Sure, or maybe a giant alien from a popular movie in the seventies.
“Are there any of the above?”
Before he could respond, I heard my name, and I turned to find Dad sprinting toward the lake. He was wearing his favoritebrown corduroy suit, and had clearly been in the middle of a class. “I called for him when you went under,” Professor Mordocksaid from my side.
“What grabbed me in the lake?” I asked him, keeping my gaze on Dad. Seeing him had my eyes burning as I fought the urge tocurl up into a ball and sob, but I needed answers before I fell apart.
“There are no monsters in the lake,” he told me quietly. “Small fish, a few amphibians, but absolutely nothing with the strengthor capability to drag a student down that fast. I couldn’t find you.”
“How did Logan get to me, then?”
He was silent, and I turned to see his grim expression. “He’s a spellcaster. Even in water, their abilities far outreach mine.You should thank him, because he absolutely saved your life.”
Did he though? The facts weren’t adding up. Because if it wasn’t a monster, and I disappeared faster than a water elemental could track, then it stood to reason that Logan was still theonly one capable of the attack in the first place. But why had he attacked and then saved me?
Had it just been a way to break me?
If it was that stalkcaster behind it all, there was no way I’d let him know I was rattled. Fuck that. I’d deal with the darknesssettling in my brain and I’d come out stronger on the other side.
“There’ll be an investigation,” Professor Mordock added, when our silence extended. “I promise you, Paisley. If there hasbeen a magical attack against a student, whoever is responsible will not only be expelled but charged before the elders.”
If it was Logan, they’d never find evidence of it.
“Paisley!” Dad hauled my soaking form up into his arms, holding on like his life depended on it. “Sweetheart, you’re okay.Thank the goddess. Thank the goddess.”
He held me for a long time, and I finally allowed myself a few seconds to fall apart, hot tears soaking my dad’s shirt. “Whatthe Hel happened?” he snapped over my head.
“She was dragged under,” Professor Mordock replied, voice subdued. “A student called for me, and I went after her, but therewas no sign, Tom. The water wasn’t murky, and I can see for many feet around me, but it was as if she’d vanished.”
Pushing my hand onto Dad’s arm, he finally released me, and I wiped away the last of my tears. The two professors were facingoff, one puffed up and pissed off, the other looking beaten.
“Logan Kingston saved me, Dad,” I rasped.
Dad’s face turned a startling magenta, and I hoped he wasn’t about to explode fire everywhere. The heat of his power had alreadydried me and my swimsuit off.
“Impossible,” he snapped, flames flashing in his eyes. “Logan had to be the one to pull you down.”
Professor Mordock furrowed his brow as he looked between Dad and me. “He wasn’t anywhere near the water when she went under. Even a spellcaster would need to be closer than he was. That boy is a hero.”
Dad looked about as convinced that Logan was a hero as he was that his favorite football team were making it to the playoffs.And they were dead last on the leaderboard.
“You should get her up to see a healer,” Professor Mordock pushed gently. “She was without oxygen for almost two minutes.”
And thought she saw a monster.
Dad, those flames still dancing in his eyes, gave me his full attention again. Whatever he saw in my face had the hard linesof his face softening. “Let’s get you back to the school, Little Gem. We’ll take you to the healers.”
“No,” I mumbled. “I’m fine, I just need to rest.” From the corner of my eye, I could see Belle waiting for me, and I shother a weak smile while mouthing,Go. I’d see her later.
Her worried gaze flashed between Dad and me, before she nodded and blew me a kiss.
Dad wrapped his arm around me, and all but carried me to the school and up the stairs into the Ancot building. “I think youshould leave Weatherstone,” he said, the first words he’d spoken since we left the lake.
He started to direct me away from my dorm, but I stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Dad, I feel fine. I just want to goto my room. Please.”
I expected him to refuse, but as he examined my face, his crumpled. Just this brief moment of grief. “Okay, sweetheart. ButI will be sending a healer up later to check on you.”
There was no point in arguing, because I had a much bigger problem on my hands. “I’m not leaving Weatherstone, Dad,” I saidsoftly through my aching throat. “Logan saved my life so he’s not a threat.”
