Page 29 of Frayed Owner

And no way a friend of mine could be so horrible to kill a familiar even of someone evil.

Right?

I put it out of my mind. It wasn’t possible, plus I had to focus on what was going on. “Alex is still in jail, right?”

“Out on bail,” Clare whispered. “You think it was him?”

I slowly nodded. “It wasn’t us.” I glanced up at her, nodding again when she snorted. “No way we could get in there unnoticed, and—I couldn’t hurt a familiar, even one—I couldn’t do it. I’d kill Charles in a heartbeat but not his poor familiar.” I let out a slow breath and kept scrolling, skimming the report. “Alex has no limit or line.

“I bet Father heard he failed with you and I—he lost twice with me and probably went too far with Alex—told him he would have Bryan be his heir or something. So he took out his familiar. Charles has so many enemies that there would be a list—hell, I’d ask Taylor if it wasn’t for the timing. This is a reaction to something.”

“Taylor could never—” Mrs. Reid started to defend.

“I’d do it easily after he threatened your lives, Mom,” Taylor drawled. “I just didn’t have any way to get in there cleanly, and I didn’t want to make Bevin an accessory giving me the information I would need.”

I handed Clare back her phone before meeting his gaze. “It would all be different now. I showed my hand that I had too much from their cloud and systems. Charles is a lazy cheater but paranoid. He would have changed guard assignments and schedules as if that changed how computers and thecloudwork.”

“She’s right. He did make changes,” Clare confirmed. “Recently, and I didn’t know why. Grandmother didn’t know either and was annoyed she was out of the loop.” She frowned at me. “What did you tell him?”

“You don’t want to know,” I promised her. “We’re handling it. Don’t—you have enough nightmares.”

“Yeah, I do,” she whispered. “Does this change tomorrow? What do we do now? We can’t just—he could be even more unhinged and—or what if it’s Alex we have to—”

“Nothing changes, Clare,” I told her gently. “The hearing is set and you’re becoming a Millen tomorrow. It’s even more important now if Alex is taking over, okay? There’s no reason the council won’t rule for us on this.” I smiled when Mrs. Reid snorted.

But that seemed to help Clare.

I met Jasmine’s gaze as she came out. “I’ve been with people—handle it however Tracey wants. It wasn’t me. I truly don’t know anything.”

She nodded. “I heard what you were saying about Alex. I think that’s the best move—go on the offense and make it clear anyone who doesn’t assume it’s him is a fool. He’s ruthless and horrible and would take Charles spiraling as an opportunity to act.”

I blew out a slow breath but then remembered what Mrs. Reid originally asked me. “It was easier. I used the same amount of magic. I think I could do one more person.” I nodded when her eyes flashed shock. “That’s why I was asking about changing the flow of magic or how to restrict it. This doesn’t take much magic and it’s like my spigot is open too wide.”

“You really are going to be the most fun I’ve ever had working with a student or protégé, Bevin. You really are,” Mrs. Reid whispered before throwing her head back and bursting out laughing.

Yay?

8

“It should be illegal for you to look this sexy in my clothes,” Wyatt whispered against my lips as he teased the lapels of his collared shirt. “Coming home to you wearing nothing but this is the best surprise ever, Bev.”

I went to glance around since I hadn’t ever seen his apartment and I wanted to see his space. How had I not noticed it getting in there though?

He turned my head back to focus on him. “Did you spill on your clothes or am I just the luckiest man ever that you got naked for me again?”

“Both?” I asked, but it came off more like teasing him. I hadn’t meant it like that but still smirked at him, his pretty eyes lighting up.

“Mmm, I’ll have to find where you spilled and lick it off of you. Let me check you.” He brushed his lips over mine and I had a thought that this wasn’t a good idea, but then he did it again and I fisted his shirt.

I’d forgotten how good it felt to kiss him. Apparently, he’d missed it as well because he ripped open the shirt, buttons flying all over.

“It’s my shirt. I don’t care if it’s ruined, but I want you to wear all of my clothes now,” he said with a moan in between kisses. His hand moved into the shirt and he cupped my breast. “Fuck, perfect. So fucking perfect.”

I leaned back so he had better access and he suddenly lifted me up, growling when I yelped.

“No, no more hard surfaces for you. I’m not taking you on my damn counter after you rightfully chewed me about my desk. I want you in my bed even if we only make out.” He kissed me fiercely. “Let’s only make out a hundred times so you get that you’re not just sex to me. No more being mean. Only sweet and sexy to you.”

“I’d like that,” I admitted. I let out another yelp when he tossed me onto his plush comforter. I was a bit surprised he had a king-size bed in a teacher’s dorm, but it was Morrigan, so it probably made sense that the teachers were treated well?

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