I smiled. “Hi,” I commented moving to her and taking her in my arms. I kissed her slow and soft, savoring the moment before we were once again interrupted. She made my heart contort in ways I didn’t know was possible. Everything about this girl called to me. I wanted to protect her and be with her always.
“Okay you two, that’s enough of that. If we can’t make out, then neither can you.” Terrance strolled into the room past us and jumped sideways onto the large cushioned couch.
I sighed and broke our kiss. I leaned my forehead to hers and she smiled. I pulled her even closer and just held her for a moment before releasing her and taking her hand in mine. We joined Terrance on the couch.
“Where’s Jodie?” I asked.
“She’s in the shower, she’ll be here in a minute. She said go ahead and pick something, she doesn’t care what we watch.” Bethany smiled.
I turned Netflix on, found the latest Marvel movie and hit play. Bethany curled into my side and I pulled the blanket down from the back of the couch around us. We settled in as Jodie came into the room and cuddled up with Terrance.
By the time the movie was over, Bethany was sound asleep in my arms. I kissed the top of her head and easily picked her up and carried her to her bed. Jodie pulled the covers back and I slid her in, pulled the covers back up and kissed her forehead.
“I’ll keep an eye on her,” Jodie said softly.
“You gonna sleep?” I asked.
“Just rest, you know I don’t really sleep much.”
I nodded. “Thank you.” I turned and left the room, bumping into Terrance. “You headed to bed?”
He shrugged. “Figured I would. We’re getting up early to go ski, so I don’t want to be tired.”
I grinned. “Have you done it before?”
“A couple times. Never stayed anywhere near as fancy as this though. Thanks for inviting me and Jodie along.” He chuckled.
“No problem. Bethany is pretty close to Jodie, gives her someone to do girl stuff with, and Jodie wasn’t about to leave you behind,” I said with a laugh. “Though, your timing could be better,” I commented thinking about the interruption earlier.
Terrance laughed. “I’ll work on it.”
“See ya later.” I gave him a wave and moved toward my room.
“Later.”
I flopped down on my bed and shut my eyes for a while.
* * *
“Think you’re ready for the bigger slopes now?” I asked Bethany as she skied her way down the small slopes perfectly.
She removed her goggles and grinned. “I think so.”
We made our way over to the chair lift and got on the one going to one of the easier slopes. It was harder than the beginner slopes, but not too bad. Terrance and Jodie had given up two hours earlier, opting to go into town instead of continuing lessons on the beginner slopes. Jodie had fallen once too often for her liking. I was just glad that I was getting the alone time with Bethany that I craved.
Laughing, we hopped off the chair lift and headed to the starting point of the slope. We set off down the hill, twisting and turning through the course. When we reached the bottom, we collapsed in a mound of snow to take a break. I leaned in and kissed her.
“Are you having fun?”
She giggled and pulled her white scarf down past her mouth. “Yes, definitely. The most fun I’ve had in a long while.” She leaned in and put her arms around my neck. “Thank you for this,” she said softly before kissing my lips.
I smiled. “You’re welcome.” I pushed myself to my feet and then pulled her back up, careful to make sure we didn’t damage her skies. “Come on, let’s try a harder one.” I handed her the poles she dropped and together we headed back to the chair lifts.
Hours later we were on one of the harder slopes, and I felt that strange feeling I’d had the night before in the hot tub. I could smell that odd scent I’d noticed, too. I looked over at Bethany and I knew she was feeling it as well because she was suddenly looking around, not paying attention to where she was going.
My heart began to beat wildly, and I could see the panic building in her face. I used my poles to move closer to her without knocking into her. “Just keep going, whatever it is, we’ll deal with it at the bottom.”
She nodded and got a little lower, adjusting her speed as she pushed ahead of me.
Instead of following her lead, I slowed my speed down so I could see if I could figure out where the threat was coming from. It was then that I looked behind us and my eyes widened. About fifty feet behind us, a boulder about eight feet in diameter was heading straight for us and picking up snow and speed along its way. I felt the pull of magic in it and knew it wasn’t just a random occurrence. Someone had set that boulder in motion.
“Bethany!” I called to her.
She looked over her shoulder at me and I knew the moment she noticed the hurtling object behind me. “James!” she screamed, attempting to stop her forward motion.
“No, keep going! Try to get out of its path!”
She nodded and turned her head forward again, pushing on her poles to the left.
I did the same, catching up to her. I looked behind me again and noticed that the boulder was now double the size it was when I’d looked before, and it was following the same direction we’d turned. Frustrated, I called to her again, “Bethany, to the right!”
Without even looking, Bethany shifted her path, going more to the right, lowering her body and leaning forward a bit. I followed suit realizing we were still half way up the mountain. I looked behind us and the boulder had once again doubled in size and was once more on the same path we were.
“It’s magicked to follow us!” I called to Bethany.
“What!” she yelled back and looked over her shoulder at it.
“Magic!” I shouted.
She nodded and then did something I never expected. She turned her skies sideways and came to a stop. Dropping her poles, she began to form some counter magic and as the boulder sped toward us, she blasted it.
The boulder blew apart, snow and rock going everywhere as if she’d tossed a stick of dynamite into the middle of it. Bits of snow and little pieces of rock hit my back and I watched her cover her head and drop to the ground. I slid to a stop and moved my body to protect hers from the falling debris.
When I finally looked up, it was absolutely silent. We were half buried in the snow, so as I moved off of her I displaced what covered us. “Are you okay?” I asked, reaching for her.
Tears streaked her face and she was shaking. “I-I th-think s-so.”
I pulled her into my arms and held her tight. “You’re okay. I’ve got you.”
She nodded against my chest taking deep calming breaths. “What was that? Why did you tell me to use magic? What if we were seen?”
I pulled back from her and looked in her eyes. “I wasn’t saying use magic, though I’m glad you did. I was saying it was magic. Someone set that boulder off with a tracking spell. It was meant to kill us.”
Bethany’s eyes grew wide again and she started shaking.
“Come on, let’s get back to the chalet and get you warm.”
“I want to go home,” she murmured into my shoulder.
“Home?” My heart dropped. “The chalet?”
She shook her head. “Home.” Her voice was soft. “Away from here. Back to the Academy. Home.”
My heart started beating again as she clarified. For a moment there, I’d feared she had meant back to her parents’ home. And then it hit me, she’d called Dusk Academy home, and it made me smile because I thought of it as that too.
“Okay, let’s go to the chalet and I’ll make the arrangements, will that be alright?”
She nodded, still shaking. “Yes.”
I found our poles in the snow and handed her the set she’d been using, and we finished our trip down the mountain with no other interruptions. We turned in our gear and I hurried her back to the chalet.
“You go pack, I’ll get us
plane tickets and call us an uber.”
She bit her lip and hesitated.
“What?” I asked cautiously.
“How did they know we were even here?” she said softly.
I felt the muscle in my jaw tighten because I’d been wondering the same. “I don’t know, but I know you are safest at the school with the professors and the wards both on the school and on your room.” I looked at her, feeling her sadness that the trip was ruined. “I’m sorry, beautiful. I so meant for this to be a fun, relaxing trip for you.”
She smiled and moved into my arms. “I know. Thank you.” She held me tight.
“My pleasure, sweetheart. Go ahead and pack, I’ll text Jodie and let her know what’s up.”
“Okay.”
I watched her head down the hall and then I sent a text to Jodie.
Hey Jodie, Bethany and I were just attacked on the mountain. Don’t worry, she’s fine, but she wants to return home. Chalet is paid through to Monday, stay and enjoy. We’re heading back to the Academy. – James
Attacked! By what? – Jodie
We’ll explain later. Have a good time, don’t piss off Lindon. I’ll wait till he wakes before we leave. – James
Okay, see ya back at the Academy. – Jodie
Next, I called the airport and traded our tickets in for a flight leaving later this evening. Looking outside, I noticed the sun beginning to set. Lindon would be waking any time. I hurried to my room and got my stuff packed back up and brought my bag into the living room. Bethany sat on the couch holding her phone in her hands. Her bag sat next to the front door and I set my bag next to hers.
“Do you want something to eat before we go?” I asked.
She looked up at me, a haunted look in her eyes. She seemed to think about it for a few minutes and then nodded. “Yes, please.”
“Okay, I’ll go make you a sandwich. If Lindon comes out of his room, ask him to come to the kitchen for me.”
She nodded again and looked back down at her phone.
Sighing I went to the kitchen, pulled out a bag of blood and cut it open. I grabbed a straw from the counter and put it in the hole I’d made before drinking. I finished off the bag and tossed it in the receptacle Lindon had provided for our used bags. Going to the fridge, I pulled out all the things to make Bethany a turkey sandwich. I was nearly finished when Lindon strolled into the room.
“What’s going on? Why are your bags by the front door?” His black eyes narrowed on me. “What did you do to the witch?”
I frowned at him. “I didn’t do anything. We were attacked while we were skiing. Bethany is upset, so I’m taking her back to the Academy where she’s safer.”
Lindon arched a brow. “What attacked you? Animals usually stay away from the slopes, too many people.”
“Wasn’t an animal, was a magicked boulder and some person who was trying to kill us. Bethany blew it apart with her counter magic, but she’s upset. Whoever it was set that boulder after us, trying to kill us. If Bethany hadn’t misunderstood me, you might be picking up bits and pieces of us scattered all over the mountain.”
“She saved you?”
I chuckled. “Yeah, she did. Whoever it is after her was smart enough to attack when I’m at my weakest, but didn’t realize she has improved her magic, or maybe how powerful she actually is.” I shrugged. “Anyway, I’ve already called the airport and traded in our tickets. Jodie and Terrance are staying, so you’ll need to stay too.”
Lindon sighed. “Fine. Do you want a ride to the airport? And do you want me to track whoever it is down?”
“No, you don’t have to track them down. Whoever it is probably won’t follow us back to school. This felt like a plan of convenience. If they’d been at the academy, I would have recognized the scent. Anyway, I was going to call an uber, but yeah, if you aren’t busy, we’d love a ride.”
“Give the witch her sandwich. We’ll go when she’s finished.”
Chapter 3
Bethany
Lindon and James weren’t as quiet as they seemed to think as they discussed the attack in the kitchen. I listened as I tried to make sense of the attack. James was right, I was definitely upset. However, it wasn’t making me scared. Just angry. I knew that I was mostly safe at the Academy, even though most of the attacks had actually occurred there. At least there I had the wards and professors to help keep me safe. Out in the world, all I had was my magic which was, despite what James told Lindon, not all that powerful. That spell I’d done was the same one I’d used on the automatons last semester. It hadn’t been enough to take them all out and the chupacabras had to come and save me.
I was angry that my weekend was ruined and that such a special trip had been spoiled by whatever jerk was trying to kill me now. I sighed as James came into the room with my sandwich. I took it from him, not even really tasting it as I took a bite.
“You okay?”
I looked up at him. He seemed to ask me that a lot lately. I gave him as much of a smile as I could, given the circumstances. “Yeah. I’m fine.” Sighing, I blinked up at him. “I’m sorry for ending our trip early.”
He smiled and sat down next to me. “It’s alright, beautiful. There will be other trips.”
I nodded.
“So once you’re ready, Lindon is going to take us to the airport.”
“Okay,” I agreed and handed him my plate. “I’m ready now.”
James kissed my cheek and then returned to the kitchen with my plate. He was back seconds later, pulling me from my spot on the couch. “Let’s go.”
With that, he grabbed both our bags and jogged out to the SUV, put them in the trunk and had the passenger door open before I even reached the vehicle. I smiled as he started to help me in, but I paused as I felt eyes on us again. Hesitating, my gaze met his and I noticed his jaw clench. He gave me a barely noticeable nod and urged me into the car faster.
He climbed in behind me and I tucked myself into his arms. Lindon got behind the wheel and as we drove away, I could still feel those eyes on me as if they tracked our every movement. I didn’t think I would feel completely comfortable again until I was back at the Academy. We didn’t have to wait very long for our flight. I finally began to relax a little once we were in the air. I no longer felt as though I was being watched. Sighing, I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep with my head on James’ shoulder.
* * *
The plane started its descent and soon we’d landed and were making our way out of the airport to the taxicab that James had called from baggage claim. It was another hour before we were finally moving up the steps to Dusk Academy. I looked around, trying to figure out if there was still someone with their eyes on us, but I couldn’t feel anything. Not like I had in Aspen. Now it was just the usual feeling of Dusk Academy and the rightness I felt as I entered its doors.
I smiled and glanced at James. “Thank you again for the trip and for ending it early. I didn’t want to, but—”
“Beautiful, stop. The trip was meant to help you relax, not make you more anxious. If I had even thought we’d run into something like that, I never would have suggested it.” James smiled at me and brushed a stray lock of hair from my cheek and tucked it behind my ear. “Come on, let’s get your bags to your room and then maybe you can get some more sleep.”
Sighing, I nodded.
We moved almost silently down the hallway toward my room. Helen still hadn’t opted to move back in and was still rooming with Luci and Porta. It made me sad, but with how often my life seemed to be in jeopardy, I understood it.
As I unlocked my door, a voice said, “Back so soon?”
I turned to see Professor Ubel coming toward us and smiled. “Hello, Professor. Yes, James was just helping me with my luggage.”
“And was Aspen not to your liking?” he asked, arching a brow.
“Aspen was nice, but—” suddenly I hesitated telling him exactly why we were back so early and I looked at James.
“But I had a call from Cory. He is h
aving trouble with the preparations for the New Year’s Eve dance, so we decided to cut our trip short and come back to help,” James finished for me.
I smiled up at him and felt a sense of relief at not having to go over what had happened in Aspen.
“Oh, well that’s too bad. I’ve heard the skiing there is quite… magical.” Professor Ubel smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Well, Mr. Barrett, I think it would be best if you were on your way back to your dorm now that you’ve seen Miss Welch back to hers, don’t you?” He arched his brow.
With a sigh, James nodded. “Of course, Professor.” He looked at me and leaned in to kiss my cheek, and then whispered, “Open your window.”
“Goodnight, James.” I smiled and then flicked my eyes to Professor Ubel to see if he’d heard him, but it didn’t look like he had. “Goodnight, Professor.” I shoved my bags in my room and then went in.
“Goodnight, my dear girl.” Professor Ubel nodded as James moved off down the hall with a wave and I closed the door.
I listened with my ear against the door to see if the Professor moved from my doorway and down the hall, but it was so quiet. I didn’t dare open it and check. Instead I went about unpacking my bag and then as quietly as I could, I moved to the window and opened it. The weather was a bit on the chilly side, but it wasn’t long before James in his owl form flew through the opening and shifted back to human.
I grinned at the sight of him but put my finger to my lips and threw a glance toward the doorway.
“You think he’s still out there?” James mouthed, a curious look on his face.
I shrugged and whispered, “Maybe, just a weird feeling, I guess.”
He nodded. “Music?” he mouthed and pointed to the small cd player on my desk.
“Good idea,” I silently agreed. I slid a disc in and hit play, turning it on low so it wouldn’t disturb anyone in the neighboring rooms, but would allow us to speak in hushed tones without anyone in the hallway overhearing us.
A Witch’s Immunity: Supernatural Academy - Book 3 Page 2