Smoke and Mirrors (41 page)

“What do you say, Ms. Wells?” Alexandra asked.

Kimberly stared blankly, unable to process what was being asked of her around the headache pulsing at her temples.

The dean cleared his throat. “It is quite an honor for one of our students to be accepted to such an esteemed coven directly out of the academy.”

Kimberly shook her head and stood up, backing toward the door. “Thank you, but I wasn’t prepared—this is too much—”

Professor Reed stepped in, her no nonsense tone cutting through any building arguments. “Of course it is. We couldn’t formally extend the invitation until you finished your finals, so of course you had no reason to think you would be accepted into a coven so soon.”

Alexandra added, “I’ve had Colin and Eleanor here keep a close eye on you ever since I heard we had a sorcerer in our midst. There is a great deal I would like to discuss with you, young lady. It’s quite possible that this coven’s intervention is the reason you are alive at this moment, with your magic intact. If nothing else, I want you to understand how much your contributions to The Circle would mean, not only to you, but to future sorcerers who wish to train at Blackhollow.”

Kimberly bit her lip, glancing first at Professor Reed, who nodded and folded her arms, making the polished school charm at her wrist—teacher’s gold instead of student silver—wink in the light. Then Kimberly shifted her gaze to the dean.

His thin lips quirked briefly in a smile. There was no humor in it. “You’re very lucky, Kimberly. I’m not sure if anyone has told you just how lucky you are that Professor Reed figured it out before the rest of us. She’s been your silent supporter for longer than you’ve known.”

Alexandra continued before Kimberly could fully process that statement.

“You will have the rest of the week to have the opportunity to meet with the other local covens, naturally, but—and I am speaking from experience, my dear—The Circle provides more stability, opportunity, and protection than any other coven on the eastern seaboard.”

“Plus the pay can’t be beat,” Arnold added.

Alexandra smiled. It reminded Kimberly of a shark; it never reached her eyes. “We would like to work with you, Ms. Wells. The potential power in blending sorcery and magecraft could bring a great deal of benefit to this city.”

“I’m not sure if I’m ready for a coven. Not after what I’ve been learning these last few weeks.”

“Ms. Wells,” Alexandra said, “you’re not the first sorcerer to be offered a place at The Circle. We could use someone with your gift in Other relations in our outreach programs for obtaining familiar volunteers. You would be very well compensated. Think it over and let us know.”

Kimberly bowed her head and wrapped her hand over the stamped coin on her wrist. It took every ounce of concentration she had to avoid flinching at the influx of Cormac’s angry emotions roiling beneath the impassive surface. Flashes of his thoughts about the skeletons in the entrance of the school, Rieva’s scars, and both friends and enemies lost to servitude to magi, made her stomach take a sick plunge.

When she had learned what the covens were, and about The Circle, it had been her dream to be offered a job working for them. It had been everything she thought she wanted.

Now she knew they wanted to buy her knowledge and contacts to draw more earthbound familiars into their web, to become pawns to the magi who worked there. The thought of seeing Rieva or Eddie go through that special hell of emotional trauma because of her was enough to remind her of the choice she’d made days ago. Not that it was any easier to get the words out.

This. This is what Professor Reed was talking about, she thought, her hand tightening over the school symbol until the wire band of the bracelet cut into her palm. Growing as a person. Taking my place in the social order. But maybe that doesn’t mean fitting someone else’s idea of what makes me whole anymore.

When she looked up, Professor Reed’s normally impassive features were more closed than usual, her lips a thin white slash. Whatever she thought about the situation, by the growing collection of fine lines around her eyes, Kimberly guessed it wasn’t anything good. Whatever her opinions, she was keeping them to herself.

Sensing Kimberly’s trepidation, Cormac placed his hand on her shoulder, and she let go of the bracelet to lightly touch her fingers to his in a silent show of appreciation. Despite his feelings—so strong she couldn’t possibly ignore them—he stayed quiet, leaving the decision in her hands. Though it frightened her enormously to know what she was about to do, she knew Cormac would be behind her, no matter her choice.

“Thank you. All of you. Very much.”

She bit her lip, then continued in a rush, knowing there was danger here.

It was time to grow up.

“I’m afraid I can’t accept your offer. I’ve already made plans to act as a business partner and consultant with Rieva Ke’rin. However”—she had to speak up to be heard over the gasps and sputtering—“however, I would be happy to act as a consultant to The Circle in matters of sorcery. We can discuss arrangements for my services after I finish school and officially open for business.”

Cormac gave her a light squeeze, pride radiating through the simple touch. Kimberly drew strength from it, and smiled because she knew that—no matter what—she was ready to face anything as long as he had her back.

EPILOGUE

“I still can’t believe you turned The Circle down,” Xander exclaimed, his eyes aglow from all the energy rushing through his veins after his first taste of Black Star Café coffee. It had cheered him up enormously after his girlfriend had not showed up for their little graduation party. “The Circle! What I wouldn’t give to have a job there.”

Rieva snorted, pointing her forkful of brown sugar cheesecake at him before shoving it in her mouth. “You, little man, have a lot to learn about your own people if you’re still surprised at her decision.”

Xander rubbed the back of his neck, then looked around the café again, taking in the occupants for the umpteenth time since Cormac and Kimberly had brought him. Most of them didn’t appear to mind his scrutiny, save for a woman with skin as white as snow and hair dark as a raven’s wing who kept hiding behind her paperback every time she noticed he was looking in her direction. It only served to make him more curious about her, though at the nudge on his foot from Kimberly’s sneaker he was soon brought back to the conversation at hand.

“Hey, don’t sweat it. I know it probably seems crazy now, but if you ever get to feel what it’s like having a fae familiar’s thoughts in your head, you’ll understand why I turned it down.”

Cormac huffed, his hand settling over hers. “Don’t tell me you’re still regretting—”

“Not you, silly. Never you.”

As they leaned in for a kiss, Heather lightly flicked her napkin at her daughter, though her steely gaze of disapproval was mostly for Cormac. “That’s quite enough PDA, you two. Mom is watching.”

Rieva smirked, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “It’s best not to come between a dragon and his treasure, Heather. You’ll learn these things on the job.”

Heather shook her head, her eyes rolling heavenward. “What am I doing working around dragons and unicorns and what have you? I must be mad.”

“Not mad, Mom. Wasn’t it you who said that supernatural creatures have to eat, too?”

Rieva barked out a laugh as Heather nodded. Cormac grinned as he took another bite of cheesecake, wisely saying nothing.

Rieva turned to Xander. “Speaking of jobs, what is it you plan to do? You graduated as well, yes?”

He nodded. “I did. I’m still trying to figure that out. I took a pile of applications for covens home with me to fill out, but after hearing Kimberly’s plan, I’m not sure if that’s the right path for me either. I might try striking out on my own, too.”

The changeling nodded sagely, as if he had said the wisest thing she had ever heard.

“Not a bad choice. You have some raw power and potential as a freelancer,” Cormac said.

“You really think so?”

At Cormac’s nod, Xander beamed, the pride radiating from him at the dragon’s approval making everyone else smile and laugh.

“So, Kimberly,” Rieva said a moment later, reaching over her plate of cheesecake to grab her mug of fae-infused coffee and lift it, “I think we have a few things to toast, don’t you? To new partnerships.”

Xander reached for his. “To graduating.”

Heather smiled and lifted her mug. “New jobs.”

Cormac lifted his mug. “New beginnings.”

Kimberly reached for her mug, then paused. She looked around at her gathered friends and family. To Rieva, whose respect she finally felt she had earned. Xander, who held no other expectations than those of friendship. Her mom who, for the first time she could recall, no longer had dark circles under her eyes. Cormac, whose blue eyes were aglow with love and need for her.

With a smile, she lifted her mug, and toasted.

“To the things that matter most. The people we love, and who love us in return.”

And to that, they drank, and laughed, and took the first steps toward a happy, prosperous future together.

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ALSO BY JESS HAINES:

H&W Investigations Series

Hunted by the Others

Taken by the Others

Deceived by the Others

Stalking the Others

Forsaken by the Others

Enslaved by the Others

Blackhollow Academy Series

Smoke & Mirrors

Candle & Horn (Coming Soon)

Anthologies

Nocturnal

The Real Werewives of Vampire County

Standalone Novels

Silent Cravings (Coming Soon)

Copyright ©2016 by Jess Haines

All Rights Reserved

Cover art and design by Laura Gordon (www.thebookcovermachine.com).

All characters and events in this book are fictitious.

All resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental.

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ISBN-10:0988972808

ISBN-13:978-0-98897280-3

Author ISNI: 0000 0001 2233 2442

Jess Haines ° PO Box 7634 ° Clearwater, FL 33758

www.JessHaines.com ° [email protected]