“Good. My mate was also amused at how dismissive you were of the prime wolves they brought to introduce you to.”
I winced and noticed others in the room did. “Oblivious would be a better word. I didn’t realize until I was clued in later and while a woman admitting she’s dense on something isn’t ever smart, I prefer to be honest. I don’t like how everyone is rushing to throw men at me while most imply it’s to take me over and get me under control.”
“My mate did not—”
“I know. Or I didn’t know that for sure, but Zack and Ray were damn sure that’s not how wolves operate. I really just assumed they were part of the councilmens’ posses, and who they all were didn’t really matter to me. So no offense was meant, but…”
“But you don’t want to apologize for what you see as bad behavior of bringing men to you on the first meeting,” she offered.
“Yes, I like how eloquently you worded that, and I think it’s exactly what I’ve been trying to get across to people.” I sighed, wondering if I was going to go over the line. “The problematic part might actually be that they told people I didn’t turn any down when I have others. We think that might be what set people off in a tizzy, and might others. My mating a wolf would upset the balance.”
“As the vampire elders think they will have you cornered one day by mating a vampire once the warlock elders implode trying to control you, beat you down enough to tenderize you for an easier target.”
I couldn’t even get my mouth to work. I hadn’t ever once thought of that, and it was stupid that I hadn’t.
Except Mel was shaking her head.
Right, we knew more than Mrs. Brooks did.
“Have you heard that directly?” I hedged.
“No, through the grapevine, but a trusted source close to the mate of a vampire councilman. Why?”
“How long ago?”
“Over the summer. Why?”
“They made a different move during midterms, and that was a match between Blake Ward and I,” I answered. “She was the pawn for her council that had a plan with the warlock elders, and the goal was me. The victors planned to share the spoils. I think that might have been the plan until Darby and I broke up. Probably also when he was called in front of his council and he told them to kiss his arse.”
“There has been a lot more going on than we were aware,” she whispered, fear in her voice. “You are powerful, but you are just one young woman. This is all insanity.”
I snorted. “Tell me about it. But it’s not just my magical power. It’s my money. It’s my influence and I have it as a single woman, a young one even, and that goes against everything the warlock elders believe in, their power and control is held upon. This is bigger than me and they see that. Witches are standing up for more and fighting back. Their house of glass is cracking.”
“And if they don’t squash the source, it will shatter and fall. Oh dear.”
“Exactly.”
“Then you might want to hear out my other offer of help and help my nephew in the process.”
I bit back another sigh, guessing her plan. “How so?”
“He was one of the men there tonight to be introduced to you. However, he’s gay. However, I fear my brother will do something unthinkable if he finds out. I’m trying to educate him, let him see how—experience what he has been sheltered from and taught adamantly to hate. Until then, this buys us both some time and help.”
“I’m sorry, but no,” I whispered. “I—I can’t.”
She couldn’t even hide her shock. “Whyever not? He’s not—your own friend is a lesbian I’ve heard.”
“Yeah, that has nothing to do with it.” I did sigh then. “He’d be in serious danger being tied to me. Even for a ploy, it could risk his life. I won’t put him in that position, because if people find out—trust me, you don’t want him that close to me.”
She gasped and several of us winced. “You didn’t start this latest rumor that you have a fairy parent. Someone else is throwing out a theory that took off, but it is actually true. People would lose their minds if they could get their hands on a witch actually born of a fairy, confirmed, and maybe one of the last before the fairies returned to Faerie.”
“I never said that and I never said I was a witch,” I reminded her.
“Oh darling, I won’t out you, but you’re either a witch with all that power or a damn fairy yourself, and people would have outed you the moment you were found if that was true.”
I gave up several silent thanks and prayers I was as smart as I was and had handled that situation as I had. I was damn lucky I’d lasted a whole year with my secret. “Tanesha Jameston is incredibly powerful and has telepathy too.”
“Then you are illegally using a conduit to use magic before your graduation,” she countered.
“You were given special permission right off the bat given the threats against you and your control,” Craftsman jumped in.
It was complete bullshit, but I appreciated the back up and told it to her as well.
“Hmmm, it is maddening not knowing now that I’ve spoken with you. I can almost understand how you have those men in such a tizzy. No one goes against them, and they’re completely sure you’re a witch. A lowly witch, and you not only don’t obey them, but they can’t even jump through your hoops to confirm you’re one of theirs.”
“Life is full of disappointments,” I drawled. “I’ll
