When I fixed Faerie and figured out what happened to all the fairies, I was going to kick all their fucking asses for allowing this, and more, to ever happen. Dipshits.
21
It really only took me a day to recover with magic and how much the hobgoblins fed me. Still, I wasn’t an idiot and next did a super simple place to snatch hobgoblins out of before spending the rest of the day stuffing my face and relaxing.
The rest of the week was chill besides McGrath trying his next attempt to get in with me. It was lame, asking about my interest in cooking as he’d heard I made wonderful curry. He loved spending time in the kitchen as it was just like potions and blah, blah, blah. It was all lies. I heard in his thoughts that he could barely use his rice cooker, which was idiot proof.
Which made it really hard not to laugh as he lied his ass off.
And even better when he hinted he wanted to see the expansive chef’s kitchen I must have. I shrugged and told him it was basically Irma’s now. so I left everything to her. Then, I focused back on my assignment, completely brushing him off and shutting down his well-thought-out ploy.
Larson knew something had happened to me, but from the smirk on his face, he’d figured out what it was and I was up to. Reports were all over on Saturday that the one kidnapping hobgoblins had been killed trespassing and breaking into an estate.
That was hysterical since all the hobgoblins were accounted for and had asked for sanctuary. Even funnier?
When more went missing on Sunday. I wasn’t the only one who was dying when the first reports the news had gotten it wrong, and that asshole had to admit his hobgoblins were gone as well. That, and he hadn’t really killed me, no body found.
What wasn’t funny was the press conference that came on during dinner Friday night. We all flinched and went quiet when someone put up magical screens all over the cafeteria, getting something big was going on.
Dread filled me when Katrina Calloway came into view since we weren’t only tied together in business, but I genuinely cared about the witch and thought her my friend.
“Effective immediately, I am dissolving my partnership with the hobgoblin co-op and all their businesses,” she announced to the supe media cameras. “My esteemed council brought me before them today and ordered me to use my relationship with them to figure out who is ‘stealing’ the hobgoblins from their owners, and to spy on Tamsin Vale.
“It was the first time in my long life I was ashamed to be a witch. I told them no, that it broke our laws, and I had to deny their request and ask them to take the time to reevaluate what they were asking me to do. I practically begged them to pray to the gods on their path and seek guidance as they have lost their way if they ask this of me. The response I received was disgusting. I am disgusted with our council.”
Several people in the cafeteria gasped, others looked as if their eyes might bug out, as Katrina was always careful to keep neutral as often as she could.
“I was informed that the allowances I had as a witch had clearly made me irrational, and it was time for me to be mated to a warlock who could manage my affairs as they should be. One who would be loyal to them and clearly lick their boots and had no morals. It was also made clear to me that the fact I have breasts means my intelligence is lower than men somehow.
“I’d like to see the science on that, but given how far I’ve come in business when other men have failed, I think I personally disprove those theories. But our councilmen have actually put it on their calendar to start working on my mating interviews as I have too much power as a woman to them. That is the world we live in. That is acceptable behavior to them.
“They see any woman with a brain, means of her own, and a voice as a threat, and would go against our most solemn law of forcing a mating—which is a death sentence by the gods—to keep control of us. They used a rune to silence me when I tried to argue this. They tried to force me to speak on my clients and what I know already, but I have never, not ever, betrayed a client.
“I have turned in Underground and criminals, as our society is one of order and good people who deserve to be protected. I will never betray my clients for greed, corruption, or power.” She held up her arm and pulled up her sleeve to show she had a magical memory tattoo. “And I never will. All Calloways have these tattoos.
“The councils know this and tried to break mine today. For one woman they want to own and take everything she has, all her power. That is our council and their vast corruption. So for all of you who blame Tamsin Vale for all she’s done to our world and the problems she’s caused, hear me and listen well. She did not do this. They did. They did this to me because they want power.
“They want her power. Today, they came for mine and are trying to take it by forcing me to mate. Tomorrow, they will come for yours if we allow this. I
