Page 6 of Stalked By Monsters

“Thanks.” The word falls from my lips in a rush, suddenly realizing I hadn’t even responded to Greyson’s promise. “Denver Prince is nothing I can’t handle though.”

Five years of stabbing monsters will surely make handling one warlock easy. I glance out the window and silently hope those words are true.

Carter turns off the main road and onto a dirt one not too far from the town’s boundary. My chest tightens in anticipation with each second that passes, knowing we aren’t too far now to the academy. Our ancestors spelled the town line with their ancient magic, cloaking it from the prying eyes of the humans, and when the academy was formed, it only made sense to create it close to this dividing line as well, to keep both the humans beyond and the supernaturals in town safe.

I watch Carter out of the corner of my eye, noticing how his smile grows the further we drive. My lips quirk to the side at that, a flurry of emotions mixing in my chest at his reaction. Joy collides with guilt at the place he’s found here. He didn’t go back to the castle with Glenda for the summer break and decided to stay here at the school. He’s found a place that gives him an escape from the duty that hangs in the distance, and with the five years after graduation, I know he’ll thrive not being near our grandmother. I almost hate myself for knowing eventually I will be forcing him from this peace.

The trees begin to clear as a large wrought iron gate comes into view at the top of the hill. I suck in a sharp breath as we drive up to them. I’ve seen the campus before, when I was a child, but so many years have passed since then that I’d forgotten about the grandeur of this place. The gates clang as they part, the ancient magic opening them for us. There aren’t any formal guards that stand on duty at the entrance, but the magic cast upon this school still works to keep only those welcome inside its grounds.

The sun beams down on the gothic castle before us, sparkling off the large circular stained glass piece in the center. The tall stone walls stretch up towards the sky with sharp arches and peaks crowning them. Gargoyles stand guard on each of the balconies, some stoic while others are poised with their long sharp teeth gnashing at a potential intruder. Unease skitters up my spine at the sight of them. They look like they’ve been hewn from stone merely for decoration but life courses through their very real veins. Ancient legends held the truth of these creatures many just believe are stone, but they’re anything but. They may be trapped, forced to protect the inhabitants of this school, but their history is much darker than that, and I’m sure if the enchantments on them were somehow broken, they’d turn on us as fast as they could.

I silently admire the ornate stone carvings that line the walls. It’s similar to our family’s castle but the academy has style and history passed down from different magical lines and shifters, making it unique and fascinating. Carter drives slowly up the main drive, passing other cars parked along the edge of the cobblestone walkway.

“There’s never any parking here on drop-off day,” Carter grumbles, sweeping his gaze over the mothers and fathers hugging their children goodbye.

I chew on the corner of my lip, my heart panging with longing for the connection most families have. I may have my brother here with me on my first day, but he hadn’t had anyone. I glance at him over my shoulder, taking in the tension radiating from his stiff posture. Guilt sinks in my stomach and I wish I’d had the forethought to take some time off school to be here when he first started, to congratulate him on taking this step. Attending Endcliffe Academy is an honor and a privilege, something that has been passed down through generations in our family. We both dreamed of walking up the stone steps and staring up in wonder at the vaulted ceilings on our first day. But he had to do that alone.

Carter doesn’t seem to notice the look but Greyson does, his golden-brown eyes catching mine as he nods. I swallow thickly at the realization that Carter went through this on his own, had to face the reminder that it’s just him and me each semester alone, the reminder that both of our parents are gone—one dead, and the other could be for all I know. I give Greyson an appreciative look, glad that he at least had his best friend there with him when I couldn’t be.

“Finally.” Carter draws my attention back up to the front. A car pulls from its parking spot, pausing for one final wave to their daughter before they drive down the other side of the U-shaped driveway. Carter hurriedly pulls into the spot, his tires squealing, and then he slams on the brakes, causing me to jerk slightly in my seat.

I clasp his shoulder lightly, and he turns sharply to face me, startled by the sudden touch. His brows furrow as he scans my face, until understanding lights in his blue-green eyes. He can try to hide his feelings, but it’s not going to work with me.

“It’s fine, just annoying,” he grunts, attempting to brush off my hand. Instead, I reach for his other shoulder and pull him into a tight embrace. He stiffens for a moment as if he’s about to wriggle out from the hug, but he relaxes and leans his head against my shoulder.

“I should have been here last year,” I breathe, knowing I need to do better. Carter and I are a team, and we will be for decades to come. Us against the world like it’s always been, and I need to remember to be there for him just as much as he’s been there for me.

“You’re here now,” he whispers. He pulls in a deep breath about to say something else when a sound outside cuts him off.

“Get the hell out here,” a woman’s voice screeches. I jerk back, my hands dropping from Carter’s back at the sudden noise, my body automatically turning to see who interrupted us just as the voice finally registers.

Chapter Four

Aria

“Wecanallhugoutside, assholes.”

“Harper,” Carter and I both say at the same time. His is more of a groan of annoyance, while I let loose a huff of amusement at my best friend’s interruption.

“Be nice,” I hiss under my breath, drawing another groan from Carter and a muffled chuckle from Greyson. Carter might be my second but Harper is my third, and there’s no way I can get through being coven leader without either of them, so they have to get along.

“I’ll be if she is,” Carter grumbles under his breath, but I choose to ignore him. Harper’s already reaching for the door before I even have a chance to open it myself.

“Hurry now, there’s so much to do,” she exclaims as the warm end of summer air rushes in, stealing all the cool air conditioning from the car.

Carter grumbles something else that I can’t hear as Harper reaches for me, tugging me out of the car. I barely have enough time to unclip my seatbelt before I’m stumbling out through the opening. The girl might be tiny but she’s strong as hell.

“Took you long enough,” she sighs, glancing around me to glare at where Carter is now getting out on the other side.

“See,” Carter groans and I purse my lips, already done with their bickering. At least I got a year of peace with them apart, but now we’re back at it again apparently.

“Harper,” I say, lifting a brow in question. Harper’s sleek black ponytail swings around her slender shoulders as she focuses her mahogany eyes back on me. The uniform seems to fit her smaller frame perfectly, the skirt sitting just above her knees, while on my five-foot-ten body it barely covers my ass.

“Fine,” she grumbles before wrapping her arms around my waist and pulling me into a tight hug, the folders she had tucked tightly under her arm now press against my back. I let out a small oomph as she squeezes me, and I bend down to hug her back.

“I think Harper skipped the line,” Greyson says, the car door closing behind him with a thud that makes my heart jolt.

Warm tingles shoot up my spine, my awareness focusing in on the fact that he’s standing right behind me.

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