Night Witch (Weatherstone College, #2)(10)

I glanced up at him, my lashes obscuring him briefly as I blinked through my confusion. “No one? Like ever?”

We’d reached the three steps leading up to the front porch, which held rocking chairs and a suspended swing lounge attached to the white rafters above. “Only Noah and Tobias. There’s no one else I trust enough with this location.”

I knew Noah, his giant friend who spoke very little but scared many with his mere presence. Tobias was a new one, though, and it reminded me that despite the odd familiarity I felt around him and our shared history, there was a lot I didn’t know about this warlock. Everything, really.

“Why would you trust me enough to bring me here?” I whispered, my throat unexpectedly tighter. “Why would you call me mate when we were all but enemies at school?”

None of this made any sense to me.

Logan had blown hot and cold constantly during my freshman year, but now he was here, acting as if we were connected on a cosmic level.

“Last year I was playing a role,” he said with a shrug. “One designed to keep you safe from Rafael until I knew the best way to thwart his plans. But now that your powers are revealed, I’m fairly sure it’s too late for concealment.”

Rafael, the fucking thorn in my family’s side.

Logan moved closer to me. “I also can’t stay away from you any longer. You’re here because it’s time for you to understand that what’s mine is yours, Paisley. That’s how mate bonds work.”

As I opened my mouth to demand more answers about this alleged mate bond, he added, “You’ll learn everything in time, but just trust that we are more than you see. You must feel it to truly understand.”

With that, he tugged on my hand and I was stunned enough to silently follow him onto the porch, where the scent of cedar wrapped around me.

The front door opened without his touch, as if the entire house was keyed to Logan’s energy.

“I’m going to give you this address,” he said as we crossed the threshold, “so you know you can always run here. Even if everything goes to shit. Even if I’m not here to protect you.”

My heart dropped at the very thought, and my throat was instantly thick with emotions.

Fuck, I couldn’t fall for Logan, and I could never rely on him either.

“You run here, Paisley,” he finished seriously, “and not even my dad will find you.”

With that ominous statement, light filled the house, illuminating the stunning interior. To our right, wide-planked timber floors, shiny and mahogany, led into a sitting room with cream walls and large bay windows to showcase what would no doubt be a magnificent view.

We didn’t enter that room, though, ending up in a huge kitchen with cheery yellow walls, off-white cabinets, and speckled granite counters. “Are you hungry?” he asked, releasing my hand. There was a slow slide as our fingers separated, and I shivered at the loss of his power mingling with mine. It was warm enough in here that I didn’t need his heavy coat, and when I shrugged it off and held it out to him, his heated gaze ran over my skimpy dress.

“Thanks for the loan,” I said as he draped it over one of the pretty white stools at the kitchen island. I ditched my bag as well and left it on the same stool.

“Anytime, Precious. Now sit,” he said briskly. “I’ll make us food.”

I all but collapsed onto another stool, and Logan, with an infuriatingly delicious smirk, strode around the island while he rolled up the sleeves of his white dress shirt. A shock of bronze skin and colored tattoos stood out against the stark white, and I tried not to drool over the sexy spellcaster.

I’d never had a chance to simply observe Logan, not like this. Relaxed and without the hard mask he’d always worn at Weatherstone. He was comfortable in this house, and there was a softer cast to the powerful warlock.

“Do you like pasta?” he asked, startling me from my thoughts.

“I love pasta,” I said quickly, hoping he hadn’t noticed me examining him like I’d have to identify him in a lineup later. “Do you need any help?”

He shook his head. “Sit and talk to me while I cook. Let me look after you tonight.”

Goddess of all that was holy.

I almost combusted in my chair.

An angry and sarcastic Logan was sexy.

An attentive and caring Logan was absolutely devastating.

I was completely and totally screwed.





Chapter 5




I’d thought about Logan a lot over the past year. I knew he was a powerful spellcaster, and a snarling asshole who on occasion showed a soft and caring side.

But I’d never expected him to know how to cook.

I’d learned to cook from my mom, who could turn five ingredients into a masterpiece, provided she had her basket of herbs and spices. Logan didn’t have a mom, and his family was clearly wealthy with the means to employ a chef, so when he bustled around setting pasta to boil, cooking chicken, and adding sauce and pesto to bring the dish to life, I was frankly a touch baffled.

And turned on.

He’d made the pesto from a fresh batch of basil, pine nuts, olive oil, and garlic, for fuck’s sake.

“Is there anything you’re not good at? Other than humility?”

He chuckled, seemingly taking no offense. “Confidence comes from knowing you’re the best. I won’t hide that part of myself. When everyone knows your strengths, they mind their manners.”