Night Witch (Weatherstone College, #2)(81)

Sara just held me tighter. “Babe, you never have to apologize to me. Never! What you’re going through would shake the strongest of witches, and as far as I’m concerned, you’re handling it better than most. It would be odd if you didn’t lose it every now and then.”

I hadn’t told her about the new plan yet. No one outside of Logan and my dad knew that we were trying to force a public acknowledgment of my affinity, to prevent a repeat of what happened to reaper witches in the past.

This shit had been allowed to go on for too long, but if there was one thing I knew about the magical community . . . they weren’t great with change. They didn’t mess with the status quo or question the rule of the council often. I’d been the same, but this was life or death for me, and I would not go quietly.

When we exited the classroom into the hallway, a lot of students were milling around. Most classes were done for the day, and they were catching up with friends, working out their plans for the evening. Their lives looked really simple from the outside. Free and without imminent destruction breathing down their necks.

I’d been like that when I first arrived at Weatherstone too.

A legacy.

Not superpowerful, but still a Hallistar witch with an amazing family and a bright future.

“Are you okay, Pais?” Sara asked, squeezing my hand. I’d been so lost in thought I hadn’t even noticed her grab it. “We won’t let them hurt you. I don’t care what it takes.”

Tendrils of that panic tried to slither back through, but I fought them off. “I can’t let any of you get hurt because of me,” I said, keeping my voice small. I’d already been raving about reapers in the hallway before and had to hope no student had ever heard of my affinity. “I’m worried for myself, of course, but my greatest fear is that I’ll get someone I love hurt. I’ll behead my-freaking-self before that happens.”

Sara rumbled, and it was cute rather than scary when coming from her tiny frame. “Don’t even say that out loud, Paisley Hallistar. No one is losing their he—”

The air crackled with magic, and we ground to a halt as dark-robed witches and warlocks filled the hall in front of us. A glance over my shoulder indicated they were behind as well, surrounding us. “You were saying,” I whispered, releasing my hold on Sara.

“Paisley Hallistar,” a warlock elder said. He looked older than my parents, with just wisps of gray hair and dark, muddy brown eyes. His expression was hard, closed off, as he eyed me with distaste. “You’ve been requested to appear before the council.”

I’d known who I faced the moment their energy registered within my magical essence. There was too much power here, including more than a few spellcasters. “What’s this about?” I asked politely, sure that my dad’s friend on the council couldn’t have arranged this so quickly.

“Shut the Hel up, reaper,” a familiar voice snarled. “We don’t speak with demon-witches.” Belle’s dad stepped forward, and unlike the other somber elders, he wore an expression of absolute delight. “I’ve waited a long time for your downfall, demon,” he said, lowering his voice as he got closer to me, his rank breath washing over my face. “You’ll never hurt me or my family again, and I’ll take down your spellcaster as well. His days of manipulating our world are done.”

My control wavered at that threat, but we were so vastly outnumbered, I knew I couldn’t lose it yet. “Paisley cannot be taken without reason,” Sara piped up. She didn’t sound scared, despite the dozens of council members who surrounded us.

The first elder who spoke to me nudged Elder Monroe to the side. “We have reason to believe that Paisley Hallistar is in possession of an affinity that was outlawed decades ago. It’s dangerous and has already caused the death of one student in this school. For that reason, she must stand before a tribunal of elders, who will decide her fate.”

Decide my fate. Cute.

We already knew what their decision would be, considering they’d already mentioned my affinity was outlawed. There was no way to remove a witch’s magic without the removal of her head.

Or heart. It wasn’t a hard science.

“Where will this trial take place?” I asked, still struggling to remain calm. Logan’s energy was hitting me through our connection. Despite my best efforts, he’d felt my panic from earlier and was on his way. The only reason he didn’t already stand in this hallway was his class had been on the other side of the lake.

“In our main chambers, of course,” the elder said, his expression a fraction less severe as he looked me over.

“Could I request that you test my affinity and conduct your trial right here?” My voice wavered, but I kept it together. “Before the entire school. If you find me to be in possession of a dangerous affinity, as you claim, then a public trial is an excellent deterrent to any others out there.”

Whatever softening I thought I’d seen was gone as soon as I gave him a suggestion. “You’re in no position to bargain, Ms. Hal—”

“Great idea!” Elder Monroe interrupted, looking thrilled by the prospect. “This will be a lesson for them all to learn, and I will be asking for your senior position on the council, Jeffries, as a punishment for thinking I had lost my mind. I shouldn’t have had to bring you proof via my Belle, and I will not let that slight go unpunished.”