Page 85 of Frayed Owner

Conrad Hanson, Councilman Hanson’s son, smirked as I came into my room Thursday before lunch. I’d started having lunch at home since I had a list of people to work with and my afternoon class was my independent study. I’d come just to grab a few things and my security didn’t follow me up to my room.

There was no reason to.

Until now.

I was never so glad that I was smart and didn’t let people talk me out of things. I didn’t even have to pull out my phone to record this time, but hold a button on my watch. It was all set up to default to the recording app.

Thank you, Emma, for listening to me!

“Go ahead and scream,” he chuckled when I opened my mouth. “I wouldlovea scene and to get to explain why I was in your room when the magic only allows that by invitation.”

I wasn’t falling for that, and I hadn’t been about to scream, but chew his ass out. “I’d blast you out that window before I’d just scream like a bad low-budget film. And you’re the eldest son of acouncilman, of course you can get around the magic of a college freshman. You’d still be in trouble for sneaking into the dorms and have to answer how you got onto campus to—”

“Oh please, our world’s worst-kept secret that any alum can get back on campus if they attended all six years,” he drawled, even rolling his eyes. “We sneak in and out of here as we want and everyone knows it.”

Warning bells went off in my head. The attack. That was how the werewolf attack could have happened and the wards came down.

A former student who could sneak onto campus was behind it all.

“That’s different than the dorms,” I countered easily as I set down my bag.

“But you invited me to sneak in here to be with you,” he purred.

I raised an eyebrow at him. “I’m willing to go under truth magic to say otherwise and you wouldn’t be so try again.”

He ground his jaw but rallied. “You can’t take another scandal, and I’m not going to spar with you about this. You know it wouldn’t be clean-cut and just done.”

“No, but it wouldn’t be for you either, so enough of the bullshit, and just tell me what you want before I get on the phone with your dad and—”

“Oh please, he’s all for this, and even Reid would come around as long as you’re under the control of a council family,” he drawled.

“You don’t know the Reids and certainly not theOliveriaswell enough to make such a stupid statement,” I threw right back with just as much sarcasm. “But at least I know what you want. And your threat.” I glanced him over and sighed. “How disappointing. Seriously.”

That pissed him off and he lost his amusement. “This is why you need to be controlled and—”

“Yeah, not going to happen, asshole, so leave the way you came. I don’t care what lies you’ll try to—”

“Oh, I haveproofthat you’re a goddess witch,” he chuckled darkly. “I have sealed council records that I’ll slip to the media. You’re naïve to think they’re on your side when they’ve had hearings and meetings about you.”

I didn’t say anything, simply staring at him which wasn’t what he’d wanted. I could play games well too, and this would unnerve him.

I’d seen it work dozens of times for Charles Shaw. So even if I didn’t ever want to be like my father… This lesson was useful.

He adjusted his neck. “You will name me your priest or I will tell everyone that you’re a goddess witch.”

“No,” I snorted, shaking my head when he continued. “Naming the wrong priest couldkill me.” I wasn’t sure if it was really true, but it wasn’t a lie either given what I’d read. “The books are clear that the strongest of the points of the star has to be the priest or it could kill the goddess witchandthe priest.”

He snorted. “I am the strongest if I got in here past whichever—”

“That’s not the only way to be the strongest, idiot,” I snapped. “Your familiar from thegodswould never approve of you forcing a woman to be subservient to you and control her. You’re damaging your bond with him to do this, and that will weaken you no matter the magic you harvest to break a spell. You’re mixing apples and oranges.

“So go ahead and tell everyone and I’ll take my chances, but I amnotdying for your stupid plan. I will not fall in line or any of it, especially for someone weaker than me or my other points. And your plan here alone makes it clear that you’re not up to—” I turned when I thought I heard something in the hallway, noting I hadn’t locked the door.

He’d moved when I’d been distracted and then was in front of me, fisting my hair and forcing me to kiss him. I didn’t shove him away or fight, but didn’t respond, knowing it was all to get a reaction out of me.

He growled when he caught onto what I was doing. “I’ll make it good for you if you behave, you little twit.Behaveand—”

I thrust the heel of my hand up into his nose the way Emma had taught me. I lost some hair when he went to pull away and he was still holding my head, but it was worth it.

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