“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 dramaonce againand…” 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 andyou.”
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.
