Chapter 17
to control a small flame—and almost light a candle without any assistance.
Professor Johnstone, a tiny blonde witch I hadn’t had a class with before, was aware of my locked-down energy. She mostly
left me alone, making no comment on my lackluster power.
I might not be a standout in the class—other students were already growing their flames into an inferno—but I was touching
the element. “I heard you managed to extinguish an everlasting flame in the end-of-year test,” she said when I was packing
up my candle and cleaning ash and debris off the table.
“I did, and I have no idea how I managed that.”
Her smile wavered briefly, before it returned. “The only way I know of to extinguish such a flame is to remove not only the
oxygen in the air, but all matter completely. You have to create a vacuum, which should be impossible outside of the Purgatory
realm. There’s no atmosphere there at all.”
Purgatory. Forcing out a laugh that was seconds too late, I shook my head. “Maybe it was a faulty flame, because no one can touch that
plane of existence. Especially not a low-powered spellcaster.”
Her head tilted, as if she were sizing me up. “Right. Of course. That was the consensus from the assessors as well. A faulty candle. At least it got them to check the rest of our stock and ensure we had no other issues.”
“That’s good.” I cleared my throat, hoping I didn’t look as freaked-out as I felt. With the suppression potion, staying under
the radar should be easy, but I’d already made too many mistakes last year. I couldn’t make a single one now. “Thanks for
a great first lesson.”
The professor nodded and thanked Logan, who was standing nearby, for his help, before she strode off to chat to a few lingering
students. “You okay, Precious?” Logan asked as I got to my feet.
There was no way to truthfully answer that in public. “During my assessment last year, my affinity must have broken through
the suppression spell to touch the other realms. How else could I have extinguished that candle?”
Logan didn’t look as worried as I felt. “Yes, but the spell over the school wasn’t as tailored to your needs. You don’t have to worry about that again.”
He said “that again,” since we both knew there was plenty of other shit to worry about.
As we headed for the door, Marcus fell into step beside us—as the only other second-year spellcaster, we would be sharing
all our classes this year. Which was turning out to be a bit of a problem. His animosity toward Logan grew with every interaction,
and two spellcasters sparking off each other would eventually end in an explosion.
“Aren’t you a little old to be in every second-year class?” Marcus said as we exited into the hallway. “Paisley doesn’t need
a fucking bodyguard. Let her breathe, bro.”
Logan stilled, turning slowly toward Marcus, his power swelling until the hairs on my arms stood up.
“I will say this one time and one time only. Paisley is mine.” His voice was devoid of inflection.
“Don’t ever question my reason for being around her.
You are the one with no rights here, and if you overstep again, I will kill you. ”
Marcus, finally showing a modicum of sense, backed away with his hands up. The heat pouring off Logan was enough to scorch,
but I pushed closer. “Ignore him,” I whispered, wrapping my hand around his. He didn’t look away from where Marcus had fled
until I tugged gently. “He’s not important. And I’m hungry . . . Let’s go to lunch.”
That wasn’t even a lie. Between classes and my overall fatigue, I needed a boost of energy before my next lesson. With a grumble,
Logan swept me closer, pulling me against his side until I could feel the fine tremor in his limbs—that promise to kill Marcus
had not been an empty threat.
Logan was on the verge of losing control.
“He’s not important,” I repeated, keeping my voice soothing. “He means nothing to me, and I have no interest or feelings for
him.”
Logan’s exhale released a fraction of his tension. “Fucker knows exactly how to get under my skin.”
I’d never seen any other student affect him in such a way, and I wasn’t so stupid that I didn’t see my part in that. I’d let
Marcus get too close, and now he thought he had the right to step in and dictate shit in my life. I needed to talk to him
before he got himself killed.
He did not want to go up against Logan, who was immensely powerful due to not only our magical bond, but all the years his
crazy-ass father pushed his power.
I might not know every aspect of Logan’s life story, but I knew Rafael would have expected nothing less than exceptional from
his son.
Logan’s energy remained heavy as we headed for the dining hall, but he did take a second to lift my bag from my shoulder and sling it over his.
Even in his anger, he still thought of my comfort, and that was just one of the many ways he proved the truth of our soul-deep connection.
Actions spoke louder than statements ever could.
By the time we entered the crowded dining hall, Logan’s energy was calmer. I spotted our friends already seated in the middle
of the room, surprised to find it felt normal to see Noah and Tobias with Sara and Haley.
Ready to join them, and my stomach already growling, I picked up the pace toward the buffet. Logan’s long legs kept up easily,
and I groaned as the scent of food hit me. “I’m starving.” I bounced impatiently at how slow the students in front of us were
being.
The smallest laugh escaped Logan, relieving a fraction of the heavy tension he’d been holding. Heat crept into my cheeks as
he watched me with a look that felt . . . intimate. “You’re so fucking cute, Precious,” he said with an attractive shake of
his head. “You were an adorable four-year-old who had me wrapped around her finger, and almost twenty years later, nothing
has changed.”
My nose wrinkled. “I’m not sure I want you to think of me as cute or adorable. That doesn’t sound sexy.”
His stare didn’t ease. “You’re beyond sexy. You already know you drive me out of my mind, but don’t underestimate cute. Every
part of you turns me on.”
Goddess above. “Who are you?” I whispered, trying to wrap my head around this new Logan.
“I’m done fighting who I am,” he said, and he sounded happy. “I’m done fighting our destiny, and letting an asshole control
my life.”
“I’m really looking forward to that,” I whispered, wondering if you could die from feeling so fucking much. “But for the record, despite me questioning it in the past, I now fully believe in this bond. I can feel it in my magical essence.”
Logan pressed a quick kiss to my lips, and as students moved in front of us, I had to debate which need I should feed first.
This time he gave an honest-to-goodness laugh. “Come on, Paisley. Let’s get you your sushi.”
The students had finally moved, and I sucked in deep breaths, returning my focus to food. I filled my plate with sushi, fruit,
and yoghurt, along with a bowl of Irish stew. The fried chicken caught my eye at the end, and I examined my plate, hoping
to find a spot to fit a piece.
Logan nudged me gently. “I’ll get it. Go and sit down. You look exhausted.”
“Someone kept me up half the night,” I huffed, breathlessly.
He leaned down and skimmed his lips over my neck, in the spot just behind my ear that I was starting to think he’d claimed.
“And you’ll need that same stamina tonight. Go and eat.”
My head spun as I wobbled on weak legs toward our friends, all but collapsing into a chair beside Noah. Sara and Haley regarded
me for a beat before they cracked up. “Holy shit, Pais, you look like you’ve been thoroughly fu—”
“Shut up,” I gasped. “Come on. I was just getting food.”
Tobias leaned forward. “You clearly enjoy that buffet a lot.”
I flipped him off while mentally cursing Logan and his stupid ability to weaken my knees.
“I’d change the subject before Logan gets here,” Noah said, the only one not openly laughing at me. “He’s not above destroying
anyone who upsets his girl.”
His girl.
Dammit. “She’s blushing again,” Sara chortled. “Fuck, this is great. Our precious Paisley is in love.”
Logan strode over with my bag and two plates. He set one next to me, and the other in front of him. I glanced down to see he’d gotten me not only the chicken, but also mashed potatoes and gravy.
Dammit. Sara was right . . . I was in love with this spellcaster.
When I lifted my gaze, the dining hall and our friends faded into background noise as I attempted to convey everything I felt
in one charged look. Logan’s eyes flashed with surprise and then heat.
Sara’s loud groan broke through my haze as she flapped her hands in our direction. “Goddess be damned, get a freaking room.
I think I just got pregnant sitting near you two. Stop rubbing your amazing bond in our faces, or we’ll be forming a poly
relationship to be part of whatever the fuck you two have going on.”
Logan, who was thankfully used to her by now, just shook his head as he leaned back and slung his arm behind me. “Sorry, I
don’t share my mate. Not ever.”
Sara grumbled and let out a long sigh. “Typical.”
Tobias leaned closer to her, his accent deepening as he said, “If you’re looking for a warlock to add to your life, my schedule
is suddenly wide-open.”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “I said sexy warlock. You’ve got to learn to listen, Toby.”
Logan and Noah stilled on either side of me, and when they side-eyed their friend, I got the distinct impression he didn’t
like to be called Toby. Sara had her little nose in the air, as if daring him to comment back.
Tobias leaned so close his face was only an inch from hers. “You’re pushing all my buttons today, badass. Just know . . .
you’re up to two.”
Her bravado wavered minutely. “Two what?”
A feral smile crossed his face. “Punishments, love. Want to go for a third?”
Sara’s throat worked and I swore there was more than a hint of desire mixed with her panic. “Maybe I do,” she rasped as she
shot to her feet. “Getting water,” she muttered, running away.
Tobias chose not to follow, relaxing in his chair, even as his gaze settled on her retreating back. Turning to Logan, I raised
my eyebrows and silently asked what the heck was going on. He gave the slightest shake of his head and shrugged. He was just
as confused.
When I continued to look between Tobias and where Sara disappeared to, Logan nudged my plate closer. “Eat up,” he said.
My stomach rumbled in agreement, so I focused on eating everything in front of me.
When I was finally satisfied, I collapsed back into my chair, the warmth of Logan’s arm cocooning me as I listened to our
friends chat about their classes.
It was pleasant and comforting, and I was hazy minded enough to almost forget my problems.
It was only when Trevor entered the room with a friend that I was reminded of Belle.
I didn’t have classes for another hour, which meant now was the perfect time to speak with the headmaster.