Escaped Daughter (Morrigan University #1)

3

The week of seminar was boring but definitely worth signing up for. It gave us all the inside contacts none of normal information said that we would need to survive the place and outlined way more than any underclassman would know.

And it gave me a lead on a project I’d wanted to get started on since I was five and would give me course credit if I could find a faculty sponsor… Researching witches and warlocks who could talk to animals. Why them? What was the reason they were able to? Why was it so rare?

Perfect for me, right? Awesome. I could use the answers, and with one of the largest magical libraries at my disposal, it would be perfect. I also had the perfect cover since I didn’t have a familiar and people thought I was magically lacking. To anyone looking in, I would seem a desperate freshman trying to figure out why I hadn’t found my familiar yet.

Win-win to me.

I was heading to get a caffeine fix—and possibly my first addiction—before I got started on outlining a premise so I could find a sponsor when someone bumped into me.

“Oh, shit, I’m so sorry,” a deep voice said as he grabbed my arm before I fell over. I wasn’t that fragile. He was built that solidly.

I blinked up into pretty blue eyes and wondered if he worked weekends as a wall since ouch .

“I’m sorry, totally my fault,” he mumbled when I didn’t reply. “I wasn’t paying attention.”

“It’s fine,” I finally muttered as I found my feet. “Thanks for the save.”

“It was my fault.”

I shrugged. “Not everyone would still care to help.”

He snorted. “They should.” He guiltily gestured with his cellphone. “Sorry, my ma was—she thinks I lose my brain when I come back to school. I’m a senior now. I’ve survived three years and—I should have been paying attention.”

“It’s fine,” I repeated, shocked to hear a parent would care so much more than someone my age was distracted with their phone.

“Are you hurt?” he worried when I rubbed my shoulder. “I knocked you hard.”

“You are built like a wall,” I joked, mentally wincing when he frowned deeper. “I’m really fine.” I righted my bag and stepped towards the counter, but he moved with me.

“Let me at least get your order.”

I slowly nodded. That seemed nice… But within the realm of normal. Maybe flirty as he glanced at my chest too, but okay. “Sure, thanks.” I turned to the guy behind the register who was watching all of this with amusement. “I’ll have a medium beckin’ blue latte please.”

“Umm, make it two, thanks,” the guy chuckled. He handed over his card to the cashier and smiled at me. “You’re an addict as well?”

“I’m not sure it’s an addiction yet as I’ve just started drinking them, but it might be getting there,” I admitted.

He raised an eyebrow at that. “Just started? They’ve been all the rage for months.”

I shrugged as I stared at the menu and away from his curious gaze. “Conservative parents who aren’t fans of fads.”

“Ahhh, I know the type. My dad’s more like that whereas my mom is always curious about everything.”

I gave a polite nod since I was unsure of what to really say. I hadn’t talked much to people on campus besides a few in my seminar with pleasantries or asking questions, and I certainly wasn’t socialized as well as most people my age. One would think that would be a requirement for someone from an important magical family.

And for my siblings it was. They had lived very different lives from me including etiquette lessons and finishing school for my older sisters. I was left a blank slate to be trained by whoever paid the most for me.

Yes, it disgusted me as well. The only consolation it gave me was it also allowed me to form my own brain and opinions unlike my sisters who were trained from an early age.

He grabbed our drinks when they were ready before I could get mine and headed over to the fixing station. “How do you take yours?”

“I can do it,” I muttered, thinking that was a bit weird.

“Oh, yeah, of course,” he chuckled, handing one over with a smile. “If you’re new to them I was going to share my secret.” He leaned in as if sharing something special while clearly still amused. “Cinnamon. I put in a bit of cinnamon. Gives it a slight kick of flavor and I tell myself that it’s healthy then.”

I couldn’t help but smile. That was pretty adorable. “I don’t think that’s how it works.”

“Leave me to my delusions if you please,” he grumbled. “How do you take it?”

“I add a bit of sugar, but I’ll try your way.” I took off the lid and handed it over. I rolled my eyes when he smiled. “If you make a crack about ‘sugar and spice and everything nice’ I’m walking away and mocking you the rest of the night.”

He froze in taking the drink from me but then recovered. “Too easy, right?”

“And lame.”

“Ouch.”

I snickered and leaned over for napkins while he sprinkled in cinnamon. “You’ll live, I’m sure of it.”

“Probably. Maybe if you give me your name.”

“Lame.”

“Don’t I get points for not being smooth so you know I’m not some huge playboy that chases just any cute girl?”

“No, as you had that line ready.” I grabbed the sugar when he handed my drink back and added what was about two teaspoons before mixing it all together. I put the lid back on and took a sip, shocked he was right and it was way better with that little fix. “Bevin.”

“So a way to a girl’s heart is her coffee, got it.”

“I don’t think girls are supposed to drink coffee, but I hear it works for women,” I threw back, smirking at him. I hated how boys were always little boys, but men were high school and above. Yet females were girls until like thirty.

It was crap, and I was done accepting any crap. From the moment I left my parents’ house I had promised myself I was over accepting any crap, bullshit, or lies since I didn’t have to anymore.

His eyes flashed shocked like he didn’t expect that sass from me—which surprised me since he didn’t know me—but then he smiled. “Sorry, I have a little sister, so it’s reflex.”

Lame, but I’d let it slide. “Well, thanks for the coffee secret. Have a nice night.” I turned for the door and was about to push it open when a larger hand beat me too it.

“Um, where are you headed?”

“Why? So you can tell me it’s shockingly the same place?” I teased.

“How else am I supposed to spend more time with you to get your number?”

“You didn’t even give me your name,” I reminded him as he opened the door.

“Gregg. I’m Gregg.” He held out his hand once we were on the sidewalk. I noted the way his bigger hand swallowed mine up as we shook yet he was still gentle with me. Nice.

“Lovely to meet you, but I have to get going. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

“The library,” he blurted. “I’m headed to the library to do some research on my senior project before I help with freshman orientation this week.”

I studied him for a moment, wondering if it was true. Maybe. I hadn’t said I was going back to my dorm to shut him down, so that left limited options before campus was fully open.

Either way, it was where I was going and wouldn’t hurt to make a senior friend as long as he wasn’t annoying. If he was, then I could simply head out to my dorm. No harm, no foul. That was how normal people did it.

Right?

“Me too,” I admitted. “Not for a senior project but an independent study one I’m hoping I can get a faculty sponsor for.”

“Cool, so no reason we can’t hang at the library on a Friday night together,” he pushed, giving me a devilishly handsome smile.

One he knew was good.

“As long as you don’t plan on following me home as well. That crosses into stalking,” I warned as I headed towards the library knowing he would follow. It wasn’t simply his words but… I was good-looking. It wasn’t even being full of myself or narcissism like my father.

Or my mother for that matter.

I was industry-standard good-looking. My features were. I was five-eight, lean with athletic muscle, a pert ass, and large breasts that people mocked as all padding or an early boob job. They were annoying when I went for a run, but even I had to admit they were really nice.

My face was appealing and I took care of my skin. Everything was symmetrical, my amethyst eyes alluring, large, and framed with long eyelashes. My strawberry blonde hair was a long mane down to my ass that I normally wore in braid and I knew to be a feature as well.

I was attractive… So what? So were lots of people. I didn’t put all my stock in that or think it made me something special. I simply accepted it as part of who I was, and I was confident in it as I was my intelligence. That was one of the few rare perks of growing up so secluded—no one else’s opinion tore me down. I learned early my family were monsters and to ignore them.

From there it was only what I thought. I thought I was attractive and felt no shame in my body. Honestly, from what I saw on social media, I wished more women could feel that about themselves.

Maybe simply skip the crazy way I grew up. Yeah, that would be best.

Gregg followed, asking me about the seminar and how I liked it. At first, it was awkward since I hadn’t told him I was part of it, but it was probably obvious I was a freshman the way I still took everything in with a bit of awe… And since freshmen weren’t really on campus yet besides for the seminar—he clearly put it together.

I scoped out a table in the area where I would find the books I wanted to start with. I didn’t know what he was looking up, but he could join me or not since I really wanted to get the work done. From what I’d heard, it was hard for a freshman to get an independent study project faculty advisor, and I wanted to get my proposal polished and in first.

“Sure, here’s fine,” he chuckled as he set down his stuff. “Nice and away from the main area.”

I frowned, glancing around and realizing we were at the back part of the library. “It’s by my materials. There won’t be a lot of people before campus opens and on a Friday night.”

“I know. I was teasing, Bevin.”

I nodded, not sure what to say again. I set everything down and went for the first shelf, picking a few books to start with. After getting situated, I finally got to enjoy my latte, glad it had cooled off some so it was warm but not hot. It was still pretty hot during the day in August in Vermont.

Plus, it was damn good, so it was half gone fast.

“Your research is about people who can talk to animals?” Gregg muttered as he looked over what I had. “Looking into why you don’t have a familiar?”

I flinched, meeting his gaze, completely startled. “I didn’t tell you I don’t have a familiar.”

“Yes, you did.”

“No, I didn’t.” I was completely certain of that. I would never have told him that. I never did or brought it up.

He gave me a soft smile. “How else would I have known?”

Yes, that was exactly my question. I was distracted when I suddenly felt hot, waving my shirt to cool myself off as I glanced around for a vent. “Is the heat on in here?”

“Maybe. Sometimes they mess up the settings,” he muttered. “You want me to get you some water?”

“Yes—no—how—I didn’t tell you I don’t have a familiar,” I said firmly, ignoring that my skin was tingling as if every nerve came alive at once. “Shit, hot.” I pushed to my feet and waved my shirt faster.

“You are,” he chuckled. “You’re all flushed too.”

I blinked and he was standing in front of me. He cupped my face and leaned his head down. I flinched and turned my head, trying to pull away, but he kissed my cheek still… And I moaned when he pressed his lips to my ear.

What. The. Fuck?

“Oh, so you like some naughty in the library, huh? You’re a good girl until it’s Friday night in the back corner and then you want to get dirty. Is that what you need, Bevin?”

I shook my head as something roared inside of me, a groan coming out of my mouth when he kissed along my neck and his hand moved to my ass to pull me closer. He squeezed it hard and said some other stuff, turning on a dime from the dorky sweet guy.

Especially when he called me a slut .

That snapped me out of it fast, pushing at his chest until he met my gaze. “You didn’t just put cinnamon in my drink.”

A slow grin formed on his lips, the bastard’s eyes dancing with amusement and victory . “I don’t know what you mean.”

I started fighting then, knowing I was fucked and in danger, but whatever he’d given me was making me spin too.

“Of course you do, I felt the magic,” a deep voice said from behind us as Gregg was yanked away from me.

“This doesn’t concern you,” Gregg growled.

“Yeah, I’m going to walk away after finding her in this state and you all over her,” the large man drawled as he pushed me behind him. I felt magic flare as I gripped onto him for support. “What did you give her?”

“An aphrodisiac potion,” Gregg said in a monotone voice.

“How did you acquire that? There’s no chance you know how to make one,” he snapped with a growl.

“Her parents. They want us mated. She would lose their deal with this.”

Un-fucking-real. I wanted to be surprised my parents would go to the lengths of having someone drug and really rape me to cheat and win our deal but… I actually wasn’t. I blinked back tears. I truly was a possession to them to use as they wanted. They didn’t care one ounce for me and what that would do to me.

And then to mate me to the person who had done it to me was beyond horrible. I would probably have rather died.

“Report to campus security and confess all you’ve done,” the man ordered. “Turn yourself in and any proof you have.”

“I need it all on the record to get free of them,” I panted, the potion wreaking havoc on my body. But it was actually easier to focus now that I knew the reason and what was going on.

At least for the moment.

“I’ll get it for you,” the man promised. “Little Shaw.”

Fuck. So he knew who I was too.

He chuckled. “Yes, there are dozens of us who know. You didn’t think your parents would truly let you come here with any anonymity—did you?”

So I’d said that out loud. Whoops. And no, I knew my parents would be assholes.

I steadied myself enough to collect my things and ignored the books I’d taken out. Gregg picked up his bag and like a robot headed off to do what he was ordered.

“Let’s get you out of here before someone else finds you in this state,” the man worried. He took my hand in his, and I looked up to meet the sexiest grass-green eyes that made me feel like I was calm and with nature for a moment. He also snagged my drink so no one would happen upon it and led me out of the library.

I stumbled along, barely able to keep up until I clutched onto his arm. I thought he was going to toss the drink, but then I realized he was maybe keeping it for evidence? Yeah, that made sense as our police or council could trace the magic of the potion back to my parents.

Oh fuck, they were going to hate that .

Well, I hated them, so it seemed rather fair.

We left the library faster than I kept up with and then went into the next building or another over. I wasn’t sure which but not even long enough for me to worry people might see me or stare we were in a large classroom or small lecture hall. Yeah, a small lecture hall.

Why did I really fucking care which it was right then? Seriously?

I flinched when he locked the door behind us and let him go, waving my shirt again to try and cool off. I watched as he set my drink off to the side, so he clearly was keeping it for evidence. “You know who I am.”

“I do,” he confirmed, studying me closely. “You’re the youngest Shaw.”

“You aren’t working with them if you saved me,” I surmised, studying him right back.

He snorted. “They wouldn’t ever work with me, and the feeling is very mutual.”

“If you hate the Shaws… Why save me?”

He glanced away and cleared his throat. “What deal did you make with your parents?”

“I want to be disowned.”

He slowly looked at me with wide eyes but then smiled. “I was right about you. You’re not like the rest of them.”

It was my turn to snort. “Not in the slightest.” I felt lightheaded when the truth hit me. “My purity. They wanted him to take my purity.”

“Yes, I gathered as much,” he said gently.

“No, they would have known…” I managed to snap my mouth shut even if the potion was making my tongue loose.

“Known what?” he muttered. “They want to sell you because you don’t have any magic.” He crossed his arms over his chest when I didn’t answer. “That’s what is said yet you got in here. What are you hiding?”

“Lots. You?” I mocked his stance, but that just made me warmer, and desire flooded me as an insane idea hit me. I couldn’t keep my purity. As long as I had it, my parents would try to tie me down this way. “So you’re not in league with them. You don’t want to be involved with a Shaw.”

“No, and no, never.”

“You should have it.”

“What?”

I nodded as I started unbuttoning my top. “You should have it. That’s how the story goes, right? You saved the damsel from the villain, so you get her.”

“Woah, I think that’s normally a kiss,” he hissed as I finished with the buttons and yanked it off. “Fuck, you have nice tits.”

“They’re better without the bra,” I promised. “Call it inflation or the flow of times that it’s not a kiss but my purity.” I reached behind me and undid the clasp of my bra.

“Hold on, now, I just—oh fuck, they really are.” He groaned as my bra fell to the floor. “You’re making it hard to be a gentleman when you’re fucking drugged , little Shaw.”

“Bevin. I hate being a Shaw.”

“Bevin, I’m trying to be good here,” he moaned as I undid my braid and belt, toeing off my shoes.

“Can you undo the potion?”

“Um, no, and I doubt that your parents will admit it anytime soon so we can whip up an antidote.”

“And these normally don’t stop until I’m out of my head or…” I unzipped my jeans and wiggled out of them, taking my cheeky panties with them. “Do you not want to fuck me?”

“Any man with a pulse would want you,” he growled. “You’ve been drugged .”

I stepped out of my clothes, completely naked, and walked over to him, noting how he fisted his hands as he watched my body move before meeting my eyes. Placing my hands on his chest as I stared up into his pretty eyes, I smiled.

“I won’t regret giving you my purity, I swear it . It’s a liability they will use against me. I didn’t think of this. I should have. You are the safest bet to not tell them my secrets after you saved me. I will be mortified I got naked and threw myself at you, sure, especially if you reject me, but I won’t regret this. You’re seriously hot, and I’m dying for you to touch me. Please. Please take it.”

“Fuck, fuck, fuck , you just had to beg,” he moaned, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them. He licked his lips as he stared down at me. “This might make me a rat bastard for giving in while you’re drugged, but I’m not a strong enough man to resist when you are a fucking goddess and beg me after stripping. I’m just not.”

That had kind of been the point, but I was glad it worked at least.

Or I hoped it worked out.

Fifty-fifty shot?