The school kit in its light brown leather satchel held mostly familiar herbs, but there were a few I hadn’t ever used before.I assumed they’d be for attack and defense spells. Dried rosemary and angelica were contained in small jars, along with halfa dozen others tucked into pockets around the bag.
I hadn’t checked out my schedule yet, but considering the kit, there had to be at least one apothecary class. Placing the satchel on the table, I retrieved my welcome booklet, reading through more of the information I’d skimmed before.
First was the map, which I tore free along the perforated line. I spent a few seconds tracing the paths around the huge school,finding Ancot, and noticing that the five hallways of the dorms formed a pentacle shape. Dad had said they all intersectedat points, and I noted that my dorm was close to both Nightrealm and Aura.
Setting the map aside, I was about to pull out my class schedule, when there was a knock on my door. The sound didn’t comephysically though, but in the form of someone placing their hand on my entrance plate. I felt the corresponding intrusionin my energy.
Panic hit me first, before I shook it off. Only Dad knew my dorm room, and he must have returned to impart one lastvery importantpiece of advice. As I focused on the presence outside, I got wafts of family.
Not just family, but a familiar earthy energy.
It wasn’t Dad after all.
As I yanked the door open, Jenna was already in the room—Alice, Trevor, and Jensen right behind her.
“Little sis!” they shouted, and in that moment my worries and nerves vanished.
My family was here, and I knew they’d never leave me to deal with this alone.
That was not the Hallistar way.
Chapter 5
As the four of them crowded into the room, I expected the space to feel smaller, but it just felt cozy. They spread out andexamined my room like they didn’t all have an identical one of their own.
“Pais!” Jenna crowed, my class schedule that I hadn’t had a chance to even look at yet in her hand. “You’ll be down in theforest for Animal Studies and Their Magical Properties next week. Still my favorite class and professor.”
Jenna was in her fourth year and all but specialized now. She didn’t have to take any classes not related to her affinity,and it was clear she missed many of her old professors.
Jensen peered over her shoulder. “Hel yeah, you’ve got Elemental Water 101 tomorrow. That’smyfavorite class. It’s basically an hour to swim in the lake and bond with water.”
No surprise that was his favorite class. Meanwhile I had zero desire to get into a lake in January. Those with water affinitycould heat the particles around them by vibrating the water, but I would freeze my tits off. Jensen must have noticed my concern,and as the sibling I was closest in age with who knew me almost as well as I knew myself, he reached out and patted my shoulder.“The professor will heat the water for you.” He looked at the schedule again. “You’ve got Professor Mordock—he’s awesome andtaught me so much. You’re in great hands.”
Jenna nodded. “Very good hands. This is a great array of classes to help you figure out your affinity. Do you already feel more in touch with your energy here?”
“I actually do,” I said with a shrug. “But since there’s a chance I might not be able to stay, I’m trying not to get my hopesup.”
That got their attention. Trevor left the window, where he’d been checking out my view, Alice jumped up from my bed, whereshe’d been declaring mine was softer than hers, and the other two pushed in closer, my class schedule forgotten.
Trevor stood close to me, arms crossed over his broad chest. “What are you talking about, Paisley? Why the Hel would you haveto leave?”
Since I’d already decided I might need their support if the decision didn’t go my way. “When Dad was getting my paperworkin the office he received a message from the headmaster about a new student...” I told them everything Dad had said tome, finishing up with the tragedy that tore apart families who had been friends for decades.
No one interrupted me, and it was clear by the furrowing of brows and confused expressions that none of them were particularlyfamiliar with this part of our family history.
“So that’s why Mom never uses active magic,” Jenna said softly, her expression thoughtful. “Now that you’ve brought it up,I do kind of remember the Kingstons, but clearly Mom and Dad kept the part about the weird death and blood oath from us.”
“I don’t remember them at all,” Jensen declared, sounding pissed. “How old was I when this all went down?”
“Five or six,” Jenna said, eyes glazing as if she was doing the math. “Paisley was even younger.” She turned to me. “Do youremember them?”
I shook my head. “I honestly didn’t remember them at all until Dad started to explain the situation. Then I had this flashof a dark-haired, golden skinned boy standing over me in the park. It happened when he said the son’s name—Logan.” I shrugged. “I could be making it up though.”
Alice cleared her throat, looking uncomfortable. “You’re not making it up. Logan looked exactly like that, and you two wereinseparable. Even though he’s Trevor’s age, he just gravitated toward you and was überprotective.”
“Even against us, right?” Trevor said, brow furrowing. “Little shit was always sneaking Paisley away, and beating us up forteasing her.”
“Yep,” Jenna and Alice replied together.
