Sticks & Stones Spell Werewolf Bones: A Why Choose Academy Romance

by Rae Stapleton

  “No. Grimm’s gone too so I guess he’s with her wherever she is. Just hurry up and get here. I can see Demas buzzing through on the other line.”

  “Already on my way.” Hopping on his Harley, he headed toward the university campus. He’d been staying in a place right outside the campus for just such an emergency.

  The cloudy sky obscured the moon, but the bright campus lights guided his way down the deserted roads and the roar of his bike masked any other sounds. It was almost as if he were the only person on earth.

  He made the drive in a record three minutes and hurried to the building’s main door. The door was locked. Right. It was the middle of the night. He swore and partially transformed, careful not to lose his clothing, and using his claws scaled the gothic building. Just as Zephyr had indicated, it was empty.

  He could hear the faint beat of music coming through the walls so he followed it out into the hall, where the sickly-sweet stench of pot hit him. One of the girls was clearly having a party. Perhaps they’d seen Evangeline.

  He knocked on the door and after several beats too many finally just opened it. The room was littered with red solo cups and scattered clothing. Two college boys were naked and lined up against the far wall with solo cups covering their crotches.

  Against the opposite wall stood three young women, most of the Fae Hate Clique.

  “Well, hey there, handsome.” One of the girls turned and smiled at him. Waves of sexual energy rolled over him.

  Damn fairies. No wonder the boys were naked. Fairies loved to torture for their own amusement.

  Colten reminded them he was Evie’s boyfriend, then asked, “What’s going on here?”

  “Not much. Just having a little fun.” The rainbow-haired leader approached him and handed him a red solo cup. “Join us.”

  Colten sniffed the drink, bourbon. Perfect. He took a sip and then set the cup down on the table beside him. That’s when he noticed the rainbow-haired chick was running her hand up and down his chest like the day before, settling at last on his crotch. She ran her hand back and forth there too until the bulge grew. Then she undid the top button of his jeans. “Wanna join in? From the feel of things, I think we’d like what you’re packing.”

  “I just bet you would, darlin’.” Colten pasted a pleasant expression on his face. He knew better than to fight back with open aggression. It only made them more powerful. Whatever they’d given him was doing something to his inhibitions. “But that’s not why I’m here.” Turning to the rest of the room, he said, “Have any of you seen Evangeline?”

  “Oh, yeah,” one of the other girls teased, reaching for the front clasp of her bra, which was barely containing boobs the size of cantaloupes. They bounced free as she released the clasp and she smirked. “I think I saw her sucking face with the new vampire boy.”

  “I don’t know about his face, but she was certainly sucking something.” The third girl said as she stepped behind her friend and began fondling her friend.

  Colten took a deep breath, knowing they were just trying to get a rise out of him—one way or another. That was how fairies worked. “Listen.” Colten crossed his arms. “I need to find her. When was the last time you saw her?”

  “I guess it was around midnight, but we already told you she’s busy. She said she was going home to ride the vampire tonight.” The fondling fairy stopped playing with her friend’s boobs and approached Colten instead. She dropped to her knees, undid his zipper, and attempted to stuff him into her mouth.

  “Uh-huh.” Colten pushed her away with a firm hand. “Sorry to cut you off there, but I really need to be on my way.” If he’d learned anything about dealing with fairies, it was that they wouldn’t give up.

  He slowly stepped backward as he shoved his rock-hard appendage back into his pants. The three girls followed him but before they could pounce, he heard Zephyr at his back, “Hurry up, Colten. I think I hear the headmistress threatening to call the police.”

  The girl’s faces changed in an instant. “That traitor! She’ll pay for that.”

  “We’ll see you soon, then, lover boy.” The rainbow-haired girl glared while the other two shoved the other boys’ clothing into their arms and pushed them into the hall, most likely wiping their minds in the process so they couldn’t tattle.

  “Well…” Zephyr said, looking at Colten as he zipped his jeans back up, “Were you violated?”

  “Almost.” Colten studied Zephyr’s face and said, “You look awful. Are you all right?”

  “Thanks. You look cute, too.” Zephyr scowled. “My head is pounding, but don’t worry. You’ll know what I’m feeling soon enough.”

  “There was something in that cup, wasn’t there?”

  Zephyr nodded. “You were just about to get date raped.”

  “I suppose I owe you a favor now.”

  “I suppose you do, but first let’s head to the dead girl’s room. I just felt Evie return.” They passed under the yellow crime scene tape just as Evangeline climbed out from inside the window seat.

  29

  The Vampire

  M orning arrived entirely too early—especially since there was a basketball bouncing around inside Zephyr’s skull. After swallowing a couple of Advil, Zephyr threw on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt before gingerly walking down the stairs to the first floor of the Island house. They’d returned through the portal last night after Evie gave them all a heart attack. Being vampire, he didn’t require a lot of sleep and he was usually the first one up, but judging by the raised voices that greeted him in the hallway, the rest of the unit had beaten him to the kitchen.

  Zephyr rubbed between his eyes and said, “Either stop shouting or somebody put a bullet in my brain.”

  “Poor baby.” Evie’s hands pressed against his cheeks. “Have a coffee. You’ll feel better soon.”

  “Just give it to me intravenously,” Zephyr said. “I don’t think I can stomach the taste. Where’s Colten?”

  “Still sleeping,” Bodhi answered. “I would imagine he feels much like you do.”

  “No, I’m up,” Colten said, rounding the corner, “though I’d rather be dead. I’m gonna make that Queen of the clique pay when I see her. Thanks, Boss,” he said, accepting coffee from Demas. “So, what’d I miss?”

  “Besides Colten getting assaulted by a faery?” Bodhi jabbed him hard in the side and laughed.

  “Grimm and I,” Evie answered, placing her hands on her hips and glaring at Bodhi, “were just talking about our little adventure off grid last night.”

  “Right? Did I see you climbing out from the floor or was that the drugs talking?”

  “No, you saw correctly. There’s a secret staircase below that window seat,” Evie said.

  “How did you miss that, Bodhi?” Colten goaded.

  Bodhi flung a tea bag at his head.

  Colten caught it and flung it back.

  “Knock it off, you two.” Demas boomed.

  “There’s a false bottom. A rail that goes all the way around and holds plywood in place. Underneath is the stone staircase,” Grimm answered.

  “How very gothic of the place,” Colten said.

  “Downstairs was a big room and a wall covered in pictures.” Grimm explained.

  “It looks like a police murder board,” Evie said.

  “I still say it looked like the wall of a stalker,” Grimm added. “There were red strings pinned from one picture to the next and they were all of Maggie or at least that’s what we thought at first.”

  “Oh, that’s right,” Evie said, taking off.

  “Where are you going?” Bodhi shouted after her.

  “To get the evidence I collected.” She returned a moment later and handed Demas the photos of Maggie and her doppelganger. “It looks like two identical Maggie’s, but that’s impossible.”

  “That one’s boobs are definitely bigger,” Bodhi said.

  Evie rolled her eyes, “Not you, too.”

  “What? We’re trained to notice detail,”
he replied with a smirk.

  “That’s Razor Howl’s other daughter,” Demas said. He looked at Evie. “He had two pups.”

  “Maggie has a sibling? She never told me that.”

  “Chlotilde,” he replied.

  “Anyway, that doesn’t explain why they couldn’t sense you,” Eleutian asked.

  “Oh, yes. There was a little alcove tucked away at the other end that turned out to be a portal. Can you guess where it led?”

  All the boys just stared, waiting on Evangeline’s answer.

  “Grand-mère’s spell room—her new set-up.”

  “How do you know? You didn’t see her, did you?” Demas asked.

  Evie shook her head. “My grandmother’s casket was there.”

  Bodhi gaped. “She still carries Sarah around with her?”

  “And here’s the part you guys aren’t going to like.” Evie paused, “I recognized her magic. She’s been here in the New York house. She tried to cover it up, but I can see through it now.”

  Zephyr whispered, “She’s breached our security but...”

  “But how…?” Evie finished the sentence for him. “I don’t know but she found a way so I suggest you guys run a systems check.”

  30

  Midnight Witch

  I headed to my favorite class, Ancient Symbols, Sigils and Mandalas. I’d devoured the books Demas had given me to read over the summer, and enjoyed adding more and more knowledge to my growing arsenal of tattoos. With the tracker team, you never knew what sigil or combination thereof they would need to combat supernatural crime. Plus, I was determined to keep the boys healthy. I had just turned the corner into the long hallway leading to the classroom when something was thrown over my head. I couldn’t see! Blindly, I reached out, trying to figure out who was there, I heard giggling and one harsh shush. Was that a man?

  “Lennon, is that you?” My arms were yanked behind my back and I was being forced to walk. I struggled to get free and managed it for a few seconds, until something hit me in the face so hard, I crumpled to the floor. I was vaguely aware of being dragged through what felt like a doorway. My hands, now loose, were useless. That was the last thing I remembered.

  “Evie! Evie, wake up.” My eyelids fluttered. Giselle Sprigg was leaning over my face. “Are you all right?”

  “Yeah, I think so. What happened?”

  Giselle helped me sit up. “How many fingers am I holding up?”

  “I’m okay.” I pulled at the material bunched up around my neck. It was a black hood. What the hell? Then it came flooding back. It only lasted a couple of minutes but it was terrifying. I looked around; we were in a cleaning supply closet.

  “How did you find me?”

  “The clique came in late and you always arrive early so I suspected something was wrong. I marched over to Lennon and asked where you were. She said you were cleaning up a mess. I started to search the other classrooms in this hall when I remembered this cleaning closet.” She shrugged.

  “Thank you, Giselle. Well, at least I know who did it; even if it can’t be proven. You better get back to class. I’ll send an email to the professor.”

  Comforting my cheek, I walked to the portal in the back stacks in the library and arrived at The Hideaway. I went straight upstairs, hoping I wouldn’t end up with a shiner. The boys would throw a fit. I glanced out the window of my room on the way into the bathroom and noticed a curious gargoyle on the ledge. That was new. Ignoring it, I turned into the bathroom to have a look at my face. A small but prominent bruise had bloomed on my cheekbone already. I gently touched it, wincing. The good news was I didn’t feel any pain around my eye.

  I returned to my room and sat on my bed, contemplating a nap. That’s when I realized what I had seen—and what I now saw—outside my bedroom window. Colten perched on the ledge where the gargoyle had been.

  I threw up the sash and yelled at the shadowy figure. “May I ask what the hell you’re doing, creeping outside my window?”

  “I can explain,” he said, throwing one leg inside and inching forward.

  “So, do it then.” I crossed my arms and waited. This had better be good. I was so tired of these boys and their toxic masculinity bullshit. Like I couldn’t take care of myself. I was a damned witch with an affinity for ink magic.

  “I wanted to see you.”

  I let out a harsh laugh. “Uh-huh.”

  “You’re probably wondering why I didn’t just use the bedroom door?” He paced in front of me like a large caged beast.

  “Unless you’re feeling suicidal? I can’t really think of a good reason to hang out on the ledge of a building, no. Or, are you watching me like some sort of creepy stalker pervert?”

  “It’s nothing like that.” His eyes immediately went to my boobs.

  I raised my eyebrows in doubt.

  “Okay, it’s a little like that. What? I’m horny.” He looked at me intently. He narrowed his eyes. “What happened to your face?”

  “Nothing. Colten! I’d better not find my fingernail clippings in your pocket.”

  “What? Gross. I’d be much more likely to steal a pair of your panties.”

  I flared my nostrils in anger. “Be serious.”

  “Never mind. It’s none of your business.”

  He stomped down the stairs. I followed him. I was tired of Colten avoiding conflict with me. He grabbed a bottle of bourbon from the liquor cabinet and a shot glass down from the shelf. I should have guessed. After pouring two fingers’ worth in the glass, he downed it, then filled it again. Finally, keeping his back to me, he spoke. “I don’t feel like talking about it. Please just leave me alone.”

  I picked a book up off the coffee table and whipped it at his head. He reached up and caught it mid-air without so much as turning, which only pissed me off more. “You know, I’ve heard the guys make jokes about you being heartless—being made of stone —but I’ve never really believed it and yet you seem to have no emotional capacity.”

  “You really think I have no feelings?”

  “Um . . . hello? Can you see yourself right now? You’re not even angry. You might as well be a brick wall. You have no feelings whatsoever.”

  “Yes, I do. Or I used to.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I took a deep breath and stepped forward, “Does this have to do with your powers? You know, I still don’t know what you are.”

  “I’m cursed, that’s what I am.”

  “Cursed? How? Please, just talk to me, Colten. Don’t shut down.”

  “There was an accident. An accident.” He took another drink. “It wasn’t my fault, but I killed an innocent woman.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I was an angelic assassin. I killed evil men. That was my job and I was good at it, but something went wrong… the last time. An innocent woman got caught in the crossfire. Her child was also hurt, badly. Long story short, the woman who died, her sister was a witch and she cursed me for my mistake.”

  “You were an angel?” I said, still trying to wrap my head around the first part.

  “Yeah, but I screwed up so no one would help me and so now I’m made of stone.”

  “I’m sorry but I’m not following. How did the witch curse you and what does it have to do with you stalking me?”

  Colten grinned and took another swig of bourbon. “Like I said, I’m made of stone.”

  “She cursed you to have no feelings?”

  He laughed, but it was more of a cynical snort. “No, she literally turned me to stone. I’m not stalking you, Evangeline. I’m guarding you. That’s what I do. I’m a guardian—a gargoyle.”

  “That was you? Outside the window at the academy?”

  “Yes, and many times before that.”

  I walked to the fridge, yanked out one of the bottles of beer and twisted off the top. “In the cemetery?” I questioned before taking a huge gulp.

  “Of course.” He nodded. “I often watched over you. You’re the. . . the first person
I’ve been able to love since being turned into this monster. I don’t want . . . I don’t want you to hate me. I should have told you before.”

  “Damn right. Stalking a lady is considered rude, even if you are attempting to protect her, but I understand.” I softened my voice and walked closer, “I love you too, Colten.” I wrapped my arms around him, “and I don’t think you’re a monster at all. I think you’re one of the bravest men I’ve ever met, and you make a gorgeous stone protector. So, if you’re an angelic assassin cursed to be a gargoyle. How did you wind up as a hell-hound?”

  “I was given an option and I took it. If I served out my term as a guardian of the gate, then my curse would be lifted.”

  “But my father ruined that for you.”

  He nodded. “When we failed in our mission, we all reverted to our supernatural state. This is mine.”

  “I’m sorry, Colten. But if it helps, you can hang around outside my window anytime.” I smiled and he kissed me. “just give me a wave or a knock on the glass first so I know you’re there.”

  “Even if you’re with one of the guys?” He asked, his eyebrows moving up and down.

  I furrowed my brow. “Don’t be a pervert.”

  He laughed. “Okay, sorry. But in all seriousness, what happened to your face?”

  “It’s no big deal. I walked into a wall.”

  “Midnight….”

  “Okay, apparently the clique threw a hood over my head and when I freaked and tried to get away, they hit me and knocked me out.”

  Colten’s stone face was showing a great deal of emotion, now.

  I rushed out the rest. “They left me in a closet, and I was only out for about five minutes. Giselle figured something was up and found me. I’m fine. It’s a tiny bruise.”

  “They have no fucking idea how lucky they are that I’m being sent on an assignment. I will tell you this, Midnight. You will always have either Grimm or Zephyr with you. Do you understand?”

  I sputtered. “But….”

  “First your friend, then the voodoo doll and the shit Zephyr heard, and now this? You need to take your safety seriously. You jeopardize cases and lives when you don’t.”