn’t have the foresight to list books or keep a bibliography.”
I frowned when she was quiet, the silence dragging on, and given what I’d already been through today, I didn’t have enough patience for games.
“I could petition for Grandfather to be moved to the Millen property I own since he never changed his name, Jean,” I snapped. “We know—”
