Page 23 of Bonds of Magic
“It looked like a doorway.” He gave me a sharp look, not so tired now. “Someone broke through the wards, or let them down, to let those moraghin in. But this time, there was a door. If they were able to bypass the wards with that door, why didn’t they use that spell the first time, with the moraghin?”
It was a good question, and one I didn’t have an answer for.
I tried for nonchalance. “We don’t know if that’s what it was. We don’t even really know what you saw.”
Seb’s eyes wouldn’t let me go. “Are you sure about that? I told Isaac what I saw, but I haven’t told anyone else. I wouldn’t. But knowing what Cory is, if that door opened to the—”
“Leave it to Isaac. I’m serious.”
“Do you know something I don’t?”
I had to tell him something. He wasn’t going to let this go. But Isaac’s call for caution still rang in my ears.
“I wish I knew more,” I said finally. “But if the same person was behind the moraghin and this recent attack, then I’m worried they might be targeting freshmen. They’re the most defenseless of all our students. Most of them can barely hold a light spell for two minutes. And our paranormal students are just coming into their powers too.”
“Is that what you think they’re doing?” Seb arched an eyebrow. “Targeting freshmen? Or are they targeting the paranormal students specifically?”
I didn’t like his line of questioning. It was too close to the truth.
“I don’t think so,” I said. “After all, Erika was a witch, not paranormal. And she was attacked twice.”
“So was Cory,” Seb said softly. “I hate to say it, but Erika might simply have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“Or Cory might have,” I countered.
“Noah, I’m worried. Ashley Matthews and Leon Zi came to visit me today. They were pressing me for more details about what happened to Erika. I don’t think they believe Isaac’s story.”
I grimaced. I knew Isaac was trying to keep everyone calm by lying about what had happened in the woods, but there were toomany people involved in the cover-up. Someone was bound to slip and say more than they should.
“Leon said our paranormal students weren’t all that different from the moraghin. ‘They both want to kill witches.’ His actual words.” Seb gave me a long look. “I don’t want our paranormal students blamed for these attacks.”
I didn’t either. But I didn’t know what else we could do, as long as Isaac was trying to keep things quiet.
“And then there’s Cory,” Seb said.
My chest tightened. I scanned Seb’s face for any signs that he knew something he shouldn’t. That he could see under my skin, feel inside my chest, know the illicit thoughts that roamed my mind.
“What about him?” I asked, striving to keep my voice neutral.
“People already know he was near Erika when she died. And at some point, someone is going to realize that he’s notbehindin his classes—he can’t do magic at all. Sooner or later, they’re going to realize he’s not a witch.”
“I’ll keep him—” I broke off and tried again. “We’llkeep him safe.”
“Why is Isaac so sure you can teach Cory?” Seb asked. “Is there something I should know about—”
“No,” I said curtly, and stood up. I felt rude, but I’d rather be rude than let the conversation go any further. “I should get out of your hair. Let you rest.”
“You really don’t have to—”
“I’ll see you later, Seb. Glad you’re doing okay.”
***
Teresa was the head of Hex. Most of the havens had houses elsewhere on Vesperwood’s grounds, but the three oldest—Hex, Hunt, and Heal—had their headquarters within the manor itself. Hunt’s were on the lower level, and restricted. Heal’s were unassuming and located on the second floor. But Hex had laid claim to an entire wing of the third floor, and their crossed wands and stars were carved proudly into the massive doorway that led to their wing, announcing to the world that this was their demesne.
I wasn’t sure what exactly I was going to say to Teresa, exactly, but I supposed I’d ask her if she’d noticed anything odd happening among the student body. My cover story was that I thought someone was targeting freshmen, after all, and that might be a way to bridge into asking about those files she kept in her study.
Ifshe agreed to talk to me at all. It was a big if.
