Page 33 of A Lesson in Deceit (Mystic Riegan Duet #1)

I tried not to at least. Now that his new dynamic with Grayson was on the table, I had a feeling it would be much harder not to, especially with how they worked so well as a team .

Fuck, I had to get my mind back to mom appropriate topics.

Getting railed by my boyfriend and his best friend less than twenty-four hours ago was not something I wanted to subconsciously bring up.

I could smell the food from upstairs while I lounged on my bed. Beau had his head resting on my pillow, his eyes closed as he snoozed. His body was as close to me as possible, radiating heat I didn’t think was possible, but I didn’t mind.

I stared up at the ceiling, putting everything I knew into perspective.

My dad didn’t just fall out his window, he was pushed.

He was pushed by someone with the powers to do so…

and then some. There had to be something in his office that was left behind, like the glass piece I’d found outside.

I started to think about the missing witches Corrin had mentioned and how that all fit in.

From the outside, I would assume they were two completely different issues, but I’d read way too many books to think anything was simply just a coincidence.

The real question was how the hell were they connected.

My phone vibrated causing Beau to jerk up, stunned out of his sleep. I laughed, turning my phone over.

CORRIN

My determination is my best attribute because I was able to extract some other powers from the glass piece. Yes, I might have burned myself again, but never fear, I am fine.

That doesn’t make me feel better.

CORRIN

Do you want to know what I found or not?

Of course I do.

CORRIN

So, there’s a ton of elemental magic in there, some green witch skills, slight healing.

It’s like little bits of everything. Magic has a shape and form when you break it down on a molecular level and some of these are misshapen.

Whoever’s magic this is, they’ve been harboring all these skills for a while, farming them.

Can anyone actually have multiple powers?

CORRIN

Yes and no. You can gain both your parent’s skills if you are born from two magic wielders.

Or some witches can learn another skill if they are really that determined, but it doesn’t happen often.

It’s usually easier when it’s a skill that molds well with the one you’ve already been born with.

I couldn’t just decide to try out Ike’s metal magic on a whim.

I considered River’s powers and knew that most people heard him say telepathy and put him in the only mind reading category. He had developed his magic into so much more than that, but he didn’t like to use it all the time.

Another text came through.

CORRIN

Multiple powers of this magnitude isn’t normal unless you’re siphoning it.

Like stealing it?

CORRIN

Exactly.

Let me add that the only time that is possible is during one of the witches’ moon gatherings.

You would have to know exactly what you’re doing to take powers and not have anyone really notice.

Telekinesis and one of the elements was an original power from them, something they were born with, but that’s all.

They are clearly a powerful enough witch to siphon for however long they’ve been doing it.

Witches’ moon gatherings? Like what your coven does?

She sent me a thumbs up.

CORRIN

I’m not saying it’s my coven specifically, but the witches that are missing are ours, so it just makes sense to assume.

How would my dad fit into any of this?

CORRIN

Ike thinks that he found out what they were doing, accused them of harming students and how he would report it. People do a lot of things when they get backed into a corner.

Ah, well that’s something new. Now you’re leaning towards it being a witch.

CORRIN

I don’t love saying it, but yes. I’m rotting at home this weekend, so I’ll see what else I can dig up, maybe get some coven members to talk.

The moon gatherings are only twice a year so I don’t even know if they will remember if they felt anything off during those times.

I could ask the interim coven leader, but that bitch is literally no help for a regular problem.

Interim coven leader? Is that a thing?

CORRIN

It’s a whole thing. Yes, I know this very odd fact is not lost on me. We got an interim coven leader a short time after your dad died…now that I think about it…

Okay, let me get Ike and go into a deep dive! Report back soon.

I blinked, trying to find a place to add this new information in my mind. I leaned over my bed and grabbed my backpack. I rifled through and found the police report again, my eyes going straight to River’s dad.

He wasn’t a witch, but something in my gut told me he had a part in this, even if it wasn’t actually hurting my dad. If nothing else, he failed to tell the police everything and was covering up for someone, maybe this person Corrin was talking about. What was he even doing there that time of night?

He may have said all those nice things about my dad at that assembly, but I could guarantee he didn’t mean any of it.

I tried to imagine him offering me condolences if things were different and River actually enjoying his company and wanting me to meet him.

His name started to blur as I looked at it too hard.

I felt a wet tongue slide across my cheek and the smell of dog breath entering my nostrils. Beau maneuvered himself into my lap, making me move my hands and allowing him to cuddle into me. He let out a heavy sigh but remained still.

I massaged his neck, digging my fingers into his scruff. I leaned down and kissed the side of his face, feeling my anxiety decreasing. “Thanks, buddy.”