Page 75 of Novice Girlfriend

The Shaws were making it clear that they did pay for their sins and past unlike other top-tier families. That they kept their promises and weren’t going to stop even if the Bernses or anyone else tried to mess with any of us.

She added that she gave her condolences to the family of the guard who was killed saving my life. The council would be covering the cost of his funeral and burying him with honors, but we were adding to the death benefits his family would receive in the hopes that his family knew we valued his sacrifice.

Then it was done. I let out a slow breath as they both left the stage, people losing their minds and shouting questions, but that was all they were going to say.

And it was more than enough for everyone to freak out.

“This is going to get bad,” I whispered, most everyone in the room with me nodding. I looked up when Tracey walked in a few minutes later and there was only one thing to say. “I love you.”

She swallowed loudly. “Thank you.”

“Don’t you dare apologize for going off the plan,” Jasmine said firmly, probably getting something from her that I couldn’t. “I would have put that fucker in his place too if I’d known. Hell, I wouldn’t have made you stay back yesterday and told you to bury him.”

I snorted. “I would have severed the bond with his familiar the moment I knew how if I’d known he wanted to do that to you.”

“Love you too, Bev,” Tracey said quietly, looking beyond relieved and completely believing me.

Good, because I fucking meant it. Jason Berns was trash and we needed less people like him in power.

I was glad when Taylor came over not long after, obviously understanding Tracey needed him and that he hadn’t understood there was more to this. I nodded to him in thanks and to go ahead… Because apparently there was something for me to handle just as big.

And he was standing there with so much in his pretty grass-green eyes that I was worried he was going to shatter right in front of me.

18

Bevin

“Please put Quinn in a bubble,” Wyatt rasped when we were alone. He nodded when I couldn’t make my mouth work. “Please? I know I shouldn’t have come to you and you don’t deserve this, but I couldn’t go to anyone else and he doesn’t deserve to feel this. I’m begging you, Bev.”

“I don’t know what I’m doing enough to risk it,” I worried. “It’s Quinn.”

“You’d never hurt him,” he said with such certainty it took my breath away. “I told him we needed to work on it after what happened with Jason Berns, so he won’t worry and is having fun harvesting and playing.” He gave me a serious look when I went to argue again. “I can’t hide this from him much longer.”

I had no idea what that meant because I was freaking out—completely all over the place, but I didn’t know what else to do.

So I did what he asked of me, Wyatt more than deserving the favor after all he’d done for me. I focused on their bond and followed it to Quinn, working hard to put the familiar I adored in the most gentle bubble after basically scratching him behind the ears with my magic.

The second I nodded it was done and Wyatt felt it, he slowly sank to his knees and let out a soundless sob. He covered his face and silently broke down.

Then it all made sense. I felt stupid that I hadn’t understood, kneeling as well and hugging him with all I had.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered as I rubbed his back. “I’m so, so sorry.”

“It was so amazing and kills me to lose,” he choked out. “I’m sorry I came here. I couldn’t handle this alone and hide it from him. I wasn’t strong enough.”

“I’m not mad.” I wasn’t. Hurt? Yeah, but that was life.

Maybe I was mad, but not at Wyatt.

At the gods for their “gifts” always being painful too.

“We can’t stay here,” I muttered when I heard voices not far away. “Can you circle us to my room?”

He nodded and put one under us. I swallowed a yelp when he picked me up when we were in my room and brought me over to the sofa. He sat down with me on his lap and continued crying, simply holding me. It wasn’t sexual, just comfort, but like he knew he couldn’t continue without holding onto me.

“When?” I asked when he seemed to calm down enough to talk.

“About an hour before I showed up,” he said, his voice raw. “His voice started fading. It faded, Bev.”