Page 68 of Frayed Owner

“It’s good but not what I was hoping for and not a lot to go on,” she hedged.

I snorted again. “You’re not going to get what you wanted especially because I know what you’re going to try to do with it. So again, let’s cut the shit if we’re going to even discuss being closet allies. This was huge and we both know it. It’s a hugearrayof shields for you if you know how to use it right and we both know you’re smart enough to do that.”

She was quiet a few moments, smoke probably coming out of her ears the wheels were spinning so fast on how to handle this next. “I assume this information comes with any follow-ups you might learn?”

“Depends how things continue between us,” I countered. “Don’t underestimate me, Jean. You won’t like the results if you do.”

“Oh, I believe that, Bevin,” she chuckled darkly. “I would never have guessed anyone could unravel Father that quickly and with such precision shots. I don’t think I could have. You have more help than I’d realized or would have guessed, but those were your moves. I know that.”

“Good.”

“But, Bevin? Don’t underestimate me either.”

“I won’t. I’m not coming for you. You’ll have enough of that, and I hope you clean out your security fast.”

“Oh? Concerned?”

“Yeah, because I didn’t kill Father’s familiar, Jean. It wasn’t anyone in my camp. And you didn’t. So who the fuck did it cleanly like that?”

She was quiet several moments. “We don’t know. Alex would make a mess. And no matter what the news is saying, it wasn’t another familiar.”

My blood went cold. “You’re sure?”

“The neck was snapped. By hands with opposable thumbs if the vet I took it to is to be believed, and I believe him since I was wearing magic to make sure,” she confessed.

“Who the fuck could get up on the—was it really on the roof?”

“Yes.”

That took me a minute to swallow. “So you have a threat that can get up on the huge mansion roof without security noticing, none of the sensors being set off, avoiding all of the cameras, fucking snapping a familiar’s neck—which is harder than a normal animal—and without leaving any evidence when you investigate later? Did I hear that right?”

“You did.”

I snickered but then chuckled.

“This isn’t funny.”

“No, it’s really not, but you have your lap so overloaded youreallycan’t afford to start a war with me. Hell, youneed meto be willing to play ball with you to survive more than Hughes if you have that threat.” I swallowed another snort when she didn’t say anything. “Good luck, Jean.”

She was going to need it.

17

I wasn’t needed at the Friday night treat truck at Morrigan anymore. We had the database and enough options for a list of familiars. I still had to go for the raw ones because there were so many random familiars. That was why Familiar Treasures now had added to our website with the list of animal species we had treats for.

So I was able to get a few sessions done instead, and Mrs. Reid asked to work with me on something because she’d had an idea.

And she asked me to come over to her house.

Cheese was happy to see me since Taylor was working. I was able to meet some of the other familiars they looked after of people Taylor knew still in the military. I knew what Mrs. Reid wanted and gave them all some love, assuring them that they would be okay and to have faith a bit longer in their witches and warlocks.

“This actually isn’t why I asked you to come here,” she said with a chuckle. “But I should have expected it given your big heart.” She waved for me to follow. “I had an idea given—I’ve never worked closely with a witch of your caliber. And it’s rare—we have no real information about working with one as they’re coming into their own.”

I nodded, having already heard that from the Oliverias.

“However, Owen has access to council records without the oversight other members have since he’s the head.” She put her hand on a box after we entered a sitting room. “This is everything he’s found so far on what the council knows about what you need to. My husband is smart and quietly snuck copies of this and that. Be careful with where you put it.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, touched he’d done that for me.

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