Page 1 of Frayed Owner

1

I had a break in between doing sessions, relieved that this last councilman had started taking things more seriously and put in the time to do the homework I’d given him. There had been a handful who hadn’t done anything and were being lazy. This one at least accepted the chastising I’d given and said I wouldn’t waste my time if they expected me to do all of the work.

I wasn’t as hopeful about the others. Maybe they could surprise me?

Cold dread fell over me. Something was wrong. Something was… Off.

Evil. The animals on the property were reacting to something evil being near the good of the place and the magic.

And then panic filled me when I heard the voice that haunted my nightmares bellow from the front gate. I didn’t hesitate, pressing the panic button on my phone—the app or whatever—to signal that shit was hitting the fan. Then I was probably stupid and raced through the house and out the front door to handle the situation—stall maybe until help arrived?

I wasn’t really sure, but I was sort of impressed with myself that I managed to move when I was so scared.

Then again, I was more terrified of the security dying because of me.

Rage and crazy unlike I’d ever seen filled Father’s eyes when he saw me. “I knew it. I knew you—this is all mine!”

“I understand you don’t follow any laws, Charles, but that’s not how things work,” I drawled.

His nostrils flared. “This was aMillenproperty that the Shaw family absorbed—it is legally mine and—”

“Not this one.” I shrugged. “Grandfather kept this one separate. He put it into a trust—I inherited.”

“You are mine too!” he roared.

“No, I’mmine,” I sneered. “I am a person, not property, you pathetic piece of trash. Youcowardand cheat—”

“You will be quiet in my presence! You are not fit to—”

“Oh, shut the fuck up already,” I sighed, clearly losing my mind. Even my guards looked at me like I’d lost it. “You think you’re so amazing and I can’t speak in your presence. Are you like—you’re a bully and a loser. Not a god.”

“I figured out where you’ve been hiding, so you shouldn’t be so full of yourself, child,” he snarled.

“It took youmonths,” I threw right back, laughing at him. “And Grandfather set it all up—I was coming to this property foryearsbehind your back. All my life he had this set up for me and you were clueless.” I mockingly clapped. “Yes, well done. You finally figured out what was right in front of your face.”

He tried to step past the gate but couldn’t. He held out his hands and felt the magic, turning up his lip at me. “Brave words while hiding behind magic not yours like a coward.”

I snorted. “I don’t have a penis to worry about the size of it or if you’re goading me. I had to hide my magic so you didn’tsteal itfor Alex. Yes, I’m behind magically.” I shrugged. “So? That’s all you have? That I was smart enough to ask others for help and pay for magic you can’t unlock?”

He gave me an evil smile as two circles flared and people showed up. “I don’t need to when it’s mine. I did what any good, lawful citizen does and called the police.” He turned to one of the officers. “Yes, I was on my way to my hunting cabin when I realized that some of the property that I inherited hadn’t been checked on recently. And I found a squatter.”

I laughed. I full-out laughed. “So the deed is in your name? Hasever beenin your name? It was listed on everything I inherited. That makes you a trespasser, not me a squatter, Charles.” I snorted when he warned me to shut up. “Wow, what a shame your sibling died for someone so fucking stupid and incompetent.”

“You’re already being sued for slander and more, Bevin. Do you want me to sue you next?” he snapped.

“Yes.” I nodded when he did a double take. “Yes,pleasegive me reason to show the world in a High Council hearing that I have proof of what you’ve done. I already plan to show all of these officers are bought and paid for in the current lawsuit.” I glanced at the officers. “Yes, all of you. And yes, I have the proof. Andyes, it’s all admissible in court. Fun, right?”

“Bevin Shaw, I have a warrant for your arrest,” one of the officers said. “Come off the property now to be detained or more charges will be added to—”

“Let me see that,” one of Taylor’s guys said, extending his arm over the line of the protection spell. He chuckled when the officer told him to stuff it and ordered me to come over. “Hand it over or we call other police next. If there’s nothing fishy going on here then—”

The cop handed it over. “Call whomever you want. It’s legal and she’s stolen this house—”

“Which the police don’t arrest people for,” he interrupted, but then chuckled. He dropped it on the ground over the line. “That’s for Bevin Shaw. You have the wrong person. That’s Bevin Millen.”

“She’s the same person and—” He was interrupted when several more circles flared.

I smirked at Father. “You think you were the only one who called people? Your sexism really is a handicap.”

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