Page 18 of Spellcaster (Weatherstone College #1)

“Just think of us as your personal bodyguards,” Trevor said the next morning when we left the healing wing. “Outside of getting

to class, from now on you’re not traveling anywhere on weekends or after hours without one of us present.”

As much as I wanted to protest, I wouldn’t, not if it meant staying at Weatherstone. “Your mother wants to see you,” Dad told

me, face serious as he stood with my siblings. “I know you’ve been chatting to her on the landlines, but with this being the

second attack on you in the first month of school, she’d like to physically see you.”

“Organize a weekend home for us all, Dad.” Jenna’s face lit up at the thought. “I think we could all use the break.”

Dad nodded. “Okay, I’ll square it away with Victor, and let you know when we’re heading home.” He pressed a kiss to my cheek.

“We have a staff meeting about the attack now, so I’m leaving you in your siblings’ capable hands. Get some rest.”

A Saturday staff meeting, that was some serious shit.

“Promise, Dad,” I told him.

“She’ll rest if I have to sit on her to make it happen,” Jenna called after Dad’s departing back. My ribs, still mildly bruised,

ached at the mere thought.

True to their word, my family walked with me, and if I wasn’t mistaken, all of them were channeling their power closer to the surface.

Jenna’s and Alice’s hands were stained green and brown, which meant they’d been cooking up some spells.

Jensen’s energy felt cool, the particles of water and air hovering across his skin.

And Trevor was all heat, offsetting the cool calm of the others.

“Should we take shifts outside her door while she rests?” Trevor asked like I wasn’t standing right there with them.

“Absolutely not,” I cut in before anyone else could say a word. “I’m safe in my room. I doubt that asshole will attack again

while the school is in an uproar over it. A Saturday staff meeting, guys. They’re taking it seriously.”

I fully intended to report my attacker, because I’d seen that look on his face last night—he planned on killing me, and he

would not be happy that he’d failed.

Kingston will thank me for this.

“He hasn’t been caught yet,” Alice reminded me with a waver in her voice.

“I know.” I grasped her hand. “And I’m so sorry. I know how freaked out you all must have been. I’d have lost my shit if it

was one of you hurt. But I’m just going to rest in my room. I promise.”

They left me with reluctance, after searching my room twice and promising they’d be back very soon to check on me. “I love

you, guys,” I called after them.

“We love you too, Pais,” Jenna said. “Don’t scare us like that again.”

Trevor’s expression was hard and feral, and I knew he still blamed himself for leaving with Belle. My brother, for all his

bravado, was a protector, which was why I gave him an extra hug as he left. “It’s not your fault,” I whispered. “You’ve always

protected me, and this is no different.”

His chest made a deep rumbling sound, and I had to pull back when the heat grew too intense. “When I find out who did this, I’m going to kill them.” He repeated the threat from last night, and there was no indication he was kidding.

“You’ll have to get behind me and Simon first,” Alice said fiercely, and all of us stared at the gentle sprite who was threatening

Weasel with her sheep.

“Come on, let her rest,” Jenna called, already outside the door. “We’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

“Okay, bye,” I said.

When they were gone, I closed the door firmly and checked the lock. Exhaling one long breath, a few minor pains let themselves

be known, but it was nothing compared to last night. The healers had done an incredible job, and with rest I’d be as good

as new. Although, rest didn’t arrive for a while as Belle, Haley, and Sara banged on my door not ten minutes later.

Belle was already crying, fat tears slipping down her cheeks as she rubbed her red nose. “I can’t believe we left you. I thought

Marcus would have stayed with you.” She sobbed as I hugged her tightly.

“A fight broke out and he got pulled away. I was the one who made the decision to take off back to the school on my own. This

is on me.” She sniffled hard, pulling back. “How are your injuries?” I asked, checking in on her as well.

Wiping her cheeks, she forced a smile. “Actually, fine. We went to the healers first, and then Trevor convinced me to speak

with Headmaster Gregor. He took me seriously, and Annabeth...” She took a deep breath. “She got expelled. I came to your

room first thing this morning to tell you, and that’s when I found out what happened.” She sniffled loudly. “I burst into

tears and tracked Trevor down for all the updates. Your brother wasn’t a complete douchenozzle last night.”

“Yeah, he can be decent when he wants to. But that’s amazing news about Annabeth. Now I just need to figure out who Weasel is.”

“Weasel did this to you?” Haley asked me, pushing herself up from my desk chair. “Logan’s friend?”

I nodded. “Yep, the bastard. He jumped me when I left the party and used his air energy to zip us to the graveyard. Where

he could beat the crap out of me in private.”

All three of them raged and cursed for a few minutes, before Belle shot to her feet. “I’m going straight to the headmaster.

He’ll deal with this just as he did with Annabeth.”

“Wait,” I said, scrambling after her as she raced for my door. “Don’t go to him yet. Let me get a few hours’ sleep, then we

can figure it out.”

Sara crossed her arms, face thunderous. “We won’t let him hurt you again, Paisley. This ends today. Let us know when you’re

awake. We’ll just be in Belle’s room down the hall.”

“Okay,” I said, before a yawn overtook my face.

They left me then, with hugs and kisses on the cheek, and I spent ten minutes holding my crystals, drawing in their soothing

energy. I didn’t touch them daily, as I used to, but today I needed them.

After that, I crashed into bed for hours, and to my surprise didn’t have any nightmares; the aftereffects of being healed

kept me in a deep sleep. When I finally woke, I was left with a desperate need to pee, and a worry that I shouldn’t be leaving

my room alone. The healers had exchanged my bloody, ruined clothes for a set of light gray cotton pj’s in the healing ward,

and I left them on as I poked my head out of my doorway.

For a Saturday afternoon, there were plenty of students around, and I felt I should be safe to duck to the bathroom quickly.

I made it there without issue, finished up quickly, and washed my hands. I also splashed water on my face to hopefully add

a little color back into my cheeks.

On my way back to my dorm, I stopped to grab a drink from the wall-mounted fountain. It tasted like heaven on my parched throat, and as I dropped the paper cup into the recycling, a shadow washed over me, sending me stumbling back against the wall, arms raising to defend myself.

Logan didn’t react to my defensive pose, and he wasn’t close enough for me to feel threatened, so I cleared my throat and

straightened my pj’s in an attempt at dignity. “You really shouldn’t sneak up on a witch who got jumped last night.”

His expression remained neutral as he ran his gaze over me, but I couldn’t miss the darkness in those icy eyes. Energy radiated

between us, almost visible in the air, and it wasn’t my imagination that the lights flickered as Logan’s power seeped from

him. He wouldn’t attack me in a crowded hallway, right? There was no way he’d be so stupid.

“Logan, I’m tired and hurt, what do you actually want?” He might terrify me, but I refused to let him know that.

Moving faster than I could react to, he grasped the edge of the flimsy pajama top, and slowly lifted it. Maybe it was shock

or curiosity, but I found myself frozen and watching as he examined my ribs, which were still painted in faded yellow and

green bruises.

Logan’s hand twitched, his bare skin brushing against my side, and I flinched. But it wasn’t pain. It was a dark, drugging

sensation, caressing my skin, and burning into my energy. I tried to breathe normally, to hide his effect on me. “You don’t

look surprised,” I choked out, needing a distraction. “Did you thank him, as he said you would?”

To deflect how this spellcaster destroyed me with a simple graze of skin, I’d gone straight for goading—a brilliant move when he was a billion times more powerful and possibly trying to kill me. Still, I did need the name of his friend.

“Walter is no friend of mine.” His voice was flat, that flare in his eyes from before as strong as ever.

Walter. Surely that would be enough to find that bastard.

Logan released me suddenly, and I shivered at the loss of his energy. Mine had been frolicking nicely with our best friend . The spellcaster noticed the goose bumps. Of course he noticed. He yanked his dark hoodie off, leaving him in a nicely fitted

black shirt that hugged his muscled chest, and I choked out a surprised gasp when he gently dropped the warm material of his

hoodie over my head, the length falling down my body.

“You’re cold and still healing,” he said as he stepped back. “Don’t leave your room again tonight.”

He was gone before I could get my addled brain to form words. I slumped against the wall, desperately sucking air into my

lungs. With that air came the scent of Logan, surrounding me in his hoodie. It was a combination of minty evergreen, and energy

so rich it heated my blood. A desperate need to tear it off overcame me, but my fingers remained tangled in the hem of the

soft material, and I was still wearing it when I made it back to my room.

By this time I was exhausted, so I fell back into bed, and despite the absolute chaos of my energy and equilibrium— thank you, Logan Fuckface Kingston —I slept like the dead once more.

When I woke early the next morning, the pain was almost completely gone, and I pulled myself out of bed. As I stood, Logan’s

hoodie fell down my body, and with a grumble I ripped the freaking thing off, neatly folding it and shelving it in my wardrobe.

I would be giving it back to him later.

After a quick shower and change of clothes, I marched through the school to the front office. Ms. White was the only witch in there today. “Hello, dear,” she said, glancing up from her paperwork. “How can I help you?”

Her expression gave no indication that she remembered who I was.

“I need to speak with Headmaster Gregor.” I forced a polite smile. “It’s about the attack on Friday night.”

Her face fell. “Oh my goddess, was that you? I’m so sorry, dear. Let me see if he’s free.”

She got to her feet, and hurried to a landline phone, and I was reminded once again that I needed to call Mom. Dad kept her

updated, but I should reassure her that I was fine.

My siblings were probably freaking out too, even though I’d left a note on my door. They wouldn’t be happy about me wandering

around on my own, but this was important. I wouldn’t feel safe in Weatherstone until I dealt with Walter the Weasel.

“He’s on his way down,” Ms. White said as she hung up. “You can take a seat back here.” She led me into a room with a round

table and four chairs. I took a seat but didn’t have to wait long before the door opened for Headmaster Gregor.

His energy was stronger than usual today, and with it tingles trickled down my spine. It felt like the warning energy, and

I wondered if all of this was somehow tied to necromancy. In a college like Weatherstone, that would make sense.

“Ms. Hallistar...” The headmaster’s face was wreathed in concern. “I’m so sorry about the attack. I checked in with the

healers throughout your recovery. How are you feeling today?”

He sat across from me and I pushed down the chill I always got around his affinity. “I’m feeling much better. Almost fully

healed. I just wanted to come and let you know the name of my attack—”

His smile was brief. “It’s already been dealt with.”

I blinked. “Already? But I haven’t made a statement.”

He steepled his fingers before him, peering at me over the top. “The student in question, one Walter Allomore, air elemental,

has been expelled from Weatherstone, and external disciplinary action is underway. He was turned in by another, quite well-connected

student, and I can promise you that he won’t be back on these grounds ever again.”

I stared even harder, trying to figure out how this could have happened so quickly. “Who turned him in?” My first instinct

said Logan, but there was also no reason for him to care enough about my safety to get rid of his friend.

“I’m not in a position to reveal their name, but rest assured, you’re safe at Weatherstone now. Walter is no risk to you,

or anyone else, any longer.”

With that, he stood, and offered what felt like his first genuine smile of the meeting. “Rest up, Ms. Hallistar. You went

through a traumatic ordeal, and you shouldn’t rush to get back into college life. Take as much time to heal as you need. All

of your professors are aware of the situation.”

He left before I could utter another word, and I just blinked, wondering what the fuck had happened.

Walter Allomore, aka Weasel, had already been removed from the school? Before I even reported him?

It wasn’t adding up.

None of this was adding up, and I hoped that next time I saw Dad he’d have more information for me.