Page 55 of Frayed Owner

“Your punishment is you have to help me with my next Wicked Challenges prank.”

“You have to have enough points by now,” he muttered as he rubbed my back, sounding a bit worried.

“It’s not about the points. I… Nothing ever changes because people just go along with things. It’s what they see or are used to. I want to do something different. Something I read about. Will you help me?”

“Yeah, I’ll help.”

I realized something more was going on when Loki came closer and wanted my attention. I glanced between them and almost fell over with shock. “Shit, I’m really good. You’re a better student than Tracey. You take things so seriously. So cool.”

“Um, thanks?” He frowned and looked at his uncle. “I feel like I was also insulted in there.”

“No more sessions for Link for a while,” I said, ignoring him. I nodded when Mrs. Oliveria gasped. “Scan him. He had a huge jump in power—how tired do you feel?”

He snorted. “Your hair tie analogy seems rather fitting. I mean, so much has been going on but—” He sighed and scrubbed his hands over his face.

“He might need a few days off. This is faster than I could have expected.” I glanced at the councilman. “Scan him. You’ve been tracking this.”

“I have. Step back, poppet.”

I smiled, kinda loving that he called me that. I knew he did his kids when they were younger, and it made me feel like I had family.

Well… Yeah, I knew what I meant.

“By the gods,” Councilman Oliveria gasped after a moment. “How is this even possible?”

“His hard work,” I said proudly. I nodded when they both looked at me. “I gave them the path and helped, but—this isallLink and even Loki.” I snickered. “Tracey is going to freak and double down.”

“How big of a jump could it really have been in… How long have you been working with him?” Mrs. Reid asked, moving in to scan him once Councilman Oliveria stepped aside.

“Almost six weeks?” Link muttered, giving me a look. “Yeah, Saturday is six weeks. And she gives me a session every other or third day. It’s been a lot.”

“It has been, but the brushes—don’t use them for a week while you settle in this power level,” Councilman Oliveria decided, glancing at me. “Don’t you agree?”

I held my hands up in surrender. “I have no idea. I’ve never seen this—a real adult needs to handle this. I just know how to help the bond and do the sessions. I promised you results.”

“That you did, poppet,” he agreed before throwing his head back and laughing. “This isastounding!Do you have any idea the miracle you’ve pulled off.”

“I really didn’t. Link did all of the work,” I repeated, feeling uncomfortable.

“Thank you, but all the work wouldn’t have done this without your magic, Bevin,” Link said firmly. “Yougushmagic when you do those sessions. That’s what we’re saying.”

Oh yeah, that was fair. I was just so used to it that I didn’t think much of it.

Mrs. Reid immediately called her husband and even Professor Wyatt. After a moment, she called Headmaster Kerwynn saying he was one of the best in his field and would know to keep this quiet.

Okay then. Weird.

Other councilmen arrived and even a few of the nice wives who knew about me. It became a flurry of comments and Link giving me dry looks like he wanted to go home.

Yeah, I felt the same… Except I was home.

At least I had something to drink and snacks.

“You did this?” Headmaster Kerwynn checked. He waved me off when I went to reiterate that Link had done it all. “These are the sessions? These sessions Laura was telling me about?”

“Yes, and the brush,” I muttered. “I think.” I shrugged.

“This isn’t possible,” he muttered, looking like he needed something to lean on. I figured it out and quickly guided him over to one of the seats on the half-finished patio. “Thank you.” He stared at me like I’d grown another head. “How?”

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