Page 46 of Frayed Owner

I woke with a wicked hangover that not even magic could fully cure, so I appreciated the sports drink and headache medicine someone left on my desk for me. I took it and chugged the drink while grabbing my stuff for the shower. I took a cold one to wake up and get my head together but then changed the temperature to normal so I could like function.

Mostly.

It was still early enough for an errand, so I rushed for what I needed and hoped to catch Bevin before she headed to breakfast at her normal time. Relief filled me when she walked out of the freshman dorm reading something. My heart hurt when I saw she looked wrecked. What else had been going on that I didn’t know about?

I didn’t know about because I hadn’t been there for her and wrapped up in all my own shit.

She flinched when she saw me and locked onto what I was holding. She glanced around like she wasn’t sure what was going on.

Maybe that she didn’t want to assume it was for her. She was so adorable and not conceited like that. I really liked that about her.

So I approached her with a soft smile, offering her the flowers. “I’m sorry for the drunk texts. And more. I was hoping we could have breakfast privately and talk. Really talk?” I swallowed loudly when she didn’t say anything but glanced around at all of the people staring. “Please, Bev? Let me explain what you heard. It’s not what you think, okay?”

“Okay,” she whispered and took the flowers. “Thanks.”

“Are these your first forgiveness flowers after a fight?” I asked her, smiling when she nodded.

Which made her frown.

“I’ll explain when there’s less ears,” I muttered. “It’s not as weird as I’m sounding.”

“Sure.” She sounded like she didn’t believe it… Which was fair.

I needed to get it together and explain this well. I was pretty sure this was my last shot. It wasn’t like we’d been dating long or had a strong relationship after all.

We went inside and grabbed everything we could take with us. I checked which juices she liked and any other drinks she wanted. I asked for extra breakfast sandwiches since I knew she normally took one to go after she ate. She felt self-conscious about eating too much with so many judgy people around us.

It was extra stupid because of how many people knew she was a runner now. Add it to the list of reasons Morrigan was toxic.

I waited until we were settled and let out a slow breath. “You misunderstood something—I didn’t articulate this accurately. Yes, I don’t want to mate into a top-tier family. I don’t want that life or thescrutinyof coming from a common background and dealing with those people. Having them look down on my family—”

“Being treated like servants and all the bullying they would have to deal with,” Bevin mumbled, bobbing her head as she unwrapped a breakfast burrito. “Alex would intentionally get tickets for using magic in public just to make Kevin have to get rid of them or humiliate him for not being able to and having to pay fines. I know the games.”

“Yes, that isn’t worth it. Or like—the heads of the families are just evil. You pretty much have to be to keep that power I think. But Jean isn’t the only female head or—” I frowned when she snorted. Okay, so clearly there was something with those two other women.

They were figureheads? I wasn’t sure.

Not the point.

“That was mypreferencejust like any other preference in life and dating,” I said gently. “It wasn’t a hard line or deal-breaker for me. I’m sorry I didn’t make that clear.”

“I’m not sure that you didn’t but…” She shrugged.

Yeah, my worst fears had been realized.

“I wasn’t ignoring you,” she blurted, startling me. “It takes a lot of focus to do the magic for the treats.” She seemed to bounce that around. “Well, in that big of batches when I’m so new and there’s so much going on at the factory. And people want to talk to me and askmepermission to take home treats or—”

“They shouldn’t do that,” I bit out, pissed for her.

She sighed. “I’m easier to approach and run over. Well, in their minds. I get it. I can’t even blame them since we’re taking the time to hire good people. We all need help.” She seemed to bounce that around again. “Well, not me since I don’t have a familiar, but you know what I mean. Everyone wants freebies and perks.”

“But it all chips away at you. I’m sorry.”

She blinked at her food a moment and then looked at me. “Thank you. I…”

“No one’s said that to you yet?”

“Maybe. I don’t—a lot has been too much.” She focused back on her food, closed off to me, but that was more because we weren’t solid than Bevin shutting down. It was honestly fair.

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