Page 65 of Novice Girlfriend

“Eunice Dupris was one of the kindest souls I have ever met in all my years, you fucking maggot. That kid was pure in a way that is so rare, the world is colder today and you did that. You did. I want your whole family gone for this because our people as a whole were better off because of that kid. All he did was give and you—fuck you.”

He shoved Jason away, hard enough he fell on his ass.

Even Taylor looked shocked in his subdued way.

“He’s right,” Councilman Hanson, of all people, said firmly and gestured between all the council members. “You just picked the one kid we all adored and showed us how we’ve fucked up. You wanted to poke us? Well, you did, and now you can tell the others that you’re the reason we’re not fractured anymore. I want your family to burn first.”

He laid down a circle and was gone, conversation over apparently.

Okay then.

I quickly whispered to the familiar that he had to stay for now, but if his master was mean to him, he could run away and find me and I’d take care of him. Jason was seething when he saw his familiar lick my face.

I simply flicked him off.

The moment we arrived at the Reids, one of the councilmen reached for me, but Link easily blocked him, not even looking at him. “Don’t. Just don’t.”

“You’re in enough trouble, kid, don’t make it worse,” he shot right back.

Link slowly looked at him and it worried me. “I’m in enough trouble, so I don’t give a fuck anymore, so don’t lay a finger on her.”

“Enough,” Councilman Oliveria snapped and shoved the other councilman away. “We’re off the clock and clearly this is all personal now. Even Hanson just said Berns united us—the fucking egos. Get inside or—Owen, sorry, where do you want to do this?”

Mr. Reid said the terrace and he would turn on the patio warmers so we didn’t bother anyone inside. I followed along, but then I locked eyes with one of Winter’s friends and winced. He quickly shook his head, which I took as Winter didn’t know yet, so I hurried to shoot him a text saying something had happened and I was fine.

And I would explain later and maybe accept a punishment, but I wasn’t sure if I deserved it yet. Either way, I was fine, to finish work, and I’d come by if he wanted as soon as I could.

The response was immediate and yes, come to his room and explain what the fuck that really meant and he was trying to keep his cool.

Valid. There was seriously just always something. I couldn’t even blame him for the anger in the tone of the texts. I felt the same. All I had wanted was to have a chill day, happy that things were back on track with the factory now that I’d rested and realigned my magic some.

Was that really too much to ask?

“Did you do it? Did you really sever the bond with his familiar or did you put it in that bubble like you did with Conrad’s?” Hanson asked me once we were all situated there.

“She’s not answering that, Hanson,” Jean said firmly before I could even think to answer.

He slowly looked at her like she was out of her mind. “I think you should remember—”

“I think you need to remember you’re standing in a house of glass and it’s cracked,” she warned dangerously. “Do not think to lecture me about morality or my position. This isn’t a council hearing, and of anyone here you should not be pushing Bevin for anything. Ever.”

“Agreed,” Clare said firmly as she moved in front of me. “And you’re doing it quickly without Tracey here. Her attorney. Wyatt. Her boyfriend and—”

“I’m in shock,” Hanson snapped. “I didn’t even register her damn boyfriend isn’t here.” He ran his hands through his hair. “But we absolutely need to know what she just did to the head of the Berns family and his familiar.”

“No,” Jean and Clare said together, their voices cold.

“No,” I whispered, agreeing.

“No,” Taylor said after a moment and then shook his head. “Dad, no. Come on, they’re failing the test. Some of them want leverage over her. You know it.”

Jean glanced at him. “I did underestimate you. This is the second time you have seriously impressed me. I’m sorry for the slights I’ve spoken against you even if you’ve never heard them. Yes, that’s what they want. Ammo. Reasons to control her.”

“You’re just confirming it acting like this,” one of the other councilmen snapped. “We know now anyways, and I don’t want it for ammo. It’s a crime and—”

“I’m not confirming it, and you just poked that so I’d get scared and would try to hurry and deny it,” I drawled, moving up to stand with my sisters. “We’re Shaws, and you’re not scary to us after how we were raised. And it’s not a crime either way. Physical harm. Death. The wording is very specific because unprovable accusations could fly around otherwise.”

“Stop!” Snyder snapped before letting out a slow breath and looking at me. “You confirmed once before that you still had a power and then the gods accepted what you did. That’s what I want to know. If this is a line the gods accept.”