Page 86 of Frayed Owner

“You arethirty-twoforcing yourself on an eighteen-year-old,” I seethed. “You want to tell people we’re dating, you go right ahead and see the fallout and piles of problems it will cause you. Even our world isn’t that fucking disgusting.”

He wasn’t wrong when he snorted, but I smirked knowing it had to hurt given what I’d done to his nose.

“But I will take my chances being outed over naming the wrong priest and dying.” I waited until he seemed to accept that. “But if youeverput your hands on me again, you fucking pig, I will go to war and blow up your world like you want to mine. And I mean I have enough to cost your father his council seat which will smear your family forgenerations.”

“You’re bluffing,” he bit out before working his mouth to move his nose and see how it was.

“I’m not, so you better go check with Daddy that you’re making approved plays. Look at my face, Conrad. Look in my eyes and see the truth that I can bring you just as much pain if you push me.” I showed him the determination andbloodI wanted now.

And he flinched.

Bullies always did when they saw the truth and how they’d misjudged who was prey.

“I don’t believe you for one second,” he lied. “And fine, we date for now, but when I get stronger than your other points who arekids, you name me your priest. Even to the council or I’ll out you.” He moved closer but froze when I gathered magic, ready to blast his ass. He bared his teeth at me. “Because I am a petty, vindictive man. Never doubt that.”

“I don’t. Small men who like to think they’re predators always are,” I purred, nodding for him to leave.

“My point is that if I can’t have you, I’d rather you be dead. So believethatand I don’t care if that’s the outcome. The council will, but I don’t, and if you fuck me over, I will laugh when this world eats you like they do every other fucking goddess witch stupid enough to think they matter more than who controls them.”

And then he stormed out, hopefully cloaking so no one saw him.

I let out a shaky breath before pulling back my magic and sinking to my knees. Yeah, I cried.

Even Emma would agree this was definitely a time to cry and I wasn’t letting my emotions control me.

No, this was the time to fucking freak out and I didn’t even know how to handle this new mess.

21

Gloria

I knew Bevin skipped lunch in the cafeteria Tuesdays and Thursdays since she didn’t have class after. I didn’t either, and I decided to offer to take her out to lunch off campus to thank her for coming up with the prank.

And as a way to apologize.

Carmen, Robin, Kate, and I had gone over the line hounding her about where she’d taken our familiars that they’d harvested so well. The four of us had been gobsmacked by how much magic our familiars had gotten in one afternoon, much less two, so we were charged up for the prank.

It was seriously unreal.

So how did we thank her? By being complete pushy bitches and I was seriously embarrassed about it, especially after all Bevin had done for me.

She’dsaved mefrom being abducted by werewolves and a fate worse than death. Though I would have also died in the end.

In a horrid, unspeakable way, and I’d never truly thanked her like I should. No, I’d helped with her prank and gotten points for that too and treats for my familiar.

Seriously, I was a shitty friend.

So I wanted to change that, almost catching her before she went into her dorm room. I was just about to knock when I felt fear from her so strong that I froze.

And then I used a spell to let me listen to what was going on inside her room so I knew if I should rush in there or call security or—I didn’t know what was going on, but it really wasn’t just to eavesdrop or anything.

But holyshitdid I hear a lot.

A lot of things that made sense.

Bevin was a goddess witch. Of course she was. I feltstupidfor not having figured that out sooner but… Maybe not. Clearly, she knew and was hiding it. No one expected it so young and to be so public. They were normally hidden away by family… Shit.

Okay, I would have to figure that out later. Right now, she was clearly in trouble and the son of a councilman was threatening her. She said Conrad.

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