Paranormal Academy

by Limited Edition Box Set

  Destroyed by Magic

  Elena Gray and Kelli McCracken

  Power always comes with a price, and sun witch Samara Haylan knows the cost.

  When Samara discovers her friends are missing, she will do whatever it takes to find them, even if it means using old magic.

  If she's caught, she can be stripped of her powers and banished from her coven. So when the council forbids her to get involved, what does she do?

  Whatever the hell she wants...

  Destroyed by Magic © copyright 2019 Elena Gray and Kelli McCracken

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  1

  I sat on the chair in the middle of my room, too weak to move and too afraid to stop the spell I had cast. The energy surrounding me was like a vortex waiting to suck me in and obliterate every inch of my body. I clung to my amethyst and quartz crystals, allowing their power to hold me together while I performed the tracking spell. Sparks of light flared around me, changing from icy blue to lilac to gold. Heat encompassed me, and the power I needed filled me from head to toe.

  Closing my eyes, I used my mind to project my soul into the Pararealm. I had tried this same spell last night to find my other friend, Natasha. I’d searched for her until my eyes could no longer stay open.

  With only a few hours of sleep in between spells, I was now trying to find Rose. It couldn’t be a coincidence that both of my friends weren’t returning my calls. I knew in my gut that something was wrong. If this spell didn’t work, I wasn’t sure anything would, and that scared me. The inability to locate a witch often meant that witch was deceased. I couldn’t stand the thought of my friends dying.

  I refused to believe it.

  Energy swam past me as different supernaturals filtered through the Pararealm. Each class had their own type of color. Fluid, red lines meant vampires. Midnight-blue streaks represented the wolf shifters. Mages were purple orbs. Faeries were green sparkles. Dragon shifters were orange flames. And gargoyles, like my guardians, were curvy gray lines.

  Witches were unique. Those born to the moon were beautiful streaks of silver. Sun witches, like Rose and me, were sparks of gold. It was the gold sparks I searched for the hardest. With it being winter, a witch’s energy didn’t sparkle as much as it did in the spring and summer.

  When I finally found a few sun witches, disappointment filled me when I realized none were Rose. I tightened my grip around my crystals and concentrated harder, sifting through the colors, sensing the energy of each golden streak I found.

  I was about to give up when something tugged at my soul. Focusing on the golden glow in the distance, a familiar life force pulsed from it.

  It was Rose. The spell identified her, my heart confirmed it.

  “Anima illuminare,” I whispered.

  Just as I cast the spell to illuminate her soul, someone knocked on my door. The handle jiggled a second later, and a lull of voices filtered in from the hallway. Someone had entered my room without permission.

  “Samara?”

  My body jarred as my soul sprang back into it. I held onto my crystals, unable to say or do anything. It would take me a moment to reabsorb the magic I’d been using.

  The curious tone of Emma’s voice shook me. What did she want? We hadn’t spoken in at least a few months. Our last conversation must have been in October when we’d all hung out during the Winter Findings celebration.

  Even then, only a few words were exchanged. We weren’t exactly on friendly terms. My lifestyle was not one she approved of. She was all about following the rules. I wasn’t.

  Drawing in a deep breath, I tried to bide my time so the power flowing through my veins would stabilize. “Hey, Emma. What’s up?”

  “What are you doing?”

  By the tone of her voice, she obviously thought I was doing something wrong. She would love nothing more than to catch me breaking the rules. “Well, I was meditating before you come barging into my room.” I peered over my shoulder and glanced her way. “Is there an emergency?”

  Her gaze searched the room before settling back on me. “No. I was just curious if you’d seen Natasha.”

  If Emma hadn’t heard from Natasha, something was definitely wrong. Their friendship was just like mine and Rose’s. Now both were missing.

  Turning in my chair, I forced my voice to remain steady when I replied, “Not since a few days ago. We were supposed to meet for breakfast yesterday, but she didn’t show.”

  A dip formed between Emma’s brows. “Why would Natasha have breakfast with you? She and I normally have breakfast together.”

  Why was it so hard to believe that Natasha would want to hang out with me? I didn’t enjoy being questioned by my peers, especially someone like Emma who was so busy kissing the council’s ass, her allegiance to them trumped her loyalty to her friends. She viewed the world as black and white, and she failed to see how much gray surrounded us.

  “Trust me, Emma, I’m sure.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket and found my last text from Natasha. I showed Emma the screen. “This is the message she sent me the night before.”

  As her eyes scanned the text Natasha sent, her brows furrowed deeper. Then she pulled away. I noticed her mumbling something but couldn’t hear what. I’m sure it was something unpleasant about me.

  “If you see Natasha, tell her I need to speak with her,” she snapped.

  “Why can’t you do it yourself?”

  Emma played with her cell phone case as she looked toward the hallway. “She hasn’t returned my calls, and that’s not like her.”

  I wasn’t about to reveal my concerns or suspicions to Emma. I needed to talk to my guardians first. When I told them I feared something had happened to them, they agreed to look for Rose and Natasha. If they didn’t find them, then I would go to the council for help.

  “If I see Natasha, I’ll let her know you’re looking for her.”

  “Thanks.” Meeting my gaze once more, Emma turned toward the door and the hallway. “I’m off to find Rose and see if she’s heard from her.”

  My skin pimpled as a cold chill spread down my spine. “You can’t talk to Rose.”

  When Emma pivoted toward me, I cursed myself for saying anything. Now she would ask—

  “Why not?”

  I felt like the proverbial cat with a feather sticking out of its mouth. The lump in my throat wobbled as I swallowed it and thought of the best way to answer. I couldn’t tell her the truth that Rose was missing, too.

  “I, uh…I checked on Rose earlier, but she wasn’t in her room. She must already be out for the day.”

  It was the best excuse I could muster. I wasn’t sure if it would be enough to pacify Emma’s curiosity, but I felt my tension easing when she nodded. “It makes sense. She’s punctual.”

  “Yes, she is.” The words made my stomach knot. Rose’s punctuality was the red flag that had led me to use a tracking spell to find her. I still wasn’t sure if it was her I’d located through the energy field in the Pararealm, but I had hope. Old magic was powerful, and even though I hadn’t cast a full spell, it only took a few words to add some extra zing to anything modern. Our magic wasn’t as powerful as old magic, but it wasn’t as dangerous either.

 
Or so we’d been told. I still questioned what was true and what wasn’t.

  Emma huffed as she held the edge of the door. “Please tell Rose to get in touch. I’d like to know the last time she saw or spoke to Natasha.”

  I nodded and crossed my arms over my chest. Emma took two steps toward the hall, drawing the door with her. She was halfway out when she peered at me once more.

  “Samara, would you take a piece of advice if I offered it to you?”

  Groaning inwardly, I forced a smile for Emma’s benefit. “Good advice is something I always welcome.”

  “You need to be careful.”

  I waited for her to finish. When she didn’t, confusion spun through me. Was this the only thing she had to say?

  “Be careful?”

  Emma glanced to the left then the right side of the hallway, as if she was checking to see if anyone was passing or listening. Satisfied with whatever she found, her gaze moved back to me. “Word gets around, especially when you’re a witch who is powerful and reckless. Your behavior is causing distress around the coven. Our sisters are concerned about you.”

  Fire filled my face. I wanted to blast her for partaking in the rumor mill, but I had no right. She wasn’t the first person to comment on my carelessness. My guardians had said plenty last night. Even Zander had jumped on the worry train.

  The only person who’d said nothing was Draven, and that was because we’d spent little time together lately. He’d been in the Mage Realm taking his trials.

  Tucking a lock of hair behind my ear, I lifted my chin and met Emma’s eyes with defiance. “I appreciate your concern, but you don’t have to worry about the coven’s safety or mine. And if I were you, I wouldn’t listen to idle gossip, unless you have a particular problem with me. In that case, I’m all ears.”

  I crossed my arms again and jutted my hip as I waited for her to reply. The way she pursed her lips said she had something on her mind, but I saw her struggle to speak. After a brief moment of silence, she shook her head.

  “No, Samara. I don’t have a problem with you. As long as you’re following the rules, we have no issue.”

  I didn’t miss her dig but I let it slide. In truth, I didn’t have time to argue with her. If I didn’t grab my books and head to class, I’d miss an important lesson in my advanced potions class.

  “If that’s the case,” I said, “I guess we’re good. Besides, I need to get going. I don’t want to be late for class and break the rules.”

  My snide remark worked just the way I intended. Emma feigned a smile and turned to leave. She said nothing else. Her arms swung at her sides as she marched down the hallway.

  As soon as she was out of sight, I grabbed my Book of Shadows from its hiding spot under my blanket. If I hadn’t hidden it as a precaution, Emma would have known what I was really doing. And she would have run straight to the council to turn me in.

  It remained open to the tracking spell I’d found, one my great-grandmother had used years ago before our ancestors outlawed old magic. No one in the coven knew what type of spells my book contained, and I wasn’t about to allow anyone to figure it out now. It’s why I always made sure to hide the book.

  Once I placed it in the secret compartment I’d made in the floor underneath my bed, I whispered a cloaking spell over it, just to be extra safe. At some point, I’d have to figure out a new spell to keep its whereabouts hidden. Considering my one guardian, Jax, was part mage, he could sense any cloaking spell I used.

  I grabbed what I needed for class. A glimpse at the clock showed I only had a few more minutes before the bell rang. In order to make it to class on time, I’d have to race across the estate. I wished one of my guardians was around to fly me to the academy building.

  As I rushed back toward the door, two of the high priestess’s guards were standing in front of it. Bron, the wolf shifter, and Helix, a dragon shifter. Both backed away as I joined them in the hall and shut the door behind me. When I glanced at them again, both gave me a half bow.

  “Miss Haylan,” Helix’s deep voice sounded as he looked at me. “You must come with us.”

  “Why?” Curiosity, along with concern, sprang to life. “I will be late for class.”

  “Class will have to wait,” Bron added just as he and Helix wrapped their hands around my upper arms. “The high priestess needs to see you.”

  Great. I was getting a formal escort to the council. This couldn’t be good.

  2

  I leaned my back against the wall, my attempt at trying to look casual failing miserably. My magic pulsed inside me as I tried to pierce the ward around the council’s chambers. I wished I knew what I was walking into, so I could make up a decent excuse for whatever I was guilty of.

  Dampness lined my palms as my heart thumped against my chest. This wasn’t the first time the council had summoned me, but it was the first time they pulled me away from a lesson. Our classes were sacred. To be escorted from one meant I had screwed up royally this time. I released a breath, wishing I could pinpoint which of my offenses would warrant this consult.

  The door swung open, causing me to spring away from the wall. A curt voice called out, “You may enter, Miss Haylan.”

  Brushing my hair from my face, I stepped into the room. I was surprised to find my guardians standing to the side of the high council table. Their faces resembled the stone of their gargoyle form. It didn’t appear as if I’d get any help from them.

  Scanning the high table, I saw there was a mixture of emotions among the council. Some looked bored, others sympathetic, but it was the high priestess, Rayna, that most concerned me. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes flashed brightly.

  Uh oh. I was definitely in trouble. This would not be a standard slap on the wrist.

  My footsteps echoed as I crossed the marble floor. Each thump was like the sound of a death knell. You would think with our power being connected to the sun, that this room would be warm and inviting. It was quite the opposite. Everything was stark white, the floors, the walls, and even the table. There were no decorations anywhere. The room was meant to exhibit the purity of our leaders. The purity of our kind. It was meant to intimidate—and at this moment it was definitely working.

  I looked to my guardians, at their eyes fixed straight ahead, their faces masks of stone. All of them avoided my gaze, except for Slade. He was staring directly at me. If I didn’t know him as well as I did, I would have missed the sympathy in his eyes.

  This couldn’t be about Thomas. I knew my guardians wouldn’t betray me, and I was always careful to cover my tracks. I controlled my expression, giving no indication of the fear swirling in my gut. If the council discovered my secret, they could bind me to our realm.

  “Miss Haylan, it has been brought to our attention that you have been missing some of your classes. Would you care to explain why?”

  I almost released a relieved breath. This was bad but not as bad as getting caught with a human boyfriend.

  I shot a glance at Melynn, who hadn’t even attempted to hide her satisfaction. Of course she would be happy. I couldn’t prove it, but I knew she was the reason I hadn’t moved on to the next level of my apprenticeship. I was miles ahead of my classmates and should have advanced early. Yet, somehow, I was stuck moving at the same pace as the rest of my class.

  Jealousy didn’t look good on her.

  Folding my hands in front of me, I responded, “I apologize, High Priestess. I only missed my lower level classes.”

  The high priestess narrowed her eyes at me. “All of your classes are important. Each one plays an integral part in the evolution of your powers, no matter how minor you might believe they are.”

  “I understand. I’ve been up late working on my new spell for my finals. I’ve almost mastered it.” Another white lie. I was up late working on it, but that wasn’t the reason I missed my classes. I was advanced enough in my lessons I could teach most of my classes. It wasn’t arrogance, it was a fact. I’d excelled at magic since I first came i
nto my powers. This was the reason I needed to move to the next level. My classes weren’t challenging.

  The high priestess’s face softened as she leaned forward in her chair. “Samara, I understand that you bear a greater responsibility than the rest of the witches in the coven. It’s a great deal for a girl your age to handle, especially when your peers have more free time to socialize. Be that as it may, we have altered your schedule to accommodate some new courses.”

  My lips curved up. Was the council finally acknowledging that I needed to advance to the next level? I opened my mouth to thank them when the high priestess lifted her hand.

  “I need your word you will not miss any other classes. You might feel that you know more than your instructors, but magic is ever evolving. Not one person on this council can say they know everything, including me. It would be foolish to believe that. This is why we treasure our Book of Shadows and the reason it continues to grow through each generation.”

  “I swear by the ancestors I will not miss another class.” There was no way I would take this opportunity for granted. I finally had what I wanted. Well, almost. I still needed to convince the council to abandon some of the old beliefs. It was time for us to slowly integrate with humans.

  The high priestess pursed her lips and nodded. “Very well. Since you are fortunate to have a guardian that is half mage, Jax has agreed to tutor you.”

  Jax gave no indication of whether he was happy with his new duty as my tutor. Out of all of my guardians, he was the one who hated when I abused my powers. Especially when humans were around.

  Aside from the rest of my guardians, I was the only one who knew that Jax had dark magic buried inside. He kept it under control, but at a great expense to himself. If the dark magic ever took over, Jax would be lost. That was the reason he rarely used it. He would be able to teach me, just not by example.