Night Witch (Weatherstone College, #2)(82)

Jeffries wasn’t impressed and looked like he was about to argue again, until other council members voiced their approval of this change of plans. By the time Jeffries’s eyes met mine, I didn’t imagine the sadness softening them, and I wondered if he was the one Dad had been going to contact. It’d make sense if he’d already tried to discredit Elder Monroe.

My lips tilted in a strained smile, and I tried to wordlessly thank him for what he’d done. With a shake of his head, he turned away and pushed through the robed elders. Once he was gone, I was left facing an elated Elder Monroe. “Come on, demon,” he said, his smirk growing. “You’re about to be the most important lesson we’ve ever taught the modern magical world.”

Sara tried to stay with me, but she was pushed to the side by a strong blast of air. “It’s okay,” I called as they marched me away. “Just let Logan and my dad know what’s happening. Tell them not to do anything rash, okay?”

I could only just see a flash of her tear-streaked face before air magic wrapped around me, locking my limbs as I was lifted from the ground. It felt like spellcaster energy, and I knew I could fight them, but now wasn’t the time. Fighting was a last resort, after I’d pled my case to the magical world.

Acting against every instinct, I pushed my magic down and let them bind and carry me like a criminal through the halls of the classrooms and up the stairs to the assembly hall. The last time I was in here, Headmaster Gregor had stood on the raised stage and addressed the college. Today it was empty as the council members and spellcaster enforcers hoisted me up to the higher level.

“Call the rest of the school,” Elder Monroe said to one of his lackeys. My head was locked in place, so all I could see were the thick timbers that lined the ceiling. “And figure out how we can broadcast this to the magical world.”

My vision righted a beat later when they produced a chair for me to be magically strapped into. A spellcaster stepped in front of me, and when he waved his hand, the energy locking my face in place eased. Moistening my lips, I shot him a dark smile. “Usually, I’d require dinner and drinks before any kinky bondage, but I guess I can make an exception for you.”

He was quite good-looking, if not ten years older than me. He had dark blue eyes, messy brunet hair, and brown skin. “This isn’t the time to joke,” he said with soft malice, eyeing me like I was a bomb about to explode on his watch. “You’re in a lot of fucking trouble.”

My annoyance slipped out as I rolled my eyes. “Real genius, aren’t you? Imagine being in trouble without doing a single thing wrong, other than being born, of course.”

He didn’t bother to respond, crossing his arms and settling in on Paisley watch. His energy had my magic controlled to the point that I couldn’t touch the elements, but the icy lick of power that connected me to my reaper side remained freely floating inside me. Spellcasters couldn’t touch necro magic, and mine was the most beefed-up version of it they’d ever experienced.

The spellcaster’s composure was rattled when a clap of thunder shattered the silence and the assembly hall walls started to shake. Logan’s power crackled through our bond, smashing the hold the spellcaster had on me, and I’d have been thrilled if it was just those two going head-to-head. But there were dozens of powerful witches and warlocks here.

“Logan, no!” I shouted, jumping to my feet, only to be knocked down again by magic. I was freaking out too hard to see where it came from, my focus only on reaching Logan before he got himself killed.

Looking like he was carved from the gods, a furious Logan charged into the assembly hall, his magic visibly flaring around him in a storm of ice and lightning.

A few of the council’s enforcers attempted to get in his way as he marched down the aisle, only to find themselves plastered against the far walls on either side.

Peering around the spellcaster still blocking me, I found Logan’s gaze, and when he saw that I was relatively unharmed, his pace slowed. “What the fuck is the meaning of this?” His bellow knocked a few of the elders back, leaving them scrambling and red-faced.

To my surprise, the brunet spellcaster shot me a semi-amused glance. “Did he buy you dinner and drinks first?”

A snort of laughter left me, and I had officially lost my mind. “He bought me the fucking restaurant. I’d crawl over broken glass and through lava for Logan Kingston.”

Logan heard me, and I felt the heat of his love wash through our bond. “Release my mate, Jacob,” he said, close enough now that his magic sent striking sparks across my exposed skin. He was stronger than anyone here one on one, even five on one, but with dozens of elders and their lackeys present, we didn’t have the numbers on our side today.

Jacob, the spellcaster holding me, lowered his crossed arms, his magic growing stronger until I swore I could smell the atmosphere they heated. “This is a council matter, Kingston. You don’t have any jurisdiction here, not even as powerful and rich as you are.”

Logan’s laughter was a dark rasp, sending shivers down my spine. “You hold my bonded mate in a farce of a trial. You’re breaking your own laws, and I don’t think that’s just or fair. How about you?”

Elder Monroe stepped forward. “Is the spell in place to record and broadcast the trial?” His loud question echoed around the room.

“Yes,” Logan answered, not tearing his gaze from me. “I’m not letting you hurt Paisley. If I have to expose your corruption to the entire magical world, I’ll do it.”