It was hard to tell if he meant that literally or not. When the fire took him over, darkness clouded his gaze, and for onceDad didn’t reprimand him about it.
My family stayed until the healers kicked them out so I could get some rest. “She’ll be released in the morning. Come backat 8:00 a.m.,” Maddy told them. With reluctance and final hugs, they left the room, and the cool, dark silence surroundedme.
“Okay, one more round of healing before you sleep,” Maddy said as she added more energy and tinctures to my body, before leavingme to rest.
In my drowsy state, I was almost asleep when I felt a power brush across my skin. It wasn’t the power of the healers; it wasmuch stronger than anything I’d felt tonight, forcing my blurry eyes open, I searched for the source, and found a hulkingshadow to the side of my bed.
I thought I caught a glimpse of green eyes, but when I focused again, the room was empty of shadows and scary spellcasters.
Exhaustion dragged me under as I succumbed to the sleep my body required to heal.
Chapter 16
“Just think of us as your personal bodyguards,” Trevor said the next morning when we left the healing wing. “Outside of gettingto class, from now on you’re not traveling anywhere on weekends or after hours without one of us present.”
As much as I wanted to protest, I wouldn’t, not if it meant staying at Weatherstone. “Your mother wants to see you,” Dad toldme, face serious as he stood with my siblings. “I know you’ve been chatting to her on the landlines, but with this being thesecond attack on you in the first month of school, she’d like to physically see you.”
“Organize a weekend home for us all, Dad.” Jenna’s face lit up at the thought. “I think we could all use the break.”
Dad nodded. “Okay, I’ll square it away with Victor, and let you know when we’re heading home.” He pressed a kiss to my cheek.“We have a staff meeting about the attack now, so I’m leaving you in your siblings’ capable hands. Get some rest.”
A Saturday staff meeting, that was some serious shit.
“Promise, Dad,” I told him.
“She’ll rest if I have to sit on her to make it happen,” Jenna called after Dad’s departing back. My ribs, still mildly bruised,ached at the mere thought.
True to their word, my family walked with me, and if I wasn’t mistaken, all of them were channeling their power closerto the surface. Jenna’s and Alice’s hands were stained green and brown, which meant they’d been cooking up some spells. Jensen’s energy felt cool, the particles of water and air hovering across his skin. And Trevor was all heat, offsetting the cool calm of the others.
“Should we take shifts outside her door while she rests?” Trevor asked like I wasn’t standing right there with them.
“Absolutely not,” I cut in before anyone else could say a word. “I’m safe in my room. I doubt that asshole will attack againwhile the school is in an uproar over it. A Saturday staff meeting, guys. They’re taking it seriously.”
I fully intended to report my attacker, because I’d seen that look on his face last night—he planned on killing me, and hewould not be happy that he’d failed.
Kingston will thank me for this.
“He hasn’t been caught yet,” Alice reminded me with a waver in her voice.
“I know.” I grasped her hand. “And I’m so sorry. I know how freaked out you all must have been. I’d have lost my shit if itwas one of you hurt. But I’m just going to rest in my room. I promise.”
They left me with reluctance, after searching my room twice and promising they’d be back very soon to check on me. “I loveyou, guys,” I called after them.
“We love you too, Pais,” Jenna said. “Don’t scare us like that again.”
Trevor’s expression was hard and feral, and I knew he still blamed himself for leaving with Belle. My brother, for all hisbravado, was a protector, which was why I gave him an extra hug as he left. “It’s not your fault,” I whispered. “You’ve alwaysprotected me, and this is no different.”
His chest made a deep rumbling sound, and I had to pullback when the heat grew too intense. “When I find out who did this, I’m going to kill them.” He repeated the threat from last night, and there was no indication he was kidding.
“You’ll have to get behind me and Simon first,” Alice said fiercely, and all of us stared at the gentle sprite who was threateningWeasel with her sheep.
“Come on, let her rest,” Jenna called, already outside the door. “We’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
“Okay, bye,” I said.
When they were gone, I closed the door firmly and checked the lock. Exhaling one long breath, a few minor pains let themselvesbe known, but it was nothing compared to last night. The healers had done an incredible job, and with rest I’d be as goodas new. Although, rest didn’t arrive for a while as Belle, Haley, and Sara banged on my door not ten minutes later.
Belle was already crying, fat tears slipping down her cheeks as she rubbed her red nose. “I can’t believe we left you. I thoughtMarcus would have stayed with you.” She sobbed as I hugged her tightly.
