“They abused her,” I mumbled.
She sighed. Heavily. “Yes, but not in the way you’re thinking. They didn’t try to manipulate her or use her power to theiradvantage. They wanted to ignore it.” She sighed again when my eyes went wide. “I try hard to understand them, thinking how terrified I’d be if it was my child. Really, I do, but… Some things you cannotpretendaway.”
I snorted but then filled in some of the pieces. “She was betrayed.”
Pain—deep and visceral pain filled her eyes. “Yes. She met a boy and…” She wiped under her eyes and turned away from me. “And he was a monster who wore a good mask. He told other monsters and…” She let out a shaky breath and wiped under her eyes again, careful of her makeup before turning to me. “I know mistakes were made, but you are lucky it was Wyatt, Bevin.”
I swallowed loudly and nodded, accepting that and trying to heal from the missteps—move on from them even.
I reached out and rubbed her arm. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what you went through and if helping me brings back the pain for you.”
She gave me a watery smile and patted my hand. “I’m not a child myself anymore, and this time I can throw my weight and power around to help save the goddess witch in my life. I made it clear that my mate does what he should or he won’t be my mate anymore.”
“I ca-can’t be—” I stuttered.
She shook her head. “He’s not the man I fell in love with if he doesn’t see this isn’t the time to give an inch no matter the consequences. This is the line of morality we can’t allow, and if he isn’t that man anymore, then he isn’t someone I can be with. And I’ve accepted alotin the name of our survival and putting the council first. Too much.”
“Thank you.”
She patted my hand again. “Do good with the faith people are putting in you, Bevin. Help us become better so we can have the strength to keep fighting because most days I struggle.”
She walked away before I could think of what to respond.
Was there something appropriate to say to that?
I wasn’t sure, but Mrs. Oliveria was waiting for me offering a hug. It was hard to accept, but I wanted the comfort too. I knew she would never hurt me, but—I wasn’t sure. My head was a mess.
Like always?
“If you agree, I think my three-season room with the retractable wall is where you start holding your sessions. The ones you’ll still have,” she offered. “That way people will behave because it’s Mark’s house.” She reached out and booped my nose when I opened my mouth. “Have faith, poppet. You’ve touched a lot of hearts and it’s not just seven councilmen on your side.”
“I don’t understand,” I hedged.
“About seventy percent of the council guards threatened to quit,” Mrs. Reid said under her breath, nodding when I did a double take. “Link threw his weight around and you’ve made a lot of friends being… You. Slipping them treats for their familiars and bumping several up the list at Familiar Treasures. You’re important to a lot of us and not because of what you are.”
“Thanks. Really.” I blinked back tears. “Why are some men so horrible? Why can they only see us as property and to be owned. Why did he have to terrorize me in my room like Alex did?”
I gasped as I moved away from them, staring at their hands as they reached for me. I shoved Mrs. Oliveria’s away and luckily Mrs. Reid figured it out, holding her back.
“Focus on something good and even, Bevin,” Mrs. Reid guided. “Cheese. Cheese is doing better and loves his blanket. You’re going to make one for Quinn, right? I heard you were picking out colors and patterns? I bet Bubba would love one but won’t admit it. Maybe you could figure out his favorite color somehow?”
She kept rambling on about the familiars I cared for and the blankets.
“Thank you,” I panted when the panic passed, rubbing over my sore chest. I blinked at them. “I need people not to put their hands on me even in comfort—seeing the hands reaching for me is the problem.”
Mrs. Oliveria swallowed loudly. “And your room. You need a new room.”
“It’s the middle of the semester and—” I argued.
“Bevin, we will get you another damn room,” Mrs. Reid said firmly. “A better protected one by your friends and locked down with magic no one can break into. Let us.”
Okay, yeah, sure. Sounded good.
9
“I can’t,” I choked out, covering my face and swallowing down the need to scream. “I just can’t!”
“Hey, hey, it’s okay, Bev,” Clare said as she rubbed my arm, apologizing when I flinched away. “I just don’t know where your head is to help you. You’ve been here so many times before, so what is…”
