Undertow (Widdershins Supernatural Academy #5)

Chapter 1

Teddy

One minute, fifty-eight seconds.

That was the time on the enchanted clock when my hand hit the touchpad. I surfaced, gasping as I pulled off my goggles. I was fast, but not fast enough. Two lanes down from me, there was another guy from Moonhaven, his arms raised in the air in triumph.

Second place again.

The crowd was roaring, but all I could do was heave myself out of the pool, disappointed by my results yet again.

I was the fastest freestyle swimmer on the Widdershins Academy team in the witch division.

But every time we had a meet, I always came in second.

I thought my Junior year would be different, that I’d finally start winning.

But already I’d been proven wrong on our very first meet.

“Great job, Teddy!” Gavin said, a big smile on his face as he handed me a towel. “That was incredible!”

“Right,” I grumbled, taking the towel and heading for the bench. “Another silver, never gold.”

Coach Mathers approached, her webbed fingers clasping a clipboard. “You shaved three seconds off your personal best, Voss. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

I nodded, but didn’t feel any better. Three seconds wasn’t enough when Moonhaven’s star swimmer had just broken the regional record. I wrapped the towel around my shoulders, water dripping down my purple speedo onto the tile floor.

“The team needs you for the relay,” Coach added, her expectant gaze on me.

“I’m sitting this one out,” I replied, already turning toward the lockers. “I think I pulled something. Don’t want to risk an injury.”

It was a lie, and I was pretty sure Coach Mathers knew it. But she didn’t try to stop me.

“Get some rest, Voss,” she called back. “See you at practice on Monday.”

I raised a hand in reply, but didn’t look back.

The locker room was mercifully empty when I pushed through the door. Everyone else was still out watching the meet, cheering on our team. I didn’t want their sympathetic looks or hollow encouragement, anyway.

I yanked open my locker and grabbed my shower caddy, the metal door clanging against the next locker. The sound echoed through the empty space, matching my mood perfectly.

“Stupid,” I muttered to myself, stripping off my swim cap and tossing it onto the bench. “Always second place. Fucking tired of it.”

The hot water of the shower did little to wash away my frustration.

I’d been training harder than ever over the past summer.

Morning practices, extra laps after everyone left, and I’d even been giving up my beloved late-night snacks.

All for what? To watch some Moonhaven witch with perfect technique touch the wall before me. Again.

I scrubbed shampoo through my hair with more force than necessary, wincing when my fingers caught in a tangle. Coach Mathers didn’t understand. Neither did my teammates. They were happy with improvement, with personal bests. I needed to win if I was ever going to get my father off my back.

After toweling off and changing into sweats, I stuffed my wet gear into my bag.

The sounds of cheering filtered through the walls, marking the start of the relay I’d skipped.

A twinge of guilt hit me. I should be out there supporting my team.

But the thought of watching another Widdershins loss was too much today.

As I headed for the exit, the door swung open, and Coach Flannery walked in. His massive frame nearly filled the doorway, and his blue eyes found mine immediately.

“Leaving already, Voss?” he asked, his voice surprisingly gentle for such a large man.

“I’ve got spellcraft homework,” I mumbled, adjusting my bag strap. “Professor Blackwood’s assignment is due Monday.”

Coach Flannery’s nostrils flared slightly. It was a subtle werewolf tell that I’d learned meant he was scenting emotions. Great. Just what I needed.

“I don’t need a pep talk,” I said, holding up a hand before he could speak. “I just need time alone and to get this project done. I can’t be valedictorian next year if I start slacking off on homework.”

Coach Flannery crossed his arms over his broad chest. Even in his human form, there was something distinctly wolfish about him. Maybe it was the way he seemed to assess everything with that penetrating gaze.

“Academics are important,” he acknowledged with a nod. “But you know what I smell right now, Voss? Disappointment. Anger. And something else... fear.”

I snorted, trying to push past him. “I’m not afraid of anything.”

“Look,” he said, lowering his voice even though we were alone, “I watched your race. You’re getting better every time you hit the water. Your form is technically perfect.”

“Not perfect enough,” I muttered, staring at the floor.

Coach Flannery took a step closer. “You know, when I was about your age, I lost seventeen football games in a row.”

That made me look up. Coach Flannery was legendary at Widdershins. The idea of him losing at anything seemed impossible.

“Hard to believe, right?” he said with a small smile, catching my expression. “But it’s true. And you know what I did after each loss?”

“Worked harder?” I offered, the expected answer.

“Nope. I howled.” He tapped his chest. “Full-on werewolf howl of frustration. Scared the hell out of the people who live in these mountains. The older ones still talk about it.”

Despite myself, I cracked a smile.

His large hand settled on my shoulder. “My point is, everyone’s afraid of something. For some of us, it’s failure. For others, it’s not living up to expectations. Especially those that come from home.”

“Look, I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but—”

“I’m not done,” he said, his voice firmer now. “You’re good. Really fucking good. But you’re swimming like someone’s chasing you, not like someone who’s chasing victory.”

That stung because it hit too close to home. I shrugged his hand off. “What’s the difference? I still need to win.”

“The difference is in here.” He tapped my chest with one thick finger. “When you’re running from something, you’re giving it power over you. When you’re running toward something...” He smiled, revealing slightly pointed canines. “Well, that power belongs to you.”

It sounded like something out of a kids cartoon show. That shit might’ve worked on Coach Flannery’s football guys, but I wasn’t na?ve enough to fall for it. Shifting my mindset wasn’t going to make me five seconds faster. Only hard work could do that.

“I should go,” I said, adjusting my bag again. “That spellcraft homework isn’t going to do itself.”

Coach Flannery stepped aside but spoke as I passed. “Theodore,” he said, using my full name. It was something that usually annoyed me, but the gravity in his tone made me pause. “Success isn’t just about winning. It’s about knowing why you want to win in the first place. Just think about it.”

I didn’t answer, just pushed through the door and headed toward the exit.

The sounds of cheering and splashing water faded behind me as I stepped out into the crisp autumn air of the Widdershins campus.

Ancient oaks lined the path, their leaves turning brilliant shades of red and gold.

In any other mood, I might have appreciated the beauty, but today it just felt like everything was dying, including my chances of a potential spot on the Olympic team.

I hadn’t gotten more than fifty feet before I heard my name called from behind me. My shoulders sagged. I was really hoping to avoid my parents just once after a swim meet.

“Theodore!” my mother called again. “Where are you going? We have a dinner reservation with the Quinns in New York. We don’t want to be late!”

I turned reluctantly, forcing a polite smile as my mother approached, her designer heels clicking on the pavement.

She was dressed like she was going to a fashion show rather than a swim meet, her tailored blazer and pencil skirt immaculate as always.

Not a hair out of place, not even after sitting through hours of chlorine-filled air.

“I have homework,” I said weakly, knowing it wouldn’t matter.

My mother’s perfectly penciled eyebrows rose.

“Homework? Theodore, you know how important these dinners are. The Quinns have connections to the Olympic Committee.” She lowered her voice, though there was no one around to hear.

“And their son just got accepted to Widdershins’ advanced magical studies program and the fencing team.

Your father thinks it would be good for you to network. ”

Of course he did. Everything was about networking with my father. Or, more accurately, showing off his son’s accomplishments to his business associates. Except today, I had nothing to show off except another second-place finish.

“Where is Dad?” I asked, glancing behind her.

“Speaking with the Moonhaven coach.” Her smile tightened. “That boy who beat you. What was his name? Elliot or something? Apparently, his father is very impressed with your times. Says you push his son to be better.”

Great. Even my losses were someone else’s victory story.

“I really need to work on this spellcraft project,” I tried again. “Professor Blackwood assigned—”

“Theodore.” My mother’s tone sharpened. “Your father has already arranged everything. The Quinns are expecting us at The Alchemist at seven. That gives us just enough time to get into the city if we leave now.”

I bit back a sigh, knowing resistance was futile. My swim bag suddenly felt ten pounds heavier on my shoulder. “Can I at least change first? I’m not going to a five-star restaurant in sweats.”

She checked her watch, one of the few pieces of technology that actually worked on the Widdershins campus, as long as it was purely mechanical. “You have fifteen minutes. We’ll be waiting by the teleportation circle.”

As she walked away, I trudged back toward the dorms, my wet towel getting heavier by the minute.

Another dinner where I’d have to listen to my father subtly hint at my shortcomings while praising someone else’s kid.

Another evening of smiling and nodding while internally screaming.

It was bad enough to have to go to practice constantly and balance a full course load at school.

But being whisked off at the drop of a hat two or three times a week for dinners made having a social life nearly impossible.

This was my life. Swimming, studying, and smiling at my father’s business associates while they discussed my future as if I weren’t sitting right there at the table. Like I was little more than a pawn in their grand scheme.

When I reached my dorm room, I fumbled with my key, nearly dropping my swim bag in the process.

The lock clicked, and I pushed the door open.

I had the place to myself for a moment. Gavin would still be at the meet for at least another hour.

Then there was the inevitable post-meet party I was going to miss.

Another part of college life I didn’t get to enjoy.

I tossed my wet swim gear onto the bathroom floor and quickly rifled through my closet for something appropriate. My father had specific expectations for these dinners. Nothing casual, and nothing that would make the Voss family look anything less than perfect.

I pulled out a navy blazer, gray slacks, and a light blue button-up shirt.

It was one of the outfits my mother had bought me last month specifically for these “networking opportunities.” As I dressed, I caught my reflection in the mirror.

Dark circles were forming under my eyes from the early morning practices, and my hair was still damp, sticking up in awkward angles. I looked exhausted. I felt exhausted.

But there was still so much to do. So many people to make happy.

I grabbed my comb and quickly tried to tame my hair into something presentable.

If I showed up looking like I’d just rolled out of bed, I’d never hear the end of it.

As I straightened my tie in the mirror, I heard Coach Flannery’s words echo in my head.

“You’re swimming like someone’s chasing you, not like someone who’s chasing victory. ”

What did that even mean? Victory was exactly what I was chasing. Gold medals. Records. A spot on the Olympic team. All the things my father had been pushing me toward since I was eight years old and first showed talent in something outside of magic.

I checked my watch. Five minutes left. Just enough time to throw my wet clothes into the hamper and grab my wallet.

As I stuffed it into my pocket, my eyes fell on the spellcraft textbook sitting on my desk.

The assignment really was due Monday, and it wasn’t a simple one.

Professor Blackwood had asked us to create an original enchantment that could alter the properties of water. The irony wasn’t lost on me.

With a sigh, I grabbed a small notebook and shoved it into my blazer pocket. Maybe I could jot down some ideas during dinner if there was a lull in the conversation.

Who was I kidding? There were never lulls when my father was involved.

I locked up the room and headed across campus toward the teleportation circle.

The sun was setting now, casting long shadows across the ancient buildings of Widdershins Academy.

Other students were making their way to dinner or weekend activities, laughing and talking without a care in the world.

A group of witches was practicing levitation spells on the quad, floating fallen leaves in intricate patterns.

Near the library steps, a couple guys were engaged in what appeared to be an extremely intense make-out session.

Ah. Dating. Boys. Sex.

Something else I never had time for. And probably never would.