Night Witch (Weatherstone College, #2)(53)

Logan snarled at this new possible cause of my waning magic. If anyone was going to conjure a curse, it would be his bastard of a father.

“I’m going to kill him,” Dad raged, heat billowing from his skin.

Logan’s rumble filled the room. “Not if I get to him first.”

Two alpha males faced off, but for once we were all fighting on the same team. This was why I wanted everything on the table, because to beat someone as strong as Logan’s father, it would take everything we had.

He’d been planning this for years. No way was he going to take us on without a plan B, C, and D. We just had to hope we could figure them all out before it was too late.





Chapter 24




“I’m going to see Rafael alone,” Logan said, pushing to his feet. “I’m going to figure out what’s happening to Paisley if I have to string that fucker up by his intestines to do it.”

“No!” I shot to stand. “If he’s kept you in the dark, he doesn’t trust you. You can’t just go in there demanding answers. Bring me . . . I’m sure he’ll be dying to brag about how I’m cursed and it’s going to take down my entire family.”

Logan smirked, his answer already clear across his rigid features. “Cute that you think I’d take you anywhere near that asshole. Noah will be with me. Rafael might be blinded by hate, but I’m his only son. He won’t kill me. And,” he added when I opened my mouth to protest again, “even if he was ready to ditch the Kingston line, I’m strong enough to fight back.”

Every part of me rebelled against what he wanted to do, but there was no real argument I could think of for me to be there. It was dangerous to deliver me directly to Rafael, but the thought of Logan going without me . . .

“For once, I agree with a Kingston,” Dad said, using the tone that meant he would not be dissuaded. “You’re not leaving this country to visit the psycho who wants to destroy our family. You’ve just told us that you’re weak. Your magic is suppressed. There are a dozen reasons why this is a terrible idea.”

“Logan going is a terrible idea,” I bit out. “Angry and half-cocked. He’s going to get himself killed.” I faced him fully. “You’re going to get yourself freaking killed.”

As he shook his head, I squeezed my eyes closed, fighting to find a reason to stop him from leaving. I didn’t trust Rafael not to hurt his son, or at minimum keep us apart until the curse ran its course and it was too late to halt anything.

“It’s the only way,” Logan said, his scent wrapping around me as he moved closer.

“I’m scared of what he will do to you,” I whispered. “I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

Logan didn’t look concerned, but as he was a powerful, arrogant spellcaster, I wasn’t particularly surprised. He’d always been the strongest in the room, the predator that others feared, but his father was older and evil.

“How will we know you’re okay?” Mom asked, and my magic hummed at the concern in her tone. “Paisley is your mate, and if this magical bond is as strong as it appears, she will break if anything happens to you. You have to think of her now when you make decisions.”

Logan showed a level of calm in his response that was unexpected. “I think of her with every decision I make. My bond with your daughter is not a responsibility I take lightly. More than that, I love Paisley and would kill my father before I caused her an iota of pain.”

No one could miss the truth in his words. “What if Logan wears a wire?” Dad said suddenly.

Everyone stared at him, including my siblings, who’d remained quiet during our discussion.

“A wire?” Trevor finally said with a shake of his head. “Like a human?”

Jenna sat straighter. “It makes sense. Rafael would never expect his son to use human technology. He’s too strong to hide magic from, which makes a wire the perfect solution.”

Logan looked between them, and through our connected magic I sensed his confusion. One day he wouldn’t be surprised to be surrounded in support and comfort. “He could just call me and leave the phone in his pocket,” I suggested with a smile. “No need to resort to anything too drastic.” After all, phones were human technology that we all used in lieu of magic to easily communicate.

“That would work too,” Dad said, his cheeks pinkening slightly. “When will you leave?”

Logan checked his watch. “It’s the middle of the night there, so I’ll leave early tomorrow.”

The room grew silent as we considered what the next day could bring our way. For me, I hoped it was the truth, and a chance to move forward without the constant worry of my energy fading into nothing.

“Well, if this is our last day of normal,” Trevor said, yawning and lifting his arms, shirt riding up on his tanned skin, “I vote for a movie afternoon.”

“I’m in,” Jenna said, sounding more like her old self.

“Me too.” Alice popped to her feet and headed for the kitchen. “I’ll grab snacks.”

“Wait,” I called, before everyone dispersed. “We never really discussed my affinity and what happened last year. Do any of you want to ask me anything, or maybe yell at me for keeping it a secret? Do you—” my voice broke, but I got it together fast “—hate me because I unintentionally got a student killed?”