Page 17 of Frayed Owner

“They didn’t know that I fought and kept my father’s name. That Sergey took it. That was the line for me. I would not suddenly be one of them after all they had done. They wanted this of me and to control so much else, they would not control us with their names. We would be free with a different name, a respected name too.”

“They know now. They let their hurt blind them, and—they see the truth now that they’re gone. I feel the same about my grandpa,” I told her gently.

She nodded. “I believe you are right and the gods let them see the truth.” She rubbed my shoulder again. “But our lives have been filled with too much pain. I did my best to shield Sergey from that pain. That was the boy I raised who became a man who wanted to shield me and others he cares for from pain. That is his…” She frowned.

“‘Love language,’” I offered for her, nodding when she did. “Acts of service is his love language.”

“Yes, but specifically shielding people. Helping them not feel pain. That is what he tried to do. The situation pained you and he tried to handle it and shield you from more pain.”

“But—”

“No but,” she said firmly. “You arecompletely validto have yelled at him. He is not your boyfriend or mate. He overstepped and he understands that. He does the same for me and I have trouble accepting it because I am the parent, but he is not a little boy anymore.

“However, he will always be my child. I should shield him. Your situation is not the same. I am not excusing what he did. I’m not saying he gets a pass. I am simply explaining it because you are a smart woman who wants all of the information and understands how hard it is to open up about family pain. He will not want to burden you with all of this.”

“He did some, but he would never tell me your history to elaborate.”

She seemed to bounce that around. “No, he would never, but you are trusted and deserving of our trust, so I will tell you. You are my trusted friend too, so I will tell you.” She let out a slow breath. “Which is why I will also tell you that his families have both reached out and told him to get back in line or he’s as good as dead. And I don’t know how to protect my child this time.”

No, but I did. Tracey and I already had a plan for that, and I assured Nina that we would handle it. Because we would.

5

“It’s nice to meet you,” the woman I was there to meet greeted me.

“No, it’s not,” her familiar snorted. The rabbit was off in the corner looking at me with contempt while chewing on her snacks. “You better at least give me that fancy treat everyone’s talking about after causing us problems.”

Lovely.

“I’m Dr. Leigh Moon,” the woman said as she waved me inside. “I appreciate you coming outside of normal office hours so others aren’t disturbed.”

I snorted when her familiar said something snarky again. “You mean you’re sneaking me in through the back door so no one knows you’re treating me.” I raised an eyebrow when she tried to pretend she wasn’t busted. “You’re not going to establish trust with me by starting off lying. It’s better to just be honest, and I’m not a brat who won’t understand.”

I had a moment of hope when she accepted that and apologized, saying that her parents pressured her into this and she didn’t want to offend me by admitting that. I apologized back that they did that and I was unaware, but I was also grateful since I had very limited options and needed help.

I decided to give an inch and told her that I really hoped she could point me in the right direction to get the tools I needed to handle what I was going through. That maybe that would be enough and we didn’t need a long-term association.

I wastryingto be kind with that—meet her halfway and even be contrite that my situation was messing with her life.

Her response disgusted me.

Abso-fucking-lutely disgusted me. And I didn’t use “disgusted” lightly.

It was also valid.

Also, her familiar.

After almosttwenty minutes, I finally interrupted her. “I’m sorry, I don’t think you should be giving anyone advice or guidance untilyouget some help and work through the fact you hate what you are.”

Her eyes went bug wide. “I beg your pardon?”

“You just ranted for twenty minutes about how much you hate being a witch,” I said, pointing to the clock on her wall as if I needed the visual aid. “That our society is so fucked up and horrible that anyone with abrainwould leave it… While I’m here to get help navigating it and my traumas from it. So not only are you being incredibly judgmental but—”

“Wait, that’s not—”

“Shortsighted and anidiot,” I continued, nodding when she frowned. “Some of us can’t leave. I’d bedeadif I tried to hide among humans. I’d be so easy to pick off by my psycho family that it’s a death sentence. Most of us born of high-tier families who escape have to stay visible to survive or we’re dead or picked right back up.

“Also, the average warlock and witch do not have themeansto hide as you have. How lovely for you that you came from a rich family who could afford your education and provide you with the tools and opportunities to get here. Most don’t have those options, you entitled priss.” I pointed to her familiar. “You have a rabbit. An easily blending rabbit.

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