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

by Rae Stapleton

  “Fine! I promise.” I knew he had a point but I also knew it was because I was female.

  “I can see your brain working. If the tables were reversed, would you expect any less of us?”

  “No.” I blew out a breath. “What’s your assignment? Where is everyone anyway?”

  “I have to track Grand-mère. See if we can figure out how she breached this place. Demas, Eleutian and Bodhi are all back in New Orleans working to find the traitor. Hopefully, we’ll all meet in the middle somewhere.”

  He leaned down and kissed my bruised cheek gently. “You ready to go back to the academy?”

  “I can manage by myself.”

  “I have to grab something nearby, so we’ll go together.”

  I narrowed my eyes. Not that he saw, since he was headed to the portal.

  31

  The Vampire

  Zephyr watched Colten and Evie walking toward him. She didn’t look pleased. Colten must have told her about babysitting duty. That wasn’t what they called it but she sure would.

  “Baby, reporting for duty.” Evie saluted.

  “Evie....”

  “I know. I’m sorry.” She blew her hair off her face. “Anyone seen Grimm?”

  “He hopped down to New Orleans to help out. They’re going through personnel files to see who the society employs that looks suspicious or strikes a chord. He’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

  Zephyr reached out to touch her cheek. His eyes snapped to Colten’s.

  “Compliments of the Fae,” Colten said through clenched teeth.

  “I’m fine. Can we move forward please? I’m here under your care. Nothing will happen.”

  Colten rolled his eyes. “I’m off on my assignment. I left my bike here last night,” he said as he exited the main doors.

  “Have you eaten yet?” Zephyr asked.

  Evie stomach growled.

  “Okay, let’s grab something in the cafeteria. It’s not bad, especially if Giselle is working.”

  “I want to go back to Maggie’s room after we eat. I’m not going to sit in my room and twiddle my thumbs.”

  “No one expects that of you, and you know full well that’s true.”

  “You’re right. Food should help. Maybe I’m hangry.”

  Giselle wasn’t there but they both ordered grilled cheese.

  Evie opened her door. “I have to change clothes just in case we get lucky tonight.”

  “Uh, it’s better to have no clothes if we get lucky.”

  “Not that kind, perv. Someone had to get in and out of Maggie’s room. I’m not sure about that room under the window seat. It didn’t really lead anywhere.”

  “It took you to the spell room.”

  “Right, sorry, my mouth can’t keep up with my brain. I don’t know for sure but I think that portal was new and you’re right, it led to Grand-mère’s spell room. Why would she kill Maggie, it makes no sense?”

  “You still don’t want to believe she’s bad.”

  “I haven’t seen enough definitive proof. Besides, I heard the clique say suspicious things. What if they did it?”

  “I certainly wouldn’t put it past them. The Fae are a treacherous lot, even the nice ones.”

  Evie was wearing head to toe black when they entered Maggie’s room.

  “Let’s check the closet. We’ve found things in other areas after two or three times of searching,” Evie said as she made a beeline for it.

  It was small but still had room for one person to stand inside and move around. Evie walked in and shoved the hanging clothes across the bar to the right. Zephyr clicked his flashlight on and shined it in over Evie’s head. He moved it up and down, side to side to cover the revealed space. Evie felt around the walls but there was nothing. She moved all the clothes to the left and they repeated the process. Evie turned around to walk out when something caught Zephyr’s eye. Attached to the wall were large hooks that Maggie used to hang necklaces and scarves.

  “Look at that, Evie. The second one is upside down, and there’s a puddle of accessories on the floor.”

  She slid past Zephyr to look at the secret drawer she had forced open. “Zephyr, I think this hook opens this drawer. I found it earlier but couldn’t figure out how it opened. Watch it for me. I’m not sure it’ll work now; I kind of butchered it.” Evie stepped back in the closet.

  Zephyr watched. “It’s moving like the mechanism is trying to work. Are you turning that hook?”

  “I am. Okay, let’s see if any of these others do anything.”

  Zephyr stepped back in. Evie turned the top hook. They heard a noise but couldn’t discern from where. She looked at him. He nodded. “Go ahead. Turn the other two.”

  She did. Hook three didn’t turn, but with the fourth one, they heard a loud click. They both stepped out into the room. Searching.

  “Evie, look at the window seat!”

  “What? That can’t be. Oh!” The wood paneled wall on one side was open a crack. She had been up there checking books looking for any sign the other day and now they’d missed two different ways to exit the room. Zephyr removed the cushion and pulled the wall open. It was simply a door. The bookshelf and books going across, although real, was a deception.

  “Come on, Z. Let’s go.”

  “Evie, wait a minute. Let me go first. You stay behind me.” Zephyr stepped inside and followed the four wooden steps down. They followed the darkened hallways, turning this way and that. Every so often, moonlight would shine through a round window several feet above Zephyrs’ head.

  “Our dorm rooms must have been part of much larger rooms in the past. Why else would there be windows?”

  “Possibly. Evie, I think we’re working our way to the center of the main building.” He ducked under a giant cobweb that he could see with his vampire eyesight and turned to warn her. Too Late. “Don’t move and don’t scream.”

  “What?!”

  Zephyr clamped his hand over her mouth while pulling the massive cobweb from her hair. He shivered as he wiped it on the wall.

  “Are you okay, now?”

  “Yes. It felt like something was crawling on me.” She shuddered.

  He shivered again. He did not like bugs. Good thing vampires didn’t really sleep in coffins. Or in the dirt.

  The hall ended with two heavy wooden doors with round iron handles. Zephyr opened the door on the left to a narrow landing next to a spiral staircase. He shined the light down. It looked as though it went all the way down to the ground floor, maybe farther. Looking up, he saw it rose farther than the four levels, maybe it went to the roof. He backed out and shut the door, turning to speak to Evie when he heard a muffled scream that cut off almost immediately. She was gone. He ran back the way they came for a minute before going back to the second door.

  As soon as he opened it, a section of the floor dropped into a slant, tossing him forward. He couldn’t stop his momentum on the slick surface. Now, he knew what had happened to Evie. He was sliding face first down a metal spiral slide.

  He shot out of the slide at the bottom into, of all things, a pile of foam insulation. It stopped him cold. He looked over and saw Evie face down in the foam. He’d lost his phone on the way down, but it looked like she was shaking or crying.

  “Evie! Are you all right?” He scrambled to her and gently flipped her over to find she was laughing her ass off.

  “Jesus, Evie, it’s not funny.”

  “Y-y-yes i-it i-issss!” She wiped her eyes and kept breaking into giggles.

  “Help me find my phone.”

  Evie pulled her phone from her pocket, clicking the flashlight on and looked around the square room. She pointed. “There it is. It didn’t slide like you did.” She let loose a deep belly laugh and Zephyr shook his head but couldn’t keep from chuckling. Her laugh was contagious.

  She finally quit laughing. “Where do you think we are?”

  “I’d guess we’re on the main floor. That was at least three flights.”

  Ev
ie handed him his phone and shone her light around. “There’s a rather skinny door over there sort of under the slide.”

  “Turn off the flashlight. We don’t want anyone to see us.”

  She did so, then he tried the latch. It was an old-fashioned lever type handle. Pushed down, it raised the hooked other side which released the hold on the bar. He pushed the door open and didn’t hear anything, so he stepped into the next room with Evie on his heels. They moved forward a couple of steps. The door closed behind them. Zephyr felt around the walls and noticed they needed to turn and squeeze through another area. Once inside, they were squeezed together in the tight space. They stood like that for a few minutes until their eyes adjusted to the darkness, and they found two peepholes directly in front of them. “Move in front of me.”

  Evie slid sideways a bit and grabbed ahold of Zephyr’s shoulders to pull her body around.

  “You’re going to face the wrong way. Somehow you have to turn around.”

  She climbed up Zephyr’s body with his help and he turned around and let her slide back down.

  “Someone’s glad to see me.”

  “Shhh. We don’t know if anyone can hear us.”

  Just like Evie to get revenge. She raised up on her tip toes and wriggled against him.

  He decided to get grabby back when she gasped.

  “We’re next to the fireplace in Headmistress Barnabus’ office.”

  “This must be a priest hole, then. Let me feel around.” They heard a click, and both tumbled out onto the floor.

  Just as they started to look around, Zephyr heard footsteps on the main staircase. Whoever it was, they were still far enough away but they were practically running.

  Without warning, Zephyr ran for the passage, “Come on. We’ve got to get back in here.”

  “Oh, hell no. I’m done with tiny spaces. I’ll take the stairs this time.”

  “Someone’s coming.”

  “I don’t hear anything.”

  “That’s because you’re not a vampire. Just trust me.”

  “Fine.”

  Evie backed in and Zephyr followed, pulling the door shut behind them. They were both silent as the door opened and a light was switched on. Zephyr’s eyes adjusted almost immediately; but even before that he recognized the headmistress’ scent. There was paper rustling. Then she let out a little scream.

  Evie pinched Zephyr’s leg and he squeezed her fingers. Then he bent down, knowing he was smashing Evie, and used his heightened vision to look out the spy holes.

  The headmistress was holding a piece of paper in her hands and she looked upset. He tried but failed to see what was on the paper. He did note the words were written in red. Blood? Was that what had her so freaked out? After another minute, she set the paper down and left again, shutting off the light before closing the door.

  Zephyr opened the door. After helping Evie out, he closed the passage door behind them and headed for the desk. He needed to know what had sent the headmistress out in such a panic: THEY’RE COMING TO GET YOU, BARBARA!

  “What’s that?” Evie asked, crossing the room.

  “I don’t know but I think it’s another threatening note so don’t touch it. We’ll need to tell Demas so it can be checked for prints. Whatever it is, it scared the hell out of the headmistress.

  Thud. Thud. Thud.

  More footsteps. These were different. Not the headmistress’. Maybe it was whoever was supposedly coming to get her.

  Zephyr flew across the room and fiddled with the door, careful not to break it with his super strength. “How does this thing open?”

  Evie bent down and attempted to tug and push. “I don’t know how to open a priest hole from the outside. It must only open one-way and we closed it. Shoot!”

  “Move over and I’ll rip it off.”

  “No! Then they’ll know we were in here. We’ll just hide.”

  Evie ran for the door that led to the office next door and Zephyr followed her.

  Unfortunately, it was the wrong door at the wrong time. A flashlight shone through the top half of the wavy glass door just as Evie pushed the door between the offices shut. Someone was coming in.

  Zephyr thought fast and pushed Evie down onto the couch, kissing her full on the mouth, just as the flashlight beam came through the door and illuminated them. Zephyr deepened the kiss, wrapping his arms around her while Evie let loose with an exaggerated moan.

  “Hey! What’s going on in here?” A stern voice called out.

  At the sound of the voice, Zephyr broke his suction hold of her lips and started up in feigned surprise. “Oh! Sorry, we were just…uh…” he did his best impersonation of a flustered teenager, embarrassed to be caught making out.

  “You two shouldn’t be in here. This is the Assistant Headmistress’ office.”

  “Okay, okay. Sorry man, ugh, Sir.” He got to his feet and pulled Evie up beside him who was doing an excellent job of playing along.

  “We didn’t mean any harm,” she said.

  “Just trying to get a moment alone, you know?” Zephyr added. They linked hands and moved toward the security guard.

  “Well, go find somewhere else to be alone. This door should have been locked,” the man repeated.

  “Yes, Sir. Enjoy your night!” Zephyr waved as he moved by him, tugging Evie’s arm and pulling her with him into the corridor.

  Hearts racing, they made their way as swiftly as possible back around the main staircase into the communal area, breath coming in quick gasps—more from adrenaline than exertion. Evie trotted awkwardly, obviously having some trouble keeping up with Zephyr’s vampire-fast strides. They trekked across the main building and headed for the dorm wing.

  Once they were far enough away, Zephyr and Evie both let loose a bout of suppressed laughter.

  “I can’t believe that worked,” Evie said, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes, “We should really call Demas and let him know what we found.”

  32

  The Gargoyle

  U nlike the rest of the unit, Colten found it suffocating to hang out with five other dudes around the clock, he was a loner by nature and needed an allotted amount of time every day to brute. Back home, he’d had the boxing ring to blow off steam but he hadn’t found anywhere around here to land a punch aside from some local asshole’s face which the Boss man frowned upon. After what Evie had told them about Grand-mère Delphine being inside the house, he’d been in the mood for a good brawl.

  Demas had devised a plan and given each of them tasks on top of finding a murderer and a rat in the forensics department.

  Zephyr and Eleutian were working on technology and wards. Bodhi was on security—physically searching the house for the old trickster. Grimm was on Evie’s protective detail while Colten had been sent on a scouting mission. He’d used the portal to get to New Orleans and driven what felt like hundreds of miles up and down Louisiana, checking in with every shady contact he knew, looking for information on the old woman’s whereabouts, but he’d come up empty. His next stop was a shady tattoo parlor.

  “I’m looking for Billy-Joe,” Colten said, to the man hovering at the door. He had a distinctive neck tattoo, the blue-black ink covering almost every inch in a spiderweb like pattern.

  “That’s me,” a man from behind him said, his face breaking into a smile as he set his tattooing instrument on the bench. “What can I do for you?”

  “I’m looking for someone—a witch by the name of Delphine. Have you seen her?”

  Billy-Joe frowned.

  “Why would I know the location of an old witch.”

  “I never said she was old.”

  Billy-Joe looked chagrined.

  “Briar Midnight was the one who gave me the tip. You know Briar?”

  He nodded. “Sure, it’s a small community. She does good work.”

  “Right. Well, she says you’re connected, and you can find anyone. She also said you can hide anyone so I’m gonna ask again, you know where I can find the witch?
”

  “What’s she done now?” He asked.

  Colten tilted her head to one side, his words puzzling him. “What do you mean by that?”

  “Well, you’re not the first big burly dude to come around here asking about her is all. She’s been bringing a lot of unwanted attention around here.”

  “Really? Who else asked about her?”

  Billy-Joe gestured toward one of the designs on the wall. A symbol Colten recognized stood for werewolf.

  Colten nodded. “I see.”

  Billy-Joe looked at Colten, his eyes as dark as the ink on his neck. “Listen, I haven’t seen her in a while. Last I heard she was spotted living with someone in New York.”

  “Who?”

  “I don’t know. Leave me your digits and I’ll look into it—I think it was someone named Lang or Elaine.”

  “Thanks for your help,” Colten said, breaking the moment. He shook Billy-Joe's hand and walked away but stopped when he noticed a young woman waving to him. Her hair was bright pink, tied back from a shimmering face. Her eyes were wide, curved intelligent, but also slightly wary, as if she were used to dealing with large motorcycling riding men.

  “Hi, there handsome,” she said, her voice bold. “Did I hear you say you’re looking for Grand-mère Delphine?”

  “You did,” Colten said. “You know where I can find her?”

  “Maybe …” The young woman hesitated; her eyes guarded. “She doesn't really like people checking up on her though.”

  “It’s about her family,” Colten said. “Trust me. She’ll want to hear from me. Can you give me her address?”

  “I don’t know it,” she replied. “Sorry.”

  Colten pulled out his smartphone and opened a map application. “Can you point to an area at least?”

  “You should check out Pixie Hollow,” the young woman said. “I’ve seen her there before.”

  Colten thought of the fine establishment she’d just mentioned and furrowed his brow. “You expect to me believe Grand-mère frequents exotic dance clubs now?”

  Her eyes darted away from his face and back again. The woman oozed sexuality—definitely Fae. And Colten didn’t trust the Fae. They were tricksters.