Night Witch (Weatherstone College, #2)(4)

Paisley: Okay, not creepy at all. But seriously, what do you want, Logan? Are you going to tell me about what happened in the graveyard . . . or maybe what happened when we were kids?





He read my message, and I waited for his reply, but when nothing came through, I threw the phone to the side. Calm, Paisley. Calm the fuck down.

My magic swirled, and I quickly counted the days since I’d had my last suppression potion. Four. I was definitely due for another dose, so shrugging on my robe, I slipped my phone in my pocket and headed downstairs.

Mom was in the kitchen, her smile guarded when I stepped into the sunny room. Everything gleamed, the cabinets shiny and white, and the scent of mint and lavender from her cleaning spell was as familiar as the witch herself. “Morning,” I said huskily, desperate for coffee. “Sara not awake yet?”

“Not yet, honey,” she said, and I closed my eyes as she ruffled my hair. It almost felt like old times, but then she was gone, choosing not to linger.

Grabbing a mug, I filled it with coffee, cream, and sugar, and tried not to wish it were a Weatherstone breakfast cart coffee. I’d kill for one of their sandwiches as well.

Taking my mug into the living room, I found my oldest brother, Trevor, in conversation with Dad. Trevor eyed me for a beat, before turning away to pretend I didn’t exist.

This had become my norm since the end of my first year at Weatherstone.

When my parents refused to tell my brothers and sisters about my affinity, and they’d forced me to do the same, my siblings felt betrayed. We didn’t keep secrets, and they always had my back. They didn’t understand why this situation was different, and to see the censure in their eyes broke me. I’d never felt lonelier in my life.

If Mom hadn’t scared me by pointing out that everyone in our family would be under scrutiny from the council, I’d have spilled everything weeks ago. It was only my siblings’ safety that held my tongue.

Sara, hopefully, wasn’t as closely connected and wouldn’t be monitored. It’d been a weak moment to spill my secret last night, and I could only hope there’d be no fallout from it.

Wandering to the back porch, I descended the stairs into the garden and made my way out the side gate. I’d taken to walking out here, near Simon and Morris’s enclosure. The twins’ familiars weren’t super friendly with me these days, but I felt closer to my sisters by being here.

Sara’s voice drifted out through the open hallway window as she greeted my family, and I dismissed a brief worry that I should have stayed to make sure she was comfortable. Sara was not only confident, but she’d also met all my family before and always made herself at home wherever she was.

Lifting my head, I sent out a prayer to Selene that Sara wouldn’t be in any danger from my desperate confessions last night. I mean, she wasn’t a Hallistar and couldn’t have anything to do with this fucked-up recessive gene.

Outside the gate, I headed deeper into the forest in search of solace and peace. My phone buzzed, and I forced myself not to check it like a desperate, needy witch. Logan Kingston was as destructive to me as the power I held in side myself. But there was no suppression potion that would work against him.

When I was surrounded by trees, I stopped and breathed in the damp scent of decaying matter—pine and cedar from the trees, and an earthiness that reminded me of magic. Of herbs and spells and Weatherstone.

I missed that stupid place. Or maybe I missed the before my life was torn to fucking pieces.

As my energy settled, I let nature hold my pain in her palm and give me a brief moment of reprieve.

My phone buzzed again, destroying my moment, and I couldn’t ignore it any longer.

Stalkcaster: I’ll tell you what bonds us, Paisley Hallistar.

Stalkcaster: And it will change everything.





There was a figurative explosion of flutters in my chest, and it was almost too much sensation to handle. Short, shallow breaths rocked me, and I barely held back a strangled yelp when a hand landed on my shoulder. I spun to find Sara, bleary-eyed and in a robe as well, shivering in the chilly forest air.

We hadn’t had any snow yet this season, but it wouldn’t be long if that icy breeze was any indication.

“Pais, you okay?” she asked, glancing into the dark undergrowth beyond, as if searching for a threat. I felt swirls of her air affinity move around us, warming the space. “What happened?”

Not sure what to tell her about Logan, because he was confusing as fuck and never followed any rules, I linked my arm through hers. “I’m all good. Just jumping at shadows. We should get inside.”

She looked back once, then fell in step beside me. “After last night, I think we’re past secrets, friend.”

She was right. “Logan messaged me.” She gasped and I quickly added, “I got it last night after you went to bed.” Technically true, since I didn’t read it until afterward.

“What did he say?”

Swallowing roughly, unsure how I felt, I mumbled, “That he was going to tell me what bonds us, and that it’ll change everything.”

Sara pulled me even closer. “I’m both terrified and turned on for you. It’s a confusing combination.”

I nudged her with a snort, before sobering. “Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.”

We walked for a few seconds in silence and I found myself needing to warn her. “I know this goes without saying, but please don’t talk to anyone about what I told you last night. My siblings don’t even know because it’s a dangerous situation. They’re too closely related, but as my friend, I want you to be careful. I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to you.”