Page 2 of Spellcaster (Weatherstone College #1)

Six months earlier

“Paisley! Paisley, get your butt down here this instant!”

My mom’s voice woke me from what was turning out to be an excellent dream. There’d been a bar and dancing, a frenzy of heated

bodies. I’d found myself pressed into an alcove by a guy who’d been frequenting my darker thoughts lately. I never saw his

face, but I knew it was always the same warlock, built like sin, with a very talented tongue and...

Yep , it had been shaping up into an extremely nice dream.

These sporadic spicy dreams had started two weeks ago on boxing day, the day after my twenty-second birthday. That night I’d been watching my

favorite K-drama, and when the head-bitch of the storyline took it a step too far, sabotaging the sweetest character on the

show, I’d raged and accidentally blew out all the lights in the house.

All witches and warlocks had a magical bloom after their twenty-second birthday. Mine had been very soon after, and power

was racing through my veins—yet somehow still inaccessible in my day-to-day life.

There was a rather steep adjustment as magic heated my blood, but at least I finally understood why I’d spent my life desperately

trying to ignore the overly affectionate, borderline obsessive way my parents acted around each other. Those of us with magic were filled with passion and fire, and without an outlet, I was stuck in the dream phase.

“Paisley Hallistar, you can’t possibly still be in bed at this hour.”

Mom, having exhausted her full range of patience, was now in my doorway. Yawning, I rubbed my eyes to try to wake myself up.

“I’m an adult, Mom,” I mumbled. “And I don’t work today.”

I was currently employed at the local skating rink, where I had the honor of pouring drinks and shining shoes. At least the

soundtrack was always pumping, and I got free skate hours whenever I wanted, so I couldn’t complain. The transition between

high school and college had no timeline, and I enjoyed the in-between.

“Brat,” Mom muttered. “Always with the sass.” The air temperature shot up as she reached out and slapped me right on the ass.

Beth Hallistar was no pushover, having raised four witches and warlocks before me—I was the last of the litter, and I should

have known better than to grumble at her. Hopefully she’d blame it on the abrupt wakeup.

Clearing my throat, I pulled myself up to sit. “Sorry about that.” I gave her my entire focus. “What did you need to tell

me?”

Her annoyance vanished in a whoosh of paper as she waved it in my direction. “You got the letter! Weatherstone.”

Like a shot of adrenaline to my chest, any lingering tendrils of sleep were dashed as I leaped from the bed, uncaring that

I was clad only in a tank top and panties. “ The letter? To Weatherstone College? Are you fucking serious?”

“Paisley Hallistar!”

Full-named twice in the span of two minutes was definitely a record.

Thank Selene and her moon energy that Dad was away at Weatherstone with my siblings, otherwise I’d have to answer to him for cussing around Mom.

The hot-blooded part extended to more than just sex, it was an all-encompassing possessiveness that demanded warlocks destroy anyone who upset their mate.

From the outside it looked like perfection, except children in the relationship often ended up as distant third wheels. Still,

we couldn’t complain. Dad put Mom first, but she loved us just as fiercely. A love she showed in countless ways, and today

it was a firm hug as she murmured, “I’m so proud of you, honey. I knew you’d have the magical aptitude.”

Burying my face against her shoulder, I marveled that even as an adult, a hug from Mom would never grow old. There’d been

a bittersweet taste since my energy bloomed, knowing these were my final days in our family home, before magical college,

which would inevitably lead to a coven.

“I’m not going to lie,” I admitted, when we pulled apart, “I had my doubts that my magical essence would be strong enough

for Weatherstone. I all but tanked the entrance test.”

There were five main magic colleges across America. After their power bloomed, anyone with a drop of magical blood would take

the entrance exams and wait for their letter of acceptance. Weatherstone was the oldest and most prestigious of the five,

and you only got in if you were exceptional.

I was far from exceptional, and a niggling voice in the back of my head insisted that the letter was only a courtesy to my

father, who was a professor at Weatherstone.

“You earned this, honey,” Mom said softly, pressing her hand to my cheek. She had the uncanny ability to ease my doubts with

only a few reassuring words and her natural calming energy. “Your powers unlocked faster than any witch I’ve heard of, and

your energy will only grow from here. You’ve got years to find your affinity.”

Technically, what she said was true, but my doubts had deeper claws than she could loosen. “I know, and I’m ready to exercise these magical muscles.” I made that promise to us both. “I won’t waste this opportunity, and I have four years to declare my affinity.”

“Are you feeling a draw to anything yet?” Mom asked. She’d asked this question every morning for the last two weeks, and every

morning the answer was the same.

“Nope, nothing. I’m expecting I’ll be an elemental, because you and Dad are, but so far none of the five elements are responding.”

Not air, water, metal, fire, or earth.

Mom nodded, and I could see she expected I’d be an elemental too. “Though your sisters are nature sprites, so there’s a chance

for that as well, just based on the twins.” Nature sprites were gentle, communing and energizing with plants and animals,

using their familiars to bond with the land.

“I’ve always wanted a familiar,” I admitted, imagining the thrill of an animal best friend who would enhance my magic. “Just

as long as I’m not a necromancer . Their energy feels wrong to me.”

Mom’s shiver was visible. “Me too, baby. It’s unnatural to commune with spirits and the dead for energy. I don’t care how

many times they try and tell us it’s not dark magic.”

Only dark magic could feel that cloying and strange. “Of course,” I said with a dry laugh, “I could absolutely be a spellcaster.

I mean, the rarest, most powerful of magic, where I can literally draw on the energy of the world itself for near limitless

power.”

Mom swatted me again. “Don’t sell yourself short. You have a spellcaster’s attitude.”

That had us both laughing because they were rather arrogant. Most of them ended up as leaders in our military and council;

fully trained they were nearly unstoppable.

“All of my siblings knew their affinity before college.” I sobered up as doubts spilled over once more. “I did expect that after my energy was revealed I’d find myself drawn to fire or water, maybe even discover an animal friend in the forest, but there’s been nothing new.”

“Many students will be unsure,” Mom said, her unwavering confidence bolstering my own, “and the entire point of college is

to unlock your true potential and find your coven.”

She was spouting the tagline of the Weatherstone College brochure, currently on my desk, but I appreciated it. With a bright

smile, Mom placed the acceptance letter beside the brochure and my entrance exam, where I’d managed woeful forty to fifty

percentile scores across the magical aptitudes. Eighty to ninety was usually the minimum for Weatherstone, so... yeah,

as I’d said, unexceptional.

“Get dressed,” she ordered as she turned to leave the room. “We’re going out to celebrate our final baby off to Weatherstone.”

When she closed my door, her smile was as bright as last night’s full moon.

Snatching the letter off my desk, I read and reread the few paragraphs offering me a college placement. It was signed off

by Headmaster Gregor. With four siblings already in the school, I’d heard a lot about the famous necromancer. According to

my sisters, he was tough but fair. My brothers were less trusting of him, noting his soft spot for those with affinities in

the darker arts.

It appeared I might find out for myself.

Returning the letter to my desk, I pushed doubts aside once more and started to rifle through my clothes for the perfect outfit.

All the while distracted by the fact that I finally knew my college. Would I find my true affinity and live up to the very

high standards my family had set in Weatherstone’s prestigious halls? Doubtful, but I’d give it my very best shot.

For the first time, all of us would be attending college together.

The twins were the oldest; Jenna and Alice were in their final year at Weatherstone, and were nature sprites, collecting animal

familiars since they were toddlers. Trevor, my oldest brother, was a year below the twins; he was a strong fire elemental

with a secondary skill in air. The fact that he’d almost burned our house down when he was five, eight, and twelve had been

a strong indication of his affinity long before he attended Weatherstone. Then there was Jensen, my youngest brother, who

was eighteen months older than me, and about to enter his second year. He was a primary water elemental with a secondary in

air.

He’d been swimming since he could walk, spending hours in the pool, and holding his breath for ten minutes with ease.

Dad was fire and air elemental, Mom water and earth. It was rare to have two strong elements to call, some might even say...

exceptional. Hence their acceptance letters to Weatherstone coming as a surprise to no one. Unlike mine.

Well, I’d hopefully find out soon enough. College started next week on the tenth of January—my power had emerged at the perfect

time for me to take the entry tests and start in semester one. Still couldn’t tell if that was a good or bad happenstance.

Forcing my worries into a box, I slammed the lid closed and pulled on jeans, a thick down jacket, and my waterproof wool boots.

The weather was frigid this time of year in Spokane, Washington. It would be just as cold at Weatherstone, which was across

the country, out in the wilds of New York State.

For years I’d watched Dad take his daily transport out there, and now I’d get to experience it for myself. It wouldn’t be my first time traveling via an energy portal designed by air elementals and spellcasters, but it’d be my first to Weatherstone.

As I hurried downstairs, more than one voice echoed up to me, and I stepped into the living room to find my whole family there—Mom

had called everyone back from college to reveal the news.

“Pais! I’m so proud of you.” Jenna launched herself at me, throwing her arms around my neck. She was blonde and petite, like

Mom, the picture of girl-next-door beauty. Her power, on the other hand, was strongly centered around her bear familiar—she

could growl and slap you down good and hard when she wanted to.

“Me too.” Alice sounded teary as she joined in on the hug. The twins weren’t identical. Alice was my height of five feet nine

with darker blond hair. She also had less slap in her power, as the epitome of the gentle nature sprite, with a sheep familiar.

“Our family fucking rocks,” Jensen cheered from behind us, and I heard a thud, which no doubt was Dad smacking him up the

side of the head.

When the girls pulled away, the rest of my family stared at me, proud and beaming, and I tried not to panic at the very real

prospect of letting them down. They didn’t expect anything of me, I knew that, and yet I had this terrible urge to try and

live up to all their powers and reputations.

Zero freaking chance of that.

“Come on, Little Gem.” Dad, also known as Professor Tom Hallistar, patted my shoulder. Hearing that familiar nickname warmed

my heart and brought me back to my younger years. From the age of four, I’d collected gems and crystals like it was my life

calling. Shelves in my room were filled with my obsession, and if there had been a crystal witch affinity, I’d be set.

“Let’s go out and have one last family meal before the nest is empty,” Mom choked out around a sob, and Dad was immediately distracted, wrapping her up in his arms.

Dad was a good foot taller, but they never looked awkward together. If anything, despite the fact one was small, fair, and

blonde, and the other huge, bronze, and dark-haired, they fit together perfectly.

Trevor, my equally huge and dark-haired brother, draped an arm over my shoulders and steered me out the door. We’d learned

over the years that it was best to give our parents space.

“You’re going to love Weatherstone,” he said with a grin. “And if anyone gives you grief, you find me immediately.” The temperature

rose as visible flames danced in the darkness of his pupils, before he blinked his power away once more.

I leaned into him. “I’m sure it’ll be uneventful. I’m just excited that we’ll all be there together, at least for one year.”

My sisters clapped their hands, and everyone was excitedly chattering as we waited outside. It was so rare that we had these

moments together, all of us in the same place, and I found more joy here than I did in the letter sitting upstairs on my desk.

My family was special, and even if I was the least exceptional of them all, I’d hold on to their strength and energy. Hopefully

this would be enough to get me through the next four years.