Page 40 of Novice Girlfriend

“We will give you the plan and you will execute it,” Father said firmly.

I swallowed down what I really wanted to say and kept Uncle’s gaze. “This will never work if I’m to be treated how the women of this family normally are. If you want the result, this one time, people here will have to pretend I’m male and have a brain.”

“You’re pushing it, Madeline,” Uncle warned.

“With all due respect, I’m putting everything on the line.” I gestured to where the pocket watch had been. “And I’m willing to and give the respect of being honest with you so it works for both of us.”

“Oh? How so?” he challenged, his tone mocking.

“I agree with Bevin and what she’s doing,” I answered bluntly. “You’re all completely blinded by your sexism, and it’s not only disgusting, but the normal witches and warlocks laugh at you, and it will be the downfall of the top-tier families if it’s not changed. I’m smarter than most of my male cousins and none of you in this room can even fathom that.”

Uncle opened his mouth to blast me, but I hurried on.

“However, I don’t believe Bevin will win. I think a top-tier family will get her or kill her, and her magic helps our world. Helps our familiars, and clearly the gods wanted that to get free of the Shaws. I’d rather it be controlled by you than Jean Shaw or someone horrid like the Hughes. Or the Wyatts because they’re just as bad. You have lines you won’t cross.”

He lost some of his anger and considered that, probably knowing he would never be able to convince me that I was what he thought women were. Certainly not in the time frame he needed to. “Let’s hear your proposal then.”

I mumbled to forgive me and looked back at my phone. “She’s made friends with normal witches who are a few years older. Two are in a class that most females tank the midterms because the professor gives us a different test, annoyed us breeders are allowed in Morrigan. The warning and my study guides to them is one way. The running club is—”

“None of that gets you alone with Bevin,” Father snapped.

“No, but this isn’t something that has a quick result, Father.” I met Uncle’s gaze. “Over break. I’ll make the small steps and leave the breadcrumbs that I want help getting away from my family and abusive fiancé. Apologize for throwing her offer of help in her face and—it’s just over a month away.”

“That’s a longer timeline than I want, Madeline,” he warned. “Do not think to play me.”

“I’d rather under promise and overdeliver instead of disappoint you,” I told him honestly. “But with the way people are acting so unhinged with her, someone is going to be rash and stupid. That’s going to be a problem.”

“Best guess?” he pushed.

I gave a half shrug. “Idiots from the bottom-level top-tier families try to get Winter out of the way so she’s single. Push out Professor Wyatt as her advisor, which won’t happen because I know the council’s approved him and been at a meeting with her.”

“We didn’t know that,” one of my second cousins muttered, the men sharing glances. “You’re sure?”

“No, because I wasn’t there, but it’s a pretty confirmed unchecked thing people know from a confrontation that happened. Bevin supposedly having said it in front of a lot of witnesses.”

Uncle slowly smiled. “You are clearly the right wo—person for the job, Madeline.” He sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. “Fine, you have until the end of fall break to meet with Bevin alone and then we will enter our legally and magically-binding agreement.”

I swallowed loudly, knowing that was the carrot and the stick was coming next.

“Or you fail and will mate your fiancé without one more complaint or demand,” he said firmly.

I let out a shaky breath. “No, because until Bevin is scooped up or dead, she is still in play, and clearly I’m your best shot. So even if I don’t meet her then, I still have a chance. A change in terms or compensation would be understandable, but that is too much of a punishment.”

“You go too far, Madeline.”

“Also, there are people in this room who would love me to fail, and I worry about the honor of some—the pride in this room that—”

Father slammed down his hand and stood. “For you to dare accuse me of that is so far over the line I should disown you right now!”

I blinked at him and couldn’t hide my shock. “I didn’t mean you, Father. Not in the slightest. You would never be so ridiculous when this benefits the family.” I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen him so stunned.

“Who did you mean, girl?” one of the great-uncles demanded, the way he spoke to the women of the family making him the first I would push off a cliff.

I kept my father’s gaze so hopefully he believed me or at least remembered some of what I’d said before. “Some of the cousins in this room who cannot let go that I’ve done better in school than them. That I have more magic than them. They’ve mocked that I’m being forced to mate someone abusive and made comments that I’ll be ugly in my casket.”

“That’s true,” Father confirmed. “My mate told me as much. She overheard some of it directly. She said the level of disloyalty in the family was getting unnerving and I agreed.”

Coming from him, that was almost funny if the topic wasn’t so serious.