Night Witch (Weatherstone College, #2)(19)

We were forgotten as they fell into their bubble of love.

If anyone had given me an unrealistic expectation of marriage, it was my parents.

“We definitely need to go out,” Sara said as she linked her arm through mine. “Hales will be here in a couple of hours, and this city is our fucking oyster. Or whatever that stupid saying is. Oysters are disgusting, so that’s in no way appealing.”

“They’re snot with shells,” I confirmed.

“Grainy snot with shells,” Sara corrected, and I laughed. “Come on, let’s head back to the hotel and leave your adorable parents to make every other marriage look subpar.”

My eye roll told her everything, even though I also thought they were adorable.

Adorable and nauseating.

Outside the council chambers, we flagged down a cab, and as I slid into the seat and Sara gave the driver our address, my phone buzzed.

Stalkcaster: Howling Moon Club. Tonight. 10pm. Mention me at the door. You can bring Sara and Haley.





Somehow, he knew that Haley was joining us tonight. The urge to check for a hidden camera was strong, but when one was a spellcaster, there was no need for cameras.

“Logan invited us to a club tonight,” I told Sara. “Up for it?”

Her eyes bugged. “He’s here? What the Hel? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t know until right this second.”

Sara examined me, eyes narrowed as if ready to catch me in a lie, before she relaxed. “You know I’m in.”

“I don’t understand what’s happening,” I admitted as the cab honked and came to a dead stop in traffic. “Logan barely spoke to me last year, and when he did, he was an asshole.”

Mostly. Last night he’d told me it was about protecting me, but I was scared to let myself believe that. To let myself fall into this feeling between us.

Sara, of course, called me straight out on it. “Babe, he saved your life multiple times. Whenever you needed him, Logan was there. The rest, in my expert opinion, was all smoke and mirrors to hide the fact that he claimed your ass.” She side-eyed me. “Your lucky freaking ass.”

“He said we’re bonded,” I whispered, clearing my throat as emotion got the better of me. “That’s why he called me mate; we have a proper magical bond. He said pushing me away was about protecting me until he was strong enough to keep me safe.”

Sara nodded as if she’d expected that all along. “It makes sense, you know. All of us could practically feel the energy connecting you two. The air crackled with it whenever you were close. If you want my opinion—” I knew she’d be giving it to me whether I wanted it or not “—stop trying to figure it all out. Allow yourself to care about Logan and accept this bond, and trust that he’s got your back. He’s never shown you that he doesn’t. Not where it really counts.”

There was an undeniable truth in what she said. “What about his father?” I pressed. “The feud with my family still exists.”

She shot me a droll stare. “Which is no doubt what Logan’s protecting you from. Your dads’ feud is not yours and Logan’s. Don’t take it on.”

Again, she was right, and I wished it was as easy as simply ignoring the feud started between our parents when we were children. But if Logan had been trying to protect me from it all along, that meant it was an issue we still had to overcome.

By the time we arrived at the hotel, I was a confused, messy lump. As we exited the cab, a tall, slim witch stepped away from the side of the hotel and jumped up and down waving at us.

“Witches!” Haley shouted as we rushed over to her. “I’ve missed you so much.” She wrapped us in her arms, the three of us hugging for what felt like an hour.

When we finally broke apart, Haley turned her sweet smile my way. “Sara told me about your dad’s trial. I’m so happy that it’s been dismissed. Not gonna lie, I was secretly freaking out.”

“Me fucking too,” Sara added dramatically.

Having friends who cared about your issues as much as you did was a gift I’d never expected from Weatherstone. “Selene was watching over us for sure,” I told them, shaking my head at how the trial had imploded. “And we’re all heading out tonight to celebrate.”

For once, Haley didn’t react like I was about to perform open-heart surgery on her without healers. “I figured. I even left my book at home and packed a dress for the occasion.”

“That’s my little book-witch,” Sara said, wrapping an arm around her and dragging her into the hotel lobby. “I’m going to glam the shit out of you tonight. We’re getting you laid.”

On our way to the room, Sara launched into a detailed description of her sexcapades from the other night, and the absolute destruction of her vagina, leaving Haley and me snorting in laughter.

Tonight was going to be fun.



* * *




By 9:30 p.m. we were dressed to impress, our hair straight and sleek, eyes done in smoky tones, and outfitted in the skimpiest dresses Sara could find.

My dress was a deep, shimmery navy that brought out the blue of my eyes. It was corseted with a flared skirt, and for once, I was out of my boots and in shiny black Louboutin knockoffs.

Sara had on a gold bandage dress that hugged every inch of her curvy figure. Haley was the most conservative in a loose green sheath falling to mid-thigh. She wore heels too, which meant both of us were at real risk of breaking our inexperienced necks tonight.