Page 57 of Frayed Owner

“She has money,” Clare said from behind me. “She has her own personal money. She has for a while and kept it from Father. I knew that. She almost got caught once—her stock portfolio and whatever business she had. She said it was her master’s project and all fake. That was the only way she kept it from him. But I knew—it was real. It was a lot.”

I nodded and listened to the rest, disgusted how well it would play to the media. The poor victim but also the new face of what a top-tier family should be and diligent instead of so spoiled… Which was what normal witches and warlocks wanted to hear.

“And she wants me to file charges against Alex to get more time in prison for him,” I muttered.

“Yes, but while horrible, the statute of limitations on his crimes has to be—” Councilman Reid started to say.

“Dad, she’s eighteen,” Taylor reminded him. “She was a child a few months ago.”

Councilman Reid blinked at me and rubbed his face. “I keep forgetting you’re so young. Yes, of course. I just—I guess I thought—forgive me.”

I nodded and kept Clare’s gaze. “I have proof that whole press conference is bullshit. What’s the play?”

She blew out a harsh breath, her lips making funny noises as she did. “MAD? Mutually Assured Destruction? They leave us alone and we leave it alone, but if they come for us or Familiar Treasures, we’ll bust their asses?”

“That’s where my head was,” I agreed. “And I’ll give them the information on Hughes in a few weeks if she keeps her word. Take the ban off those who work for the Shaws in a few months.”

She raised her eyebrow at that. “Not the family?”

“No, fuck them,” I grumbled. “Not one of them has reached out to ask if I’m okay or offer help. They didn’t care until it was useful to them to maybe get more power.”

“Wow, we’re really born of snakes, and that’s insulting to snakes.” She snorted. “Good luck at Jean’s side, Bryan.”

He deserved it. He was an unfeeling asshole who thought himself better than the rest of us but never stood up for anything, just gave disgusted looks.

Oh yeah, you were so amazing for judgylooks. How big of you.

“I agree with you, but see how Tracey and Jasmine want to proceed,” I told her, sighing when Taylor cleared his throat. “And our head of security or whatever. Maybe after Tracey is done spanking him. Don’t get in the middle of that.”

“Not my kink,” she chuckled.

Okay then?

People wanted to freak out over Link again and even checked things out with Loki. Then Tracey came back and was talking about Demeter and what happened. It was the perfect time for me to slip away so I could relax a bit and clear my head.

Link found me sitting on one of the new picnic benches by the lake. He plopped down next to me. “You good?”

“Just another day in paradise,” I drawled, sighing when he wasn’t going to accept that. “It’s fine. I just needed a time-out.”

“Something happened with what Jean said. A few of us noticed it. They worry you’re not telling us something because we won’t listen or take you seriously again,” he confessed.

Shit. Now I had to tell them. “Her familiar was outside the window when we met. I heard what she said.” I rubbed my hands over my face and stared out at the lake, glad someone had put lights out here now that people were coming more.

It was actually really pretty and fit the area well.

“What did you hear that hurt you, Bevin?” he asked gently, always catching onto things more than others.

“That Jean hates me,” I admitted. “Not that she doesn’t give a shit about me or I was inconsequential, but she hates me. She’s always hated me.” I swallowed loudly. “The familiar said she was still going to hate me even if I wasn’t a goddess witch because she’s always hated me—always been jealous of me.

“She only protected me because she couldn’t risk that Father would want me to become the heir if he learned I was so powerful and talented. He was too unpredictable to gamble on. She knew there was a chance he would sacrifice me to take the power for himself even if the blessing wouldn’t transfer to him, but he could also have made me heir.

“That could have brought about whatever people think will happen if a goddess witch is in a top-tier family, but it all sounds stupid to me. I’ve been treated just as badly by some of the councilmen so—whatever.” I let out another slow breath. “The familiar said if she didn’t hate me so much, Jean might actually thank me for making her the witch she is.”

“And you’re feelingwhatabout that?” he hedged.

“Oh, so much it’s really hard to say,” I chuckled darkly.

“I can guess several, but hit me with one that’s making you feel so dark. Get it out and leave it there,” he said after a moment.

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