by A. J. Macey
Resting Witch Face
Book 2 of the Not Your Basic Witch Series
A.J. Macey
Jarica James
Blurb:
Aris Calisto is no longer the newest student at Aether Academy but after her creepy headmaster finds out about her relationship with a professor, she’s finding her seemingly new home is quickly becoming hellsticks. To make matters worse, when someone leaks Aris’s new powers, her and her guys are faced with a Council inquiry.
Despite what should be an easy ‘potion to brew’, Aris quickly discovers that not all is as it seems in the capital of Akasha and soon enough, she and her men dealing with a cauldron full of problems-
fighting a not-so-friendly familiar face,
having to go on the run,
growing pains in their relationships,
portal hopping to places they’ve only read about.
With her capricious coven behind her, can Aris use her i’magic’nation to figure out what to do? Or will she find out that you need to be careful what you witch for?
Book 2 of the Not Your Basic Witch Series
Legends of Asteria Trilogy 1
Warning:
The Not Your Basic Witch is a WhyChoose/Reverse Harem trilogy featuring MMFMMM meaning there is M/M content, and the female main character doesn't have to choose between her love interests. This trilogy is the first in a series collection consisting of six trilogies titled Legends of Asteria. Each trilogy should be read in order.
This book contains references involving violence, and other themes that some readers may find triggering.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Epilogue
Witches Be Crazy
Acknowledgments
Also by A.J. Macey
Also by Jarica James/J.J. Riley
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Copyright © 2020 by A.J. Macey and Jarica James
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Cover: Moonstruck Cover Design and Photography
Editing: Personal Touch Editing
Formatting: Inked Imagination Author Services
Dedicated to:
A.J.-
My daughter, Evelyn Rose.
There’s light to be found even in the darkest of nights.
Jarica-
My mom, who always shows me what true strength is.
I love you
November 3rd
Sunday Afternoon
Aris
I was numb as I made my way down the hallway, away from Headmaster Tallis’ office. It was as if my mind decided it couldn’t take anymore and just shut off. The feel of his clammy, calloused fingers on my skin, and the thought of his overly strong, creepy, old-man hand anywhere near me sent a new wave of shivers through me.
You’d think I would have reached my lifetime quota for awful incidents, but no, he was like the last toadstool in the cauldron.
I had to have been pricked by the cursed thorn at birth because creepy shit kept happening to me. Like getting attacked twice by the same person and nearly dying after being tortured, which was why I had to wear this stupid sling. Maybe that's why Headmaster Tallis thought I would be vulnerable enough, he could proposition me. I couldn’t fight back, even if I wanted to; otherwise, I’d out myself as a conduit. Nothing like painting a giant target on my back for the council by being a rare kind of witch.
What a prick. I'd hate to see how he treats a wounded animal.
I wasn't aware of where I was going, my feet carrying me through the halls on memory alone, my eyes not taking in my surroundings as I walked. A part of me knew that wasn’t the last time I would hear from him, knowing he would abuse his power and knowledge of something he didn’t understand the next chance he got, but I swore to everything batty, I wouldn’t let myself get scared like that again.
Are there hexes I can use in the future? Turn him into a frog? Or maybe a spider? Then we could just squish him.
When my name was practically screamed in my ear, I jumped, realizing just how oblivious I had been. Blinking out of my trance, I looked up into Kye’s gold-flecked eyes, a sense of calm flowing over me.
“What is it, Sweets?” he asked, a hint of fire in his tone. The guys could read me like a book by now, and I wasn’t exactly trying to hide it in my current state of shock.
“Headmaster Tallis knows about me and Tor. He came onto me and touched me and said we could come to an ‘arrangement’ to keep it a secret,” I choked out, my voice distant and hollow. I shivered, the memory of his creepy words running through my mind while Kye stood there silently. Like my surroundings had before, he faded into the background until I couldn’t tell how long we’d been standing there, him just staring at me. Kye’s eyes turned to stone as he processed what I was saying, swiping gentle fingertips over my cheeks to brush away the tears I hadn’t even realized were falling.
“I’ll kill him,” Kye murmured, more to himself than me as he pulled me into a tight hug. It was the first time he hadn’t run for one of the others to comfort me, and my heart warmed, his show of affection melting the edges of the slimy cold I had yet to shake off.. Instead of saying anything to diffuse his anger, I clutched the back of his shirt with my free hand, cursing the stupid sling that circled around my torso as I held him tight to me, breathing in the calming scent of clove and musk that was distinctively my Kye.
To hex with this stupid thing. I can’t even hug someone without a reminder of being attacked.
“What’s wrong?” Xan asked, walking up. His eyes widened the moment he saw my tears and realized Kye, our grumpiest tether, was actually trying to hold me together.
“The fucking Headmaster tried to get Aris to sleep with him to keep what he knows about her and Torryn a secret,” Kye summarized through gritted teeth. I peeked up to see Xan’s expression go from confused to deadly, his eyes hardening with barely restrained fury. His jaw tensed rhythmically, teeth grinding in time to the curling and uncurling of his tight, white-knuckled fists.
“Does Professor Callahan know?” Xan asked, his voice sounding off.
“At this point, I think it’s safe just to call him Torryn. We’re stuck together for life,” I joked, trying to lighten the mood. Honestly, I hate when anyone calls him Professor Callahan.
“You’re probably right,” Xan mused, giving me a stiff smile. “Does Torryn know?”
“No, she just walked up before you did,” Kye said as I finally let him go before he pulled me down the hallway to my room. “We can send an airplane from here.”
Using my good hand, I pulled down paper and hastily scribbled, ‘Family meeting. Now’ notes, hoping the others would come quickly. Before I even had to ask, Xan started folding and enchanting the airplanes, smiling down at me as they zoomed off through the window. He pulled me into a hug, his arms shaking slightly with what I’m sure was barely suppressed rage at the whole situation.
Mr. Stripes hurried over, crawling his way up to my shoulder, wrapping his tiny arms around my head. Thanks to my bond with my sweet baby, a gentle wave of comfort flooded through me like a warm blanket on a cold night. The lingering sense of sadness was still there, but knowing they all had my back helped. As Xan and Mr. Stripes hugged me, I sank into the momentary feeling of safety as my tears soaked the cloth beneath my cheek.
“Who do I need to kill?” Caspian demanded, looking at Kye and Xan. Torryn didn’t say anything as the former explained, but the mask of fury that covered his face said all I needed to know. He swiveled on his heel and stomped toward the door without pause until a desperate ‘STOP’ tore itself from my lips and froze him in place. He turned back to me, his entire body seeming to vibrate with his anger.
“Why?” he demanded, his hands clenching and unclenching as I stepped away from Xan and hurried to his side. Ruby blinked back and forth between us, clearly sensing the insane tension radiating from him.
“Think about it! It’s my word, a lowly Mixta, against the headmaster, who will one-hundred percent deny this ever happened. Going there and beating him to a pulp would cost your job and credibility along with mine. We have to play this smart,” I begged, placing my hands on his cheeks.
“Fine. I’m heading to the faculty gym. I have to hit something if you won’t let me hit him,” he conceded with a heavy sigh. “Though killing him sounds like the better fucking option.”
“Can someone go with you?” I asked. It wasn’t I didn’t trust him, but I had no intention of letting an irate Torryn walk across campus alone.
“Nah, faculty only,” he said, kissing my forehead. “I’ll behave. And you guys stay with her.”
“Let him go,” Caspian said, looking after him with a sigh. “This is how he handles his stress.” My eyebrows rose at his words. They bickered more than average brothers, a sense of animosity always in the air between them, so it was rare to see these small glimpses into their relationship like this, but now wasn’t the time to delve deeper and get nosy. Though, holy hellsticks I wanted to.
“We need a plan. She can’t be alone. If we give him even the slightest opening, he’ll take it,” Drayce said, all traces of my carefree boyfriend gone.
“You guys can’t be here all the time,” I countered, knowing how ridiculous it sounded. Caspian was the only one I really had regular classes with.
“We can make it work,” Xan mused, going over to my desk and scribbling out notes. “Schedules?” he asked, forcing everyone to write theirs down. After we were done writing, he got to work, taking notes and flipping through the papers as he compiled them. “Here, solved. Some of us will have to rush over after our own classes, so I chose whoever was closest.”
Studying the paper he held out, I saw he’d figured out who would walk me to and from classes and a rotating schedule for sleeping in my room. Arguments ran through my mind in protest of my boyfriends babysitting me.
A witch needs some privacy now and then. Mr. Stripes can help make sure I’m safe and get them if I need them, or maybe I can wear some kind of charm.
I kept my mouth shut. Once those thoughts were pushed aside, I tried not to panic at the fact I wouldn’t get alone time for a very long time.
I guess this witch will be taking some long baths to unwind.
Hellsticks help us all.
Torryn
White-hot anger pulsed through my veins as I stomped my way to the faculty housing, dropping Ruby off on my way. The last thing she needed was to see me beating a punching bag to dust. After changing my clothes, I made a beeline for the gym, my need to expel that anger the only thing on my mind.
The ground rumbled in a slight wave, like the barest rocking of a boat, the force radiating up my legs. Taking a deep breath, I settled my power slightly, so I wouldn’t cause a massive quake as I moved through the halls.
I warded off any unwanted conversations from the other members of the faculty, all of them looking away from my glowering face when I entered the gym located on the ground floor. I needed to feel the burn of using my muscles to ground me right now and wasted no time wrapping my fists, so I could take out my frustration on the punching bag.
Sweat poured down my body as I slammed my fists into it over and over, too many feelings assaulting me. I was sickened that old fuck thought he’d have a chance with my girl. If he ever tried to touch her again, I wouldn’t hesitate to cut off the hand he used.
Needing more than just hitting, I started landing hard kicks to the swinging punching bag, nearly splitting it as power surged through me. I needed to get it together before I gave my elemental power away or freaked out my girl.
For the first time since starting our shared relationship, I was actually thankful for the other bonds she’d made. Having the other four guys there to help keep her out of his grasp made me feel just a bit better.
Sick fuck.
I nearly jumped out of my skin as Professor Bellario’s abnormally sweet voice echoed through the training room.
“I was wondering who was down here, destroying the training room. I got the unlucky opportunity to occupy the room above this.”
“My apologies, just working out,” I mumbled, not wanting to chat and making it as clear as possible without being a straight asshole.
“No worries, Professor Callahan. But while I’m here, I wanted to check in on Aris’ progress. Has she shown any improvement or odd abilities since you’ve started working with her?” Her brow arched slightly as she stared at me, conveying simple curiosity, yet her tone had the smallest hint of something I couldn’t place but might need to note for later.
“Nothing new as of late, but her telekinesis is improving,” I explained, keeping my statement short, so she would go the fuck away, and I could continue to beat the bag as if it was Tallis.
“Hmm, I guess we shall wait and see,” she mumbled, giving me that odd feeling yet again. “Have a good day. Leave the gym intact when you’re finished with it.”
I gave a small grunt since she had no say in what I did or didn’t do in this training room before slamming my foot into the bag, the echoing thud making her jump before she scurried from the room.
Why do people always feel the need to interrupt at the worst fucking times?!
By the time I finally slumped down on the bench to take a drink of water, my entire shirt was so soaked in sweat, I looked like I’d been caught in the rain. On the bright side, my anger was at a more manageable level, although I still thought punching Tallis would satisfy it better.
Sooner or later, the black cat will get the canary.
November 4th
Monday Afternoon
Caspian
The clocktower chimed, signifying the beginning of familiar training, but even the thought of seeing Lulu wouldn’t fully cheer up Aris. I continued rubbing her back on the way to class, finally releasing her when I sat her next to Lulu. I gave her a quick smile before handing her a bag of marshmallows and stood nearby, hoping some time alone with her gator would be the nudge Aris needed.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Cupcake was one of the most cheerful people I’d ever met, and here she was, barely smiling as she absently tossed marshmallows into Lulu’s open jaws. My shoulders finally loosened, relaxing about halfway through class when she started to perk up a bit. The incident with the headmaster was a big deal, and I could tell it really shook her. Fuck, it shook me too.
Giving Professor Thane a lame excuse, I grabbed my bag and hurried off to Torryn’s class on the other side of the pasture, shooting hi
m a pointed look as soon as he caught sight of me. He hurried over, his eyebrows furrowed in worry as he gestured at his group to wait behind for him.
“Is she doing any better?” he demanded, knowing something was up. My body clenched up again at his tone, but I chose not to address it this time. Torryn will always be kind of a dick, but Aris is more important.
“She’s not doing so hot. Our cheerful girl is somber and distracted. Even time with Lulu isn’t perking her up. I think she needs the night off; she’s not in the right headspace for training.”
“So, you think she should what…. spend the evening with you?” he deadpanned in a halfhearted attempt at his usual standoffish stoicism. I could see the hint of resignation there as well. I had a feeling he was beating himself up about Tallis using him against her, even though it wasn’t really his fault. Not that that ever stopped Tor from taking too much on his shoulders before. Not that any of us found it easy to watch her hurting like this and not being able to stop it.
“Yes, it’s my night with her, anyway. Let me cheer her up,” I said, though the demand was more of a question. I figured with my stubborn brother, it was the easiest path to convincing him.
“You’re right. Give her some of that Caspian charm. I just want to see her happy,” he said, his own smile sad.