Page 39 of Frayed Owner

I took in a slow breath and let it out. “Go ahead and tell people.” I chuckled when her eyes flashed shock. “Go ahead and tell the world that you’ve known all of this time that akidwas the owner of Familiar Treasures and you didn’t tell anyone. That you stole one of the prototypes and used it like a Shaw leech.

“Oh, but that won’t be the story you could ever tell, right? Not when you’re holding onto a thread at the moment being the pinnacle of power. No, youneed meto secure your position.” I snorted when that shock came back. “You want to basically take all the credit. I knew you were hiding your power, Jean. I now understand why you always kept your familiar from me.

“That was the only piece I was missing. You want me to come back into the fold and act like you got me out and safe until Father was gone and you’re the hero who saved all of this for our world. How you probably built it all because I’m a useless airhead with magic and—however your spin will be. It’s allstill cheatingbecause it’s lies and—”

“It’s not lies,” she snapped. “Not when I saved your stupid ass several times. I cleaned up so you didn’t caught. I used to put magic on your room so Father couldn’t sense the magicin there, you fool. I covered for you again and—”

“That’s not noble when you did it so I could be useful to you, Jean,” I cut in. “You didn’t do it to save me. You kept mein playon your chessboard. I’m still a pawn in your eyes—one you should be allowed to use. So is Clare. Who are you planning to mate her off to so your position is secured?” I snorted when the hit landed.

“Screw you, Jean,” Clare hissed, seeing it too. “I’m not being mated off to—”

Jean’s gaze locked on Clare. “It’s a good match. It’s part of being in this family and—a woman has taken the head of the family and you should absolutely support that—”

“I’m not a whore!” Clare exploded. “I’m not a mare to be sold. What kind of sister, actually—you’re just as gross as Father. Grandmother—unforgivable. Fuck you. I’m not coming back even if it means I die. I’d rather die a Millen than just be a Shaw whore. I’m worth more than that.”

“Oh, I would ask the match just so you drive the final nail in the coffin,” Tracey pushed.

“You know,” I muttered.

She nodded. “Hughes. His eldest son is—”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Clare roared. “He’s worse than Alex. He’s gotten in trouble multiple times for beating up witches and—no one will mate him because he’s such a fucking monster. That’s who you would mate me off to? An abuser who brags that women can’t say no to him—fuck you, Jean. Yeah, I’m with Bevin. I cannot believe—”

I snorted. “I can. Jean has no issue with watching abuse. Do you, Jean?” I smirked when her pissed-off gaze focused back on me. “How many times did you see Alex hit me?”

“What?” Clare gasped as Tracey bit out the same word.

I nodded. “She used to smirk when she caught Alex. I used to think she was glad I was getting beaten or smacked, but then I realized it had nothing to do with me. She was amused to see Alex lose his temper when she never did. She was amused to witness anotherflawof his—ammunition for her to use later why he was unfit.”

“Jesus Christ, Jean,” Clare whispered.

“You’re an actual psychopath, Jean, but I bet you knew that already,” I said to her, noticing there was no reaction. “Charles and Alex are too volatile, so they’re sociopaths, but you’re a psychopath.”

“My feelings are hurt,” she drawled. “That doesn’t change what I know and—”

“I would rather die than come back on principle alone, Jean,” I told her firmly. “I won’t let you use me for power or manipulate me after youwatchedme be abused with a fucking smirk.” I smiled at her. “Now, here’s my threat.”

It was her turn to snort as she stood. “You have no threat, Bevin.”

“I will break your bond with your familiar if you come for me,” I told her, beaming at her when she froze. “How’s that for a threat?”

She studied me. “No, there’s no way—”

“She already made that threat to a councilman, and she’s been tested as having the ability,” Tracey said firmly.

Jean argued, but I felt that itching feeling like my magic had more to do. I moved closer to Jean and burst out laughing, interrupting them both.

“What did you learn?” Tracey asked, catching on to what was happening.

“That I don’t need the familiar to damage the bond, at least for Jean since it was my magic that helped her,” I told her, still studying Jean. “You saw you’re more powerful than her, right?”

“Yes.” But there was more to it. That was clear in Tracey’s tone.

“Her bridge isn’t as good as yours,” I muttered as I nodded. “I can see it. That’s what my magic wanted me to check.” I smirked at Jean. “Want to see if I can damage it? How hard did you work to build that bridge with your eagle, Jean? What is the saying? Fuck around and find out? Let’s find—”

“Bevin, don’t be them,” Clare cut in, her voice shaking.

I let out a slow breath and took a step back before looking at her, seeing how worried Tracey looked also. That made me mad. “Do you know thescarsI have from Alex? And she knew.She knew!She smirked. She knew they wanted to sacrifice me and apparently interfered not because it was wrong but because—”

---