There was some resentment for the dragons because they helped with that, which of course meant that it spread to them all. The rumour mill was rife with not only speculation on who the new provost would be, but stories of Melody’s involvement. Many blamed her for Bestia coming to the academy in the first place. What they hadn’t realised, was that her aunt would have come anyway. With or without Melody’s help, her aunt Georgia wanted the Apex shifters.
Melody felt more isolated from the student body than ever. She was finally free of the threat over her head, finally able to socialise, to include people in her life. The trouble was, nobody wanted anything to do with her, and anyone who had any sympathy for her quickly had it wiped out by Shawna and her crew reminding them whose fault it was.
Nick told her that Justin had made a speech to the unattached shifters, and had made progress in getting them to support her, but it was quickly proven futile. Any shifter shown to socialise with her, was quickly ostracised by the witch students.
Somehow, Shawna had found out that she’d been questioned for hours by the American High Council, and didn’t hesitate to speculate loudly on Melody’s guilt any time she was near.
More and more, they stayed within the confines of the cottage.
Finally, on the fifth day, Mrs Hardinger knocked loudly on their door, Trent letting them know she was coming well before she arrived. Now that he had bonded to her, his senses had approved phenomenally. The others moved warily around him, but she didn’t understand why. Melody had never heard of anything like it.
Mrs Hardinger plopped herself on an armchair, Toby taking stance behind her.
“Well, how long do you plan on moping?” she asked, brusquely.
“I’m not moping,” Melody said, confused.
“You four barely leave the cabin, I’d call that moping.”
She sighed. “Mrs Hardinger …”
“Oh stuff that nonsense. We’re alone. You and you alone can call me Janet. Your boys haven’t earned it yet.” She flapped a hand at Melody for her to continue.
“J-Janet,” she said, falteringly. “We’re constantly under attack. The hexes are more numerous, and they’re nastier. Even sitting on the lawn outside we get hit by them, and we can’t even see who’s casting them. The only space we get peace is inside these walls, and we have to maintain barriers around the cabin anyway. It’s exhausting. Combined with my studies, I just don’t have the energy to put up with the rest of the shit. So we eat here.”
“So, you’re letting them win?” she pushed.
“No,” snapped Dean, protective of her. “We’re recovering. Nick used a lot of magic on those wards, he doesn’t have enough to help Melody protect us. She’s also worn out. We’re down a dragon, in case you hadn’t noticed. When Nick and Mel are back to full strength, then we’ll give them all a big fuck you, but we’re not parading our wounds as weaknesses.”
Mrs Hardinger sniffed. “Call it what you like, justify it how you want, but you’re still hiding.”
“Of course we’re hiding, Mrs Hardinger,” Melody snapped. “We don’t have the resources not to. What do you want us to do? Wear ourselves down to the nub so they can pin us down and do some permanent damage?”
“I told you, it’s Janet,” Mrs Hardinger snapped back. “And what I expected you to do was reach out for some fucking help. Just like I’m about to do.”
Melody sat back, taking a moment to process that.
“You’re not a big secret keeper anymore, Melody. You’re free, and you need to understand that. It’s okay to talk now, to reach out, to connect. There are people here who can help, at no risk to you or to themselves. It’s time you learned how to live in the real world.”
“You need help?” she asked, hesitantly.
“Good, that’s a good start. Caring for others, showing you care, and offering to help is a great start. Yes, I need your help. It’s going to be uncomfortable, and unpleasant and awkward, but it’s well within your wheelhouse. In fact, I think aside from Augusta and I combined, you’re likely to be the only person who can do this.”
Dread pooled in her stomach. The provost and Mrs Hardinger were powerful witches in their own right, if it took the two of them to do it together, then whatever it was required a lot of magic. Still, the counsellor had contributed a lot of her magic to the temporary wards around the academy, the same wards that were helping to keep her safe from her aunt. It was the least she could do to help out as thanks, no matter how dreadful it sounded.
“Of course I’ll help. I don’t know if I have enough magic yet, but I’ll help,” she said.
“It’s not about expending magic, well, not directly. It’s more about how much you could potentially expend.”
The feeling of dread grew more intense. She knew what Mrs Hardinger was going to ask of her. Yes, it was going to be awful, but it certainly was within her abilities.
“I’ll do it, where is he?” she asked.
The others looked at her in confusion, but she ignored them. The last thing she needed was drama over this.
Mrs Hardinger looked taken aback.
“I’m tired, Mrs … Janet. I’m not stupid. It’s kind of obvious when you think about it. Can we just get on with it?”
“Watch yourself, witch,” Toby growled, instantly setting off the shifters around her.
“Enough,” Melody snapped. “You’re right Toby, my apologies, Mrs Hardinger.”
The counsellor, however, turned on her familiar. “Now, see what you’ve done?
