Page 44 of Midwinter Night's Prince

Blair winced. “The freshman? Isn’t she a bit green?”

“She’s powerful,” Greer replied, closing the discussion. “Cece for fire, Gwen for water. I’ll do earth.”

“I can handle air,” Seth offered.

Greer shook her head. “Better not, a vampire’s magic is different from a witch’s. Discretion will be key—it’s best if we stick to mortal craft. Gwen, you know Cathal?”

She groaned and Greer made a face. “I know, he’s the worst.”

“Who the hell is Cathal?”

“A transfer from the New York Institute. He’s here for his second master’s under Varra. Part fae. Great at air magic. He’s pretty and he knows it—he’s fucked half of the dormitory by now. But he’s good at what he does.”

“He’s new?” Seth didn’t like that. “What if he’s one of Aveka’s plants?”

“The fae can’t lie. He might only have a quarter of folk blood, but that’s enough; Fin confirmed it. His fae ancestry is too strong. We directly asked him if he was with Aveka, and he’s replied no in a thousand different ways. Cathal has no allegiance. He despises the very thought of servitude.”

That guy sounded worse and worse by the second.

“How pretty are we talking here?”

Greer mouthed, “Hot.”

That was it. “We need someone whose loyalty we can’t question. I’ll handle it.”

“The only thing you’re loyal to is yourself, Stormhale,” Levi shot back.

“I’m loyal to my house, my family, and my home—all of which are threatened by Aveka. You and I may never see eye to eye, but we don’t need to, not on this. What we need is to protect what’s ours.”

Cat. Claudia.

And Blair, too, he finally admitted to himself.

She was his to protect, whether she liked it or not.

“Fine. Doesn’t change the fact that Cathal is the best for the job,” Greer argued. “Your magic is an atomic bomb—ours is a bullet. Spells need to be balanced.”

“How about four bombs?” Cat proposed. “Levi could do water; Seth, air; Diana, fire; and Bash, earth.”

“Where is Bash, by the way?” Blair pouted.

“Patrolling.” Cat swore. “Shit, he doesn’t know you’re here. He’s going to be pissed when he realizes I forgot to tell him.” She started typing rapidly on her phone’s screen. Moments later, her newly turned, ex-huntsman mate flew into the house, and squeezed Blair hard.

Seth watched them closely. He wasn’t sure he liked seeing a newly turned vampire so close to Blair. Chloe was different—the girl would never be sated by human blood.

Long seconds later, he let go. “Good to have you back, Lawson.”

Seth had to admit he felt quite awkward surrounded by so much affection and familiarity. He didn’t know what to do with any of it.

He went to pour himself a stiff drink spiced with powdered blood, stuffed his hands in his pockets, and leaned back against the wall.

Velvet strolled in, making a beeline for him, and stretched up his shin.“Meow.”

Seth stared at the tiny feline, wondering why the hell it had approached him, rather than the witch he was bonded with.

“Whatever.” He bent down, picked him up, and lifted him onto his shoulder. The kitten happily settled in, lying down and closing his eyes.

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