Escaped Daughter (Morrigan University #1)

6

Freshmen orientation was fine, interesting, but also nothing that couldn’t have been skipped. Honestly, they could have given us a packet of warnings on how to not be stupid freshmen and chum in the water for the other students looking to test what they’d learned on someone who was fair game.

Except the faculty clearly said they’d done that and no one had read it. So people were idiots, and now the freshmen had a required week to sit there and listen to all the warnings and lectures in-depth.

It was still better than living in the Shaw house, so I simply sat back and soaked up everything they told us… And pretended I wasn’t freaking out about my hearings with the High Council.

Wednesday came too fast and not fast enough. I dressed in business casual but professional for orientation, my hair in a tight braid that would stay out of the way and brought everything I needed with me. The second it was over, I headed for the student union to meet the time I scheduled my spell circle to take me to the High Council headquarters.

The worker who set it up gave me a sympathetic look before activating it. I couldn’t blame him. Most didn’t want to go to the High Council.

Ever.

But for me, it was a chance at my freedom and the life I wanted. I didn’t simply have my fingers crossed since the notice but my toes, legs—all of it.

When I arrived, I wasn’t shocked to find a dozen council guards flanking the only spot people could circle in. I blinked at them and cleared my throat, clutching the strap of my messenger bag.

“Bevin Shaw for two scheduled hearings with the High Council,” I stated as firmly as I possibly could.

“We need your ID and the summons you received, Ms. Shaw,” the one in front informed me, glancing at a tablet. “And then we’ll escort you to the hearing room.”

“Of course, thank you.” I quickly pulled out both, handing them over.

She checked them and gave both back after a moment. Then she nodded to another person behind me. “This is an anti-magic bracelet all guests wear who don’t have prior and full, extensive background checks for those who visit headquarters regularly. Also, anyone who is responding to a summons is required to have their magic voided until after the hearing is over.”

Smart, but I still swallowed loudly as the man moved closer with a cuff that would cut off my magic completely.

He must have seen my panic and gave me a kind smile. “It’s not a criminal hearing. It will come right back off once you’re away from the council members, I promise. It’s a standard safety precaution so no one files a request that has to be handled by them with the intent to harm them.”

“Right, of course, still terrifying,” I whispered as I held out my arm to him.

“It is. I hated it my first several times too.”

I yanked my arm back at the last second. “No lasting effects, right? I mean, it’s just like a dampener? No sucking me dry or…”

“No lasting effects. It’s more like a barrier to keep your magic locked into you and unable to come out, so not even as risky as a voider or dampener.”

“Okay, I consent.” I mentally rolled my eyes as I held out my arm when a few people chuckled. I’d been summoned by the High Council… I didn’t really need to consent at this point. They were our governing body, so it was like being dragged before a human judge and court.

They didn’t really ask.

I felt a bit drained once they put it on, like a caffeine crash but nothing more. After it was done, the nice security guy took over and led me down the main hall and to the set of double doors. He pointed to the red indicator light with a sign showing that a hearing was in process and a magical readout panel with the case number.

Who needed technology and digital when there was magic? No, that stuff was cool for sure, but looking at what was set up, I could tell it was all decades older than anything the humans had come up with. I wondered if someone in the magical community had figured out a way to invent such things with technology after seeing it was possible with magic or invested for humans to do it.

Both were fairly common.

“You were early,” the guy muttered as a few other groups joined us.

“I didn’t want to be late, and I didn’t know how long check-in would take,” I replied.

He nodded, giving me a soft smile that I was sure was meant to reassure me. We waited a bit longer and the other groups went in next for their hearing. I made sure to check my phone was on silent again and I had nothing else that would interrupt the hearing just to pass the time. I couldn’t think of anything extra I’d brought with me.

Because I was nervous, I went through all the copies of the paperwork I’d brought as we waited. I’d already submitted it all, but that was what fidgeting was. Finally, after another ten minutes, the indicator turned green and my hearing number appeared.

And my Father hadn’t shown yet.

No way I was so lucky he wouldn’t appear and I’d win by default… But that would be nice.

The guard showed me where to stand and moved next to me but slightly behind me as if guarding me. Interesting, but probably wise given who else was involved.

And I deeply appreciated it.

One minute before the hearing was to start, my father came breezing into the hearing room with my mother, grandmother, and four siblings. Really? It was going to be a full family affair?

Well, geez, why not bring all the aunts, uncles, and cousins and make it a circus like he probably wanted? It certainly didn’t have the effect he probably thought it did to show me I was all alone. No, it only made him look ridiculous and gave the council a prime example of why I wanted out of that family.

The council members were also coming in from the rear of the room and finding their seats, seeing that my father was only arriving now. Several seemed amused as they took in the room and how things were playing out.

“Now that all parties are gathered, we will begin the hearing,” the councilman in the middle stated before hitting the gavel on the raised desks they were all sitting at. “Begin the record. I, Councilman Reid, will be presiding over the request by one Bevin Shaw for disownment from the Shaw family.”

He stated the case number, date, and time before focusing on me.

“You were born Bevin Shaw and filed this request of your own free will of sound mind and body?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but of course, my father did first.

“Councilman, my daughter is just a girl throwing a childish fit, wasting the—” he started, but I cut in which shocked everyone.

“Yes, Councilman, I did and have wanted to file the request for over a decade,” I stated firmly. “I simply have the grounds now given I entered into an accord with my father that he broke as I outlined in my request.”

“Yes, he most certainly did,” the councilman sneered, giving my father a disgusted look. “And you will hold your tongue until spoken to, Mr. Shaw. This is a High Council hearing, not one of your shady business dealings you can talk all over people to get your way.”

“Yes, I apologize, Councilman,” he bit out. Oh, I bet that had to hurt.

Another councilman raised his hand to get the attention of Councilman Reid. “I’m not understanding what he could think to possibly argue here? The terms are straightforward, and he broke them cheating on the deal. We can see the magically binding agreement between them now that they’re both in the same room and the terms. Why is he even trying to contest?”

Councilman Reid slowly smiled like the cat that ate the canary. “I would suspect he’s figured out his daughter has more magic than he was led to believe.” His eyes locked with mine as I swallowed a flinch. “That potion was incredibly powerful and should have made you nearly comatose if not a slurring, drooling, incapacitated mess.”

Oh shit.

“And yet our investigation showed that was not the case. As we’ve already ruled on the evidence we received and punished those involved, your father was notified of the ruling and copies of the report. I would gather he deduced the same as we did, that you aren’t as weak magically as your family thought and is making one last-ditch effort to get you back under his control.”

Oh fuck .

“However, it won’t work. What he did as a father, as a person , is disgusting and he will be punished for it. To allow you to stay with a family who would treat you that way even if you are an adult is abhorrent and I won’t stand for it. There are a few things to handle first before I give the official ruling that you didn’t address in your request.”

“I don’t understand, Councilman,” I muttered, glancing between them.

“Clearly not as you’re a kind soul,” he said gently. “Do you wish to seek damages against the Shaws for what they did to you?” He smiled when my father and the others visibly flinched. “Yes, we ruled you were criminally liable for what was done to her and handed out punishment. She can ask for vast damages and yet you walked in here to try and still control her.”

I glanced at my family and shook my head. I didn’t want anything from them. “No, no thank you, Councilman. I simply want to be free of them.” Then I had another thought. “I would ask that a couple of the council aides oversee going to the Shaw estate and packing up my room and belongings. I think that best given the contentious circumstances if it’s not too much trouble.”

“Not at all and much less than you should ask for,” he praised.

“Now wait a minute, all of that was bought with Shaw money though,” Grandmother objected. “Why should she get any of it as she demands to no longer be a Shaw?”

“So you would take back gifts and allowances you gave a child?” another councilman asked, his tone disgusted. “Does she have any family heirlooms in her possession?”

Grandmother snorted, glancing at my two older sisters, clearly implying why would they waste family jewels or heirlooms on me when they had beauties like them in the family.

Yeah, I couldn’t imagine why I would be begging to get away from those people. And my father seriously thought this a whim and tantrum? He really was an idiot sometimes. For as smart as he was, his narcissism and pride made him completely blind.

“Then she may keep everything in her room,” that same councilman drawled. “Do you have anything anywhere else, young Bevin?”

“No, Councilman, the rest wasn’t mine and I was told that regularly,” I replied in an icy tone. It wasn’t directed at him, but I wasn’t going to hide what I’d endured anymore.

“Then I see no reason to drag this out anymore,” Councilman Reid decreed. “I hereby grant the order of disownment. The witch born Bevin Shaw is no longer of the Shaw family or has any ties to them and from this day forth they shall be strangers.”

“You cannot take it back once he rules,” Father hissed at me. “You will be left with nothing and a penniless pauper. No money for school or to live. You will die on the streets, and we’ll not let you beg at the door of the house for scraps if you betray us like this.”

I gave him a look full of hate I’d hidden all my years. “I’d rather die like that than let you sell me to whoever you want to benefit you believing you own me .”

The councilman banged the gavel and switched folders. “Now, on to your second request and case.”

“I have no second case,” Father objected.

“I wasn’t speaking to you ,” Councilman Reid chastised before looking at me.

To say my family was shocked was an understatement. I glanced over to see their mouths hanging open as the councilman went through the same procedure of the last case.

“You want to take the name Millen? ” Father demanded. “That wasn’t simply a whim? You want it legally over Shaw? ”

I ignored him and focused on Councilman Reid. “Yes, Councilman, I did file the request along with the proof that Henry Millen was my grandfather. He was born of the Millen family before mating into the Shaw family, and it was our plan for me to find a way to be disowned from the Shaws for over a decade and get free of them. Unfortunately, he’s gone and won’t get to see this day.”

“What?” Grandmother exclaimed.

“Quiet,” another councilman snapped before turning kind eyes on me. “I’m Councilman Oliveria and I knew Henry. Yes, he wanted this for you and asked me that if anything ever happened to him, that if you came to the council for help, I give it to you. I’m glad I can finally grant his request, and I hope it gives him peace with the gods to know you’ve made it and are safe now.”

“Thank you, Councilman.” I genuinely beamed at him and at hearing that. I should have known Grandfather had a backup plan should something ever happen to him. He wanted me away from my family for as long as I could remember so of course he would have.

The councilman nodded. “Of course, you may take his name as you are a blood relative. That leaves the matter of the Millen estate that’s been held in trust since his passing.”

“What estate? ” Grandmother demanded.

“Silence,” Councilman Reid snapped.

“With all due respect, Councilman, I will not this time as I am his widow ,” Grandmother replied, dipping her head and toning back her voice. “I apologize for my shocked outburst, which was wrong of me, but if my mate left an estate, it is only fair I at least know of it.”

Councilman Reid studied her a few moments and nodded. “While you’re not wrong, it wasn’t left to you . You are a Shaw and have the Shaw wealth. It’s well known that your family decimated everything the Millens once had and there was nothing left of that family. There’s not even one member of that family left.”

“Until now,” Councilman Oliveria chuckled. “And Henry was planning for this for when Bevin was free of your clutches. He planned to be alive for it, but in case he wasn’t, his will was undeniably clear that it was all left in trust to Bevin Millen .”

Councilman Reid took back over, flipping through a few pages. His eyebrows shot up as he read something. “You’re the owner of—”

“Yes, I am, Councilman,” I cut in, not wanting my family to hear that yet.

“What does my daughter own? ” Father demanded.

“That’s not your concern, Mr. Shaw ,” I purred before focusing on Councilman Reid again. “Yes, I own the company, but Grandfather kept it in the Millen family trust as I was underage and so my parents couldn’t touch it. I haven’t been able to touch any of it since his death other than advise the trustee how to move assets and handle certain aspects.”

“And that’s the attorney Henry set up,” Councilman Oliveria muttered. “Impressive. Truly.”

“Thank you, Councilman.”

He smirked out at Father and Grandmother. “Yes, she will be quite penniless and have nothing, begging in the streets. This is a much worse outcome than your selling her to a warlock that would stoop to drugging her with an aphrodisiac potion to take her purity.”

Councilman Reid cleared his throat. “On the topic of your purity—”

“I took the pregnancy test from the school’s healer this morning and it was negative,” I informed him.

“Thank you. I apologize for how distasteful it is to bring up now, but you understand it is normal procedure anyways and best to get it handled.”

I nodded. Normally, it wasn’t in a formal hearing, but all purities had to be registered and the outcomes reported so no babies were hidden or lost from the community. It was also a layer of protection in a sexist society as the other party received power from taking a purity… Which led to taking them by force. So being required to register it with the High Council made someone insane to do it that way.

My father simply thought he was smarter than everyone.

Idiot.

“Please make sure to take another test in a week and confirm the same results,” Councilman Reid muttered. “We will inform the other party who wishes to stay anonymous for now. Hopefully, you understand.”

I snorted. “Yes, very much so as I came here to petition to get away from my family as well. The last thing I want is for the man who saved me to get in their crosshairs.” I cleared my throat nervously. “I hope the report made it clear he did not take advantage or—”

“Yes, the investigators made special note you were adamant in clearing him of that charge,” Councilman Oliveria said gently. “He was ready to submit to any punishment given you were under the sway of the potion, but your statement was what pushed us to wave it.”

“Good, it wasn’t—I panicked when I realized the lengths my parents would go to and my purity was a liability. It truly wasn’t his fault. I wasn’t in my head, but he did not take advantage of me.” I cleared my throat as my face flushed, hating to admit that with everyone present, but I couldn’t stand the idea he’d gotten in trouble because of that.

Councilman Oliveria flipped through a few pages. “And this is the list of assets in the estate?”

“Wait, she can’t seriously inherit an estate that has pages of assets, can she?” my eldest sister, Jean, hissed at my mother.

“It should be six pages, Councilman,” I told him, biting back a smirk. “I confirmed with the trustee those were the ones I had to list to the High Council for brevity instead of my list that included every printer and chair.”

Several of the councilmen chuckled, Councilman Reid smiling at me as he replied. “We don’t normally have such honesty when we handle cases, so it’s refreshing but no, we don’t need to know what’s in the sock drawers either.” He waited until I nodded. “I believe the only other question we have is regarding the business.”

“It was my magic, not Grandfather’s, that started it,” I hedged, unsure of what issue there could be.

“Yes, of course, Henry states that in the trust,” Councilman Oliveria clarified. “Now that you’re of age, all magical businesses are normally listed in the directory. This one already is, but since you were underage and the ownership in trust, it was protected. We wonder if you want to take your ownership public.” He shot a worried glance at my parents which told me everything I needed to.

No. My answer needed to be fuck no . It would probably get out, but at least not for now and as long as I could keep it secret.

“I would prefer not, Councilman. My understanding is other businesses can run in good faith with the High Council’s blessing as they know who is behind them while protected with some layer of anonymity.”

“Yes, and I would advise your attorney to do just that now that you’ve inherited the trust and estate,” Councilman Oliveria warned. “If you wish for me to speak with him, I will gladly do so.”

“It would be my honor, and I thank you for your guidance. Grandfather set it up, and while I know the business and how to run it, know much more than most would suspect a woman my age to, the trust side and protecting myself is still complicated and dangerous.”

“I would say so given the value of the company alone,” he muttered, clearing his throat when he realized he might be giving away too much. He might want to turn the knife in my family’s back on what they’d missed, but it was still a weapon they could use against me if they pulled it out of themselves.

And they would.

“Well, we might request some attention and consideration directly from the owner when we shop her wares as payment for throwing our weight around and making sure you stay protected, Ms. Millen,” Councilman Reid teased me.

“Anytime, Councilman,” I agreed, dipping my head to them. “Even if I won’t publicize I own the company, the PR to say the High Council purchases from my company is priceless.”

“I already do,” one councilman admitted. “My whole family does and swears by everything we’ve bought. It’s the highest quality. I was skeptical given the price, but the value is truly there, and now I understand why the quantities are so limited and hard to get.”

My whole family was steaming at being out of the loop after that and brimming with curiosity. Yeah, well, fuck them.

“As lovely as it would be to spend all day discussing your plans now that you’re free or your company, we do have a full docket of cases,” Councilman Reid cut in when someone else seemed ready to comment. “Your request is granted, both the name and finalizing the inheritance of the estate. The processing papers will be sent to you and the trustee tomorrow. If there are any issues, please contact our office.”

“Thank you, Councilmen, truly.” I dipped my head deeply to all of them, smiling when he banged the gavel and announced the ruling officially.

And that was it. It was all done .

Wow.

So now I simply had to figure out what to do next.

Shit.