Night Witch (Weatherstone College, #2)(5)

Her delicate features took on a fierce glow. “Girl, you know I’ll never speak a word of it. I’m here for you, and I will follow your lead.” Her hug was just as fierce as her expression. “Love you, Pais.”

“Love you too.” I sniffled against her shoulder.

She jerked away. “Now, can we get back to the hottest fucking warlock in existence messaging you last night?”

“Hot but possibly evil,” I reminded her.

Her rasp of laughter was comforting. “Come on, you know he’s not evil. You can’t possibly believe that after everything that happened. He saved your life multiple times, and you make sweet fucking magic together.” Her eyes twinkled at the double entendre, since Logan and I had both made magic and slept together. “Change isn’t always a bad thing, Pais. You two can’t keep existing in this love-hate bubble. It’s destructive, and you deserve better.”

I soaked up her optimism, needing the bolster to my own. “You’re right,” I agreed, “we can’t continue the way we were. But I have no idea if we can exist without animosity, thanks to our rather horrific family history. Will the truth set us free, or destroy us completely?”

She shrugged. “Either way, you have no choice but to take the leap.” She tugged me toward the back porch. “Now come on, your mom was almost done with breakfast when I left, and I’m starving.”

I followed her into the house, my nose twitching at the scent of bacon and pancakes.

My favorites.

Just like every other day of winter break.

My relationship with my parents might have been strained, but they showed their love in other ways. “I’ve got another shift today,” I told Sara as we entered the kitchen. “You want to hang out at work?”

“Fuck yes. I’m here for you, babe. Your third sister, even if it’s by choice and not blood.”

My blood sisters, Jenna and Alice, were spending a lot of time with their new coven, Blessed Souls of Spokane, and barely came home to sleep. It made it easier to keep my secret, but also harder because I missed them so much. This was the change I’d been terrified of when they graduated from Weatherstone, and it hurt as much as I’d expected.

Needing a top-up before breakfast, I dragged Sara to the coffeepot, and she moaned when I handed her a cup. Black with sugar, as was her preference. “You are a goddess,” she sighed.

Night witch, I mentally corrected.

Practically the same thing.

After I refilled my cup as well, we headed for the dining room, where Mom had already set the table and was ferrying food into the center. Along with the pancakes and bacon, she had fruit salad and yogurt. My other favorites.

I tried not to break down and bawl in front of everyone. Our family was strained, but we weren’t broken. We’d loved each other through hard times before, and I had all the faith we’d come out the other side.

“Sara, we’re so happy you could stay for the break,” Mom said, giving her one of her genuine smiles.

“Me too, Mrs. Hallistar,” she replied happily. “Thank you so much for extending the invitation to stay with Pais.”

Mom shushed her. “You’re always welcome. Have a seat, breakfast is almost ready.”

Sara took the seat beside me, and I found myself staring at Jensen and Trevor, who were sprawled on the opposite side of the table. Trevor’s expression was cool—even as his rage simmered just below the surface.

“Heard from Belle?” he asked politely.

Squinting at him, I shook my head. “Not really.”

Sara snorted an unamused laugh. “Yeah, she’s been hitting us with one-word replies at best.”

The fires of Trevor’s elemental energy burned bright in his eyes. “You don’t think that’s fucking strange? Shouldn’t you give a shit and maybe check in on her?”

“Trevor!” Mom shot over her best motherly glare. “If you can’t be polite, you can leave this room.”

Trevor cursed again and shoved his chair back. “Yeah, probably a good fucking idea. I’d rather eat anywhere but here.”

Jensen watched it all impassively and was the only one still treating me somewhat normally, even if he was reserved. He shot me a sympathetic smile, before tucking into his pancakes smothered in honey.

As the front door slammed and Trevor’s car roared to life outside, my eyes burned, and I stared down at my plate. Breakfast had lost its appeal, but as Dad strolled in and took his seat at the end of the table, I forced myself to stay put.

With Dad’s trial only days away, I needed these last moments of normalcy.





Chapter 3




After that awkward breakfast, Sara and I escaped to get dressed and head for the skate rink again. “Can you skate?” I asked her, when we pulled into the parking lot.

“Nope,” she said, with emphasis. “If you put wheels on my feet, I will die.”

I rolled my eyes. “Dramatic much? You’ll be fine. I’ll give you some lessons when I get a break.”

Her expression indicated she’d rather visit a gynecologist healer than learn to skate, but she didn’t argue as we got out of the Jeep and I locked the doors.

The rink had been open for a few hours already, but it was quiet through the week and wouldn’t pick up until this evening. After I dropped my bag off in the cubby and introduced Sara to my manager, James, I deposited her on the couch. “I have a break in a couple of hours,” I told her. “You good until then? Order food and drinks, and it’s on me.”