He was repeating what I’d thought only minutes ago, but somehow it still felt as if I’d been struck by lightning, my cellsthreatening to explode from the intensity. I reached out to grab him, to demand answers, but he disappeared on me. Just asMarcus had done, he stole the elements, and let them whisk him out of the water and over the hill toward the school.
“What the fuck, Logan!” I shouted after him. “You’re the most infuriating asshole.”
My heart was pounding. I couldn’t explain why, but his words had created a visceral reaction that seeped through mybody like poison. Or fresh, foreign blood infusing with my own and leaving a new witch in its wake.
It took a long time to get myself under control, but after I left the water, I spent the rest of the day searching for Logan.When I found him, I would not let him leave without answers. No more cryptic bullshit. He knew more than he was telling me,including all the weird shit that had happened in Weatherstone this year.
Of course, there was not a single sign of him anywhere in the school. Or Noah, who was also on my list to corner and demandanswers from.
“You okay, Pais?” Belle asked that night as I played with my dinner, moving roast potatoes around my plate. Beside us, Saraand Haley were in a lively debate about a book that Sara had finally caved and read. She’d hated it, and Haley was takingit personally, which would have been hilarious if I wasn’t so distracted.
“Worried about your dad?” Belle pushed as she popped a carrot into her mouth and chewed slowly.
“Absolutely,” I said, because it wasn’t a lie. “I overheard Mom and Dad talking, and they said if he loses his job they mighthave to leave their coven. And you know what happens when we don’t have a coven.”
Belle pressed her lips together, her eyes shinier than before. “Damn, Pais. You should have told us sooner. I’m so sorry.I’m going to ask Dad to put in a good word for Professor Hallistar. This is not fair.”
Normally I’d be thrilled by an elder speaking up for Dad, but Elder Monroe had shady motives when it came to me and my family.“You’re amazing,” I said, clearing my throat against a tide of emotions. “But your dad is so busy, it doesn’t feel right toinvolve him. At least not before we know the school’s decision.”
Belle, thankfully, didn’t show any sign that she thought this was a weird rebuke. “Just let me know. Dad and I have been getting along better since parents’ weekend. He’s calling constantly, asking me for updates about everything, and my friends, and it’s . . .” Her smile got all misty. “Like I finally have a real father.”
Every warning alarm in my body went off. It wasn’t the trickle down my spine, because this wasn’t monster related. Or it wasa monster of a different kind. Belle went back to eating, happy again, and I wished I’d found that book already. I neededto know what her father knew so I could figure out what hisendgamewas. As much as I hated that word tonight.
I had some goals when we returned home after graduation. I’d be getting a job to help financially until sophomore year started,I was going to read those letters from Gran, and I would find that book Elder Monroe mentioned.
I had just over two months to get it all done, and I was determined not to return to Weatherstone as a naive witch in January.
“How did all your assessments go?” I asked Belle, changing the subject.
“Excellent.” She smiled, relief relaxing her shoulders. “I’ve been studying my ass off, and it’s so nice to have a break.The assessors said that I’m a powerful water elemental with a strong aptitude for curses and hexes.” She shrugged. “No realsurprises. I hope that when we graduate, I might be able to find a job in an apothecary.”
“I was thinking of a similar job,” I said with a spark of excitement. “I feel at home surrounded by herbs and nature, mixingup spells. I’d like a touch of peace in my life.”
Belle grasped my hand, genuine happiness creasing her features. “Let’s put all our focus in apothecary studies and start planning for the future. Maybe we can work together aftersenior graduation. When are your final assessments? Friday still?”
I nodded. “Yep, and I’m shitting myself. They asked Marcus to tail me for classes so he could assess the possibilities ofme being a spellcaster, but Logan interfered at the lake today, so I barely got to show him anything.”
Belle leaned closer, eyebrows drawing together as her happiness morphed into concern. “Logan interfered?”
“That’s got to mean something, right?” Sara chimed in, having finished arguing with Haley, who was pouting and clutching thebook to her chest, like she could protect it from Sara’s harsh critique.
“He’s jealous,” Belle decided, nodding her head. “I’ve seen the way he watches Paisley. He likes her.”
He did watch me, but she missed that darkly calculating glint in his gaze. This wasn’t just a simple case of lust or chemistry,though we had an overabundance of both. It was more. “I don’t think it’s that he likes me,” I told them. “I think he’s tryingto work out the mystery of my power. I’m a riddle that he must solve. Once he does, he’ll lose all interest.”
Our endgame was written when you were four.Those words were on repeat in my head, but I couldn’t let them sway me.
“If they think you’re a spellcaster too,” Haley said, since they were all aware of this rumor, “is there a way that all spellcastersconnect? Maybe that’s why Logan is drawn to you?”
“Marcus could feel his powers,” I admitted.
“Marcus, who is also attracted to you,” Belle reminded me, though I wasn’t sure that was strictly true after months of himignoring me. “Dad told me that spellcasters can feel power but they can’t connect to each other.”
We all looked at her, and she shrugged. “He’s been raving on about the spellcasters lately. There’s some dissension in the European ranks, and the elders are worried they might beplanning on rising up. Which could spill over here. But they can’t all connect their power up. I don’t know what is happening with Logan and Paisley, but it’s not spellcasters connecting.”
I hadn’t heard about any dissension, and it should have been big news. The elders must be trying to keep it contained, becauseif spellcasters rose up against the magic community, it would be bad.
Destructive-war bad.
