Chapter 18
“Elder Monroe called in this morning,” Headmaster Gregor said, steepling his fingers and peering over the top at me in his
signature power move. “Belle will be back tomorrow. She’s been in India with her mother and was delayed in returning.”
I eyed him, wanting to push harder, but also knowing it wasn’t in my best interests to draw any attention to my distrust of
Elder Monroe. “I’ll wait to see her tomorrow, then,” I said, getting to my feet. “If she’s not back, I’ll check in again.”
A not-so-subtle reminder that I wasn’t going to let this rest until my friend was here, visibly safe. He didn’t show any surprise
by my declaration, and I had a sneaking suspicion that he knew a lot about what was happening in the magical community, far
beyond his role at Weatherstone.
I’d never been keen on spending prolonged time around necromancers. Their energy had always stirred my own—and now I understood
why—but today the headmaster’s didn’t bother me. If anything, I enjoyed the chill of his power, even if it created a new craving
to connect with my own.
After exiting through the concealment spell hiding his office, I paused to see Noah perched against the brick wall. When our gazes met, he straightened. “Hey, Pais.” His voice was soft, expression concerned. “Is everything okay?”
I was late for my next class, so I waved for him to join me as I started to walk. “Totally fine. I just wanted to chat to
the headmaster about Belle. He said she’s supposed to return tomorrow. I’ll push harder if that doesn’t happen.” Tilting my
head back so I could take in his expression, I asked, “Is everything okay with you? Is Logan okay? I mean, it’s not that I
don’t enjoy our brief but scintillating conversations, but I’m guessing there’s a reason you tracked me down.”
His lips quirked, and I was shocked when he reached out and ruffled my hair. “Just keeping an eye on you when Logan can’t
be here.”
A soft huff escaped me. “He’s a bit of a possessive psychopath, isn’t he?”
Noah’s smile grew as he shrugged. “He’s your possessive psychopath at least.”
There was that. “So, where is my psychopath? I thought he’d conveniently offered to help out in every class I had in my schedule.”
A crowd of warlocks pushed into the hall, loud and large, and I was almost trampled until Noah stepped closer, using his bulk
to keep me from being touched. No one would dare trample a warlock of his size and power. “He has a class of his own that
he can’t miss, so you’re mine for this afternoon.”
Excellent. “And why do I need a babysitter exactly?”
Noah’s face tightened, his easygoing facade vanishing. “Logan’s decided that we’re done playing Rafael’s games—he won’t stay
away from you any longer. That asshole doesn’t take well to being ignored, and we have no idea what he might do in retaliation.”
In all the time I’d known Logan, there’d been the sense that he was at war with himself, torn between his feelings for me and what was expected of him. No one had confirmed it so much until right now. Along with the fact that he was taking a massive risk in so openly choosing me.
“Paisley?” Noah’s voice broke through my confused panic. “Honey, what’s happening?”
“Logan’s in danger,” I said in a rush, meeting his worried gaze. “You are both in danger. What are we going to do to stop
Rafael?”
Noah’s expression eased up into relief. “Dammit, Paisley. I was ready to kill someone and I had no idea who to kill. Don’t
worry about Logan or me. We’ll be fine. You’re his priority, as it should have always been. His loyalty is yours, his love
and magic too. I’ve known Logan almost my entire life, and I can promise you that he will destroy anyone who tries to take
you away from him. You’re his.”
You’re his.
And he was mine.
Whatever this was between Logan and me, it was potent and destructive, and . . . absolutely the best thing to ever happen
to me.
“Let’s go to class,” Noah said, scooting me along again. My last class of the day was spell making, which was a branch of
magic where I really shone—mixing and concocting spells and potions, following directions, and then adding my own little touch
to bring them to life.
If I had really been a spellcaster, there was no way anyone would expect me to love crafting spells. It was considered the
artform of those not quite powerful enough to use their affinities, but the subtle magic of hexes and spells, potions and
tinctures, really spoke to me.
By the time class was over and I’d dropped my bags off in my dorm, after assuring Noah I would be at dinner in ten minutes, my ever-present exhaustion had pushed itself to the forefront again.
My limbs were heavy as I changed into jeans and a sweater, and pulling on my black, fur-lined boots felt like torture.
With it being only the first day, classes hadn’t been particularly difficult, and especially not with all the professors going
easy on me.
I really had no idea why I felt so wrecked.
Throwing on Logan’s hoodie against the chill of winter, I forced myself to leave my dorm and head for the dining hall.
Food would help with my energy level.
When I reached the entrance of the busy hall, Trevor was waiting, perched in the doorway. He looked like shit, dark rings
under his eyes as if he hadn’t slept in days. “Hey,” I said, when he noticed me. “Is everything okay?”
“Do you know where Belle is?” He watched the witches and warlocks who passed by, as if searching for her face. Fires burned
deep in his eyes, and the heat of his energy washed over me until I was almost too hot. “Why isn’t she here?”
He’d brought Belle up more than once over the winter break, but I’d been too caught up in my own shit to really think about
why. They were friends, I knew that much, but the way he was acting now . . . it was so much more than that.
They were more than that.
Like a slap up the side of the head, I finally understood what the Hel was going on. “You’re the one she was seeing last year,”
I said softly. It wasn’t a question. “She told me he was older, but she never mentioned a name.” For reasons that now made
a lot more sense.
Trevor’s big body lurched forward, and by instinct I reached out to steady him. I’d never seen him so out of sorts. “I didn’t
mean for it to happen, Pais,” he whispered miserably. “We just kept running into each other, and the snarky banter morphed
from annoyance into . . . more.”
For goddess’s sake. “I’m not mad at you, moron,” I said, pulling him into a hug. “Belle is great, and you are great, and it’s nice to see you actually caring about a witch rather than treating them like a revolving product line you need to test out.”
He laughed hoarsely and rested his weight on me until I almost collapsed. My brother was heavy, but he’d held me up more than
once over the years and I was determined to do the same for him. “She was so reserved over winter break,” he murmured in a
distant voice. “But I know it’s hard for her at home with him. I let her have the space and offered my support, but I haven’t heard from her for a week. And today . . . she’s not here.”
I tried to rub my hand up and down his back, but I was barely keeping the both of us upright. Just as my knees buckled, a
hard body slipped in behind me, taking mine and Trevor’s weight with ease. Mint and evergreen filled my senses, and my exhaustion
lessened as I let Logan hold us.
“Headmaster Gregor said she’ll return tomorrow,” I told my brother, and his head shot up as he scanned my face. “She got delayed
in India, but we’ll have her back tomorrow. Then we can demand answers for whatever weirdness is going on with her. She’s
ignored me and the girls for the winter break too, and I’m worried about her.”
My brother’s sadness turned into a frantic energy. “Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it. I won’t let her suffer any longer,
even if I have to steal her away from her fucking father.”
Logan laughed behind me, and I tilted my head back to meet his amused expression. “Of course you’d think his possessive tendencies
are funny,” I grumbled.
Logan pressed his lips to my cheek. “The fact that he hasn’t kidnapped her yet, baby, means he’s got a lot to learn.”
Trevor finally noticed the third in our little group, and as his gaze moved between me and Logan, he jerked away and sucked in a lungful of air. “What the fuck, Paisley?” he growled, fists clenched at his sides. “Get away from Logan Kingston.”
Oh shit.
So much had happened in the development of my relationship with Logan, but I hadn’t exactly been forthcoming with my family.
Not even Mom, though she at least knew there was something between us, thanks to Logan’s statement in the graveyard.
It almost floored me to think that this absolutely life-changing relationship was happening and the people I loved the most
in the world didn’t know about it.
“Logan is my boyfriend,” I said simply. Logan’s hands tightened as he pulled me away from my angry brother, angling his body
in front as if he were worried Trevor might hurt me.
Which, of course, only made my brother angrier. “You have got to be kidding me, Pais. Boyfriend? What are you fucking thinking?”
“Mate,” Logan growled. “Paisley is my bonded mate, and if you value your life, you’ll stop shouting at her.”
Trevor lurched forward, and I was moved farther back by Logan’s magic as the two massive warlocks clashed. “Last warning,”
Logan said coldly. “You’re her brother and she loves you, which is the only reason I’m not kicking your ass. But I only have
so much patience with this shit.”
Trevor was a hothead who never cared if he was outmuscled or outpowered. So, of course, he advanced again, getting right up
in the spellcaster’s face.
“Hey,” I shouted, trying to get around Logan, even as his magic held me in a protective shield. “Trevor, I’m going to need
you to back up. Please. Logan is telling the truth.”
Trevor’s aggression faded as we made eye contact. “I have a lot to tell you,” I said, softer. “I’m sorry that I kept this from you, but it’s new and complicated.”
Logan crossed his arms. “If you want to call almost twenty years new. Sure, baby.”
Every time he called me baby, my body detonated into a hot, needy mess. Which was not particularly appropriate at this current time. “This dynamic is
new,” I amended. “But we’ve been bonded since we were kids.” It felt nice to officially claim the bond.
Trevor looked between us, but Logan didn’t notice because he was watching me. His expression filled with heat and possessiveness. In that look I saw every second of the history that had brought us together.
I saw love.