Night Witch (Weatherstone College, #2)(90)

“This is dark energy,” I said harshly. “It’s from Purgatory, and it’s the main food source of my demons.”

Tugging on the tethers of the five that remained, I sent them out to do what they did best: devour the darkness. They raced forward, and students started screaming again, but they shut the fuck up when they realized that nothing was attacking them.

The demons were fast. Starting in one corner, within minutes they had eaten through a decent chunk of inky energy.

“I’ve seen them do this before,” I said, my voice no longer amplified. “I thought they were chomping on air because I didn’t look deeply enough into the magic around us.”

Half a dozen cloaked members of the council were all that remained. Logan’s magic was wrapped around them as he dragged them down to kneel before me.

It was a nice, but unnecessary, touch.

I didn’t make him release them though.

“You need me,” I said coldly. “You almost destroyed the world when you murdered me without trial. I’m the last reaper, and therefore the only one who can bring the demons here and ask them very nicely to eat up the darkness that’s throwing the balance of our world out of order.” I angrily jabbed my finger at the walls. “That covers our magical world. It’ll take me decades to clean up your mess.”

Okay, it wasn’t exactly their mess, since most reapers were destroyed long ago. It also wouldn’t take decades with the power of hundreds of reapers at my disposal. But there were points to be made, and I wanted them really drilled home.

“You’re one reaper. Can you control enough of the demons to truly save our world?” The council member lifted his head to reveal a surprising youthfulness. He couldn’t be older than his late thirties, and considering members were generally fifty at the youngest, he must be quite powerful.

“I’m the only hope you’ve got, so you better pray to Selene and every other goddess that I’m enough. And you better be grateful that I’m even willing to save this world—and your sorry ass with it.” I was done with their shit, and I was done with the magical world as it stood, but I wouldn’t let them all die. They were lucky I loved my family, friends, and Logan fucking Kingston. Otherwise, they’d be screwed.

“I’m finished with college,” I said, more to myself than anyone else. “I already have an important role in the magical world.”

“We will pay you,” another council member piped up, a woman who looked like she was a few years from death, her pale skin thin and wrinkled. “A fortune. You can name your price.”

“She doesn’t want your blood money,” Logan snarled. “I take care of my mate.”

My lips twitched, but I managed not to laugh. I gave them one last warning: “You won’t ever control us, not with your money or your magic. Pray that I don’t stop caring at some point, because who is left to take my place?”

With that, I wrapped my arms around Logan and breathed him in, the last of my panic and pain fading under his touch. “I’ll keep you safe while you keep the world safe,” he whispered. “I love you, Precious.”

“I love you too,” I said on a sob. “You brought me back from the deathly planes, Logan. Our bond led me to the light.”

The mention of my death had him grumbling as magic blazed between us, but he didn’t lose it again. He just held me, which was exactly what I needed.

When I lifted my head to check on my demons, I noticed a small witch standing near the edge of the aisle between overturned chairs. Belle met my eyes, and the sadness there was overwhelming, but she didn’t come any closer.

We kept eye contact for several long seconds, before she nodded and turned to leave the room. I wasn’t sure we’d ever recover our friendship after what happened, but in the end she’d tried to reason with her father for me before he went too far.

That was important, especially if it went further with Trevor and her. She might be my sister-in-law one day, and if that happened, I would find forgiveness. Eventually.





Epilogue





Six months later



“Who’s ready to rock this fucking stadium! Here’s who you’ve all been waiting for . . . Caaaasterrrrrs!”

The autotuned voice rang out and the crowd screamed to near deafening levels as the band ran onto the stage. Noah settled in behind his drums, while Logan and Tobias took their places near the front of the stage, guitars strapped over their shoulders.

Their magical masks were in place, but we knew what they had planned for tonight. This was the moment the world would realize whom they’d been worshipping.

“I’m so excited and nervous I could vomit,” Haley said, running her hands through her tousled brown curls for the twentieth time. She was dressed in a short, light blue baby doll dress, the skirt floating around her waist and hips while the bodice hugged her slim frame. “I can’t believe they’re going to face reveal tonight.”

The guys had had many discussions over the past few days about this moment. They knew it might cost them fans; some of the appeal in their music was the mystery that surrounded their identities. But they were done hiding from the world. Logan needed music almost as much as he needed me—it was a part of his soul. He wanted to engage more with his fans, and to do so, he had to step into the light.