Page 64 of Novice Girlfriend

I would ask later where Tracey and Wyatt were, but I was pretty sure that was strategic? Maybe, but there was still a lot there to handle.

Just a few things.

15

Bevin

I pushed Link behind me and gave him a look to stuff it before turning to Councilman Reid. “Your wife was there when he tried to abduct me before. It happened again. I was stupid and he laid out a plan. I’ll go under truth magic.” I looked at Jason. “Will you? They’ll have to ask you a lot for that, right?” I chuckled darkly and reached to pet his familiar.

“No, no, you can’t think to get away with this, you fucking little—”

That pissed me off and I took a step towards him, stopping because Link put a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t talk to me about getting away with anything, fucker. You all get away with everything! I just tipped the scales closer to even and you deserve it! You deserve so much worse for what you have done.

“But go ahead and try it. Tell people what you think happened here today.” I gestured to the others. “Who will believe you? You think anyone will, or will the others in your family take advantage of it? The hyenas will immediately descend, Jason, and we both know it. Other top-tier families. A little girl did what you’ll try to accuse me of?” I snorted.

“We know you’re a goddess witch,” he tried.

I pulled down the collar of my shirt to show him the top part of my chest and a bit of my cleavage. “No mark, Jason. That’s where the books say it is. I’ve been checked. There’s no visible mark on my body. That’s the rumor among the sexist top-tier men because you cannot fathom a female more powerful than you.

“Because you want to use me as an excuse for more power because of some stupid fucking prophecy. But the reality is you’re weak and lots of us women are more powerful than you. That’s why you mate us off and beat us. That’s why you trap us and abuse us. Because you can’t keep up otherwise and have to cheat. Well, no more fucking cheating, asshole!”

“Hear hear, Sister,” Jean praised. “Especially after he gave me the offer to become his whore and combine the families before I was taken over by one of our relatives and sold to someone worse.”

I slowly looked at her and then back at Jason and burst out laughing. I mean it really wasn’t funny—none of this was—but fuck, that was funny. “You’re a lunatic. Jean is forty times more powerful than you—forty times the man you are and will make the Shaw family thrive. You’re tanking the Berns family, and everyone knows it.”

“I do enjoy how blunt you can be,” she admitted. “Honestly, I would prefer a fight though; his younger brother is an even bigger idiot, and I have an in on getting some of the Berns assets for pennies on the dollar then.”

Jason ground his jaw. “Give me my familiar back, bitch, and I’ll let it go.”

Everyone there froze besides several gasps, knowing what I’d done or at least freaking out wondering what he was talking about.

I simply smirked at Jason. “I don’t know what you’re talking about? How could a college freshman have anything to do with your issues with your familiar? Big bad male head of the Berns family? Little me did something?” I beamed at him and leaned in even against Link’s hand. “What do you top-tier fuckers always say? Prove it?”

“Ms. Millen, I think—” one of the councilmen started to interject, but I turned to Councilman Reid again.

“Jason will undoubtedly weasel out of the full charges of my abduction with some song and dance and blame some lower-ranked family member. Just like they always do and whatever, some fine, and blah blah, but I want it on the record that Link saved me.” I swallowed loudly. “And Eunice died in the rescue, so he gets full honors.”

Link’s hand squeezed my shoulder, and I reached up and rubbed it.

Then I looked at Jason. “Or do you want to seriously challenge that story and risk the rest of what happened going public?” I scratched his familiar behind the ears just to drive my point home.

“Apparently, the matter is settled,” Jean purred and came over towards me, even going so far as to turn her back on Jason. “I’m glad you’re well.”

“Thank you for coming,” I said honestly.

She glanced at the familiar and then back to me, too much in her eyes. “Yes, well, I’d like some details so I don’t fall in the same trap. Let’s get you out of here and chat.”

I definitely owed her at least that.

“I think a debrief at the council estate is absolutely needed,” Councilman Perry bit out.

Councilman Snyder, who was middle of the road and hated the bullshit, definitely hated the amount of faith everyone was putting in me given my age, interjected. “I think somewhere more neutral and less charged given what happened there. Owen, I hate to impose, but could we?”

“Yes, good shout,” Councilman Reid agreed. “Mr. Berns, expect a summons soon.”

“You know this isn’t what happened, Reid,” Jason seethed. “You’re just as corrupt if you go along with this. No one will—”

Something happened that I never thought to see unfolded right before my eyes and my mouth actually fell open. Councilman Reid fully lost his temper, storming over to Jason Berns and fisting the man’s shirt. He shook him and got in his face.