School of Magical Arts - New York City Campus Box Set

by Chandelle LaVaun

  “Hey, I’m in the tuxedo. The one Royce requested.” He shrugged. “But I have limits.”

  “Of course.” I sighed and looked at the tux in question. It really was nice. It looked expensive. He looked dangerous. “Well…you look ravishing as ever.”

  He winked at me.

  I laughed and shoved my hands into my pockets and leaned back on my heels. “So, boss man, what do you think of our work?”

  Tenn looked up and glanced around, the lights reflected in his eyes. “This is really quite beautiful. It’s perfect, I’m very impressed. As I told you earlier, you should both be proud of the work you’ve done here in such short time.”

  Butterflies danced around in my stomach. “Thanks, man.”

  “No, thank you. This is my first big thing as Coven Leader and you’ve both made me look fantastic.” He grinned. “Just don’t be upset if I hide in the corner and talk to no one all night.”

  Tegan rolled her eyes and patted his cheek. “You’re adorable. But on that note, we should start bringing people in, eh?”

  We all nodded.

  She snapped her fingers and a white portal box opened. I blinked, and then Constance and Daniel walked through looking dashing as ever. Their jaws dropped and their eyes widened.

  Constance spun in a circle, her smile spreading. “WOW. This is spectacular.”

  Emersyn beamed. “Thank you!”

  “I think they need to be in charge of the Yule Ball every year,” Daniel said with a chuckle. As always, I envied his swag in a three-piece suit.

  “Okay, Constance, and babe….” Tegan pointed to the back of the ballroom, where a small stage was. “Why don’t the two of you get to wherever you want to be for when everyone arrives?”

  Constance nodded, then kissed Daniel’s cheek. Then she hooked her arm around Tenn’s and started to drag him off.

  Tenn turned and walked backwards. “Hey, babe, where’s my sister? I thought they were gonna be here already?”

  Sister. Right. Bettina. Aka Hashtag Bettina is Hope.

  I still hadn’t quite gotten used to that.

  “They are.” Tegan smiled sweetly. “I portaled them in while we were getting ready. But Millie – Jackson’s grandmother – wanted them to do some old Lancaster family winter solstice ritual thing via facetime – long story. So they were doing that before coming here. But they’ll be here any minute. Stedman is driving them.”

  Tenn sighed, and I felt his relief. It was adorable how close those two became the second their memory came back.

  “Now what?” Emersyn asked with a frown.

  Tegan snapped her fingers and the four of us were in the hallway right outside the ballroom. There waiting for us were the Majors, Minors, Aces, and Lead Page of New York, along with Headmaster Muller.

  “Hey! There they are!” My father shouted in a jolly voice.

  They all turned toward us with smiles and waved.

  Tegan stepped forward. “We ready to get started?”

  My mother looked down at her watch and nodded. “First batch?”

  Tegan was already opening a portal. “The DJ and photographer, coming right up.”

  Four men in black suits walked through carrying a ton of equipment.

  Headmaster Muller jumped out and waved for them. “Gentlemen, come with me, please?”

  Tegan snapped her fingers and they all disappeared through another portal. She shrugged. “Short cut.”

  Once they were inside the ballroom, the rest of us exchanged nervous glances. I felt Emersyn’s anxiety rushing through her like a river rapid. The Aces were shifting their weight around. My father and Garrett Sullivan, the Minors, were both cracking their knuckles and glancing around. Claudia Davenport, Lead Page, was rolling her wand between her fingers.

  Marshall, the other Major, frowned and glanced around. “Why the scared faces? This is going to be a great party.”

  My mother sighed and nodded. “He’s right. Let’s get it started. We’re ready.”

  “All right. All right. All right.” Tegan grinned. “Em, the doors, please?”

  Em took a deep breath then hurried over to the ballroom doors and pulled them wide open. Inside, the DJ was all set up and ready – we’d intentionally had him in there earlier this afternoon. I gave him a thumbs-up and he started playing music. Headmaster Muller pointed to the photographers, who were already snapping pictures.

  “Buckle your seatbelts, kids…here we go…” Tegan stepped in front of us and threw her arms out wide. She glanced over her shoulder at us. “Stampede in three…two…one…”

  Half a dozen white portal boxes opened in front of us…and people poured in like water busting through a broken dam. I grabbed Em’s arm and yanked her to the side…and then we watched.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Emersyn

  It took about thirty minutes for the stampede to end…and then it was just a slow moving stream of bodies. Tegan had a plan with her portals, but I wasn’t going to let myself worry about that. My sister was in control.

  To my surprise, the party was already in full swing. No one hesitated or lingered for a second. In fact, the dance floor was already overflowing with people shaking it. We had tables all around the room, on the balcony above us that overlooked the dance floor, and in a few dozen places outside on the terrace – with heating, of course.

  The appetizers were out and being eaten. I wasn’t quite sure how the food was getting out here because there weren’t any servers. When I asked, everyone just winked and said magic. And I decided to stop questioning that. As long as it was working, I was happy.

  Tegan and Daniel had gone to stand beside their Coven Leader soulmates…wherever they were hiding. I actually had lost sight of them, but I felt their presence in the room so I wasn’t worried. I pitied the fool who tried to hurt Tennegan. I smiled. Bettina’s nickname for them was adorable.

  “What are you giggling about?”

  I looked up to Deacon and grinned. “Tennegan, their couple name that is.”

  “Ah.” Deacon chuckled. “It’s fitting. Didn’t Bettina also name her and Jackson?”

  “Yep. Bettson.” I frowned. “Hey, we don’t have a couple name yet.”

  He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me against him. “Our choices are Emercon or Deasyn?”

  I thought about it for a second. “I like Emercon.”

  “Me too.” He chuckled. “It sounds like an army or something. Beware the Emercon!”

  I threw my head back and laughed.

  “Deacon! Emersyn!”

  We spun and found Amelia skipping up to us in her sparkly princess dress with Landy right on her heels. They both wore glittery ballet flats, and I knew they’d spend the entire night on the dance floor.

  “Well, well, look at you two. You look beautiful!” Deacon gave them both high-fives.

  Amelia’s smile spread from ear to ear. “Right back at ya.” She winked.

  “Landy, what do you think?” I gestured around us.

  She nodded with big, wide eyes. “It’s pretty…and…there’s a lot of people here.”

  I started to ask her about events in Issale when all of the people within a five foot radius of us stopped and stared. They hissed and pointed. I frowned.

  Just as I was turning, I heard one of them whisper, “The Bishops.”

  And then I spotted them. My family. The Bishops. Mom, Dad, Cooper, and Bentley. They all looked incredible in their matching emerald green tuxedos. I grinned. My mother chose to wear a tux instead of a gown, and it was the most Tegan thing I’d ever seen her do.

  “Are they matching?” Amelia asked.

  I chuckled. “Yep. And it’s amazing.”

  Deacon waved his hand in front of him and red mist poured out. The second it touched the crowd of people gawking at my family, they immediately turned and walked away. Deacon sighed. I popped up on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. He was always looking out for us.

  Not that I could blame the people he’d j
ust scared off. They were civilians, maybe even shifters. Most of our species had never met someone in The Coven and then there were four Cards walking together – toward two other Cards. I probably would have reacted the same way had I been in their shoes.

  My mom hurried over — in her platform heels — and threw her arms around me and Deacon. She hugged us tight then stepped back with a wide grin. Her pale green eyes sparkled. “This place looks incredible. Excellent job. And you both look so dashing.”

  “Thanks, mom.” My cheeks warmed. “I love that you’re in a tuxedo. Tegan is gonna die. But also, I’m kinda upset we didn’t get the invite to match.”

  Cooper scoffed. “It wasn’t intentional.”

  “Say what now?” Deacon laughed.

  Dad shrugged. “You should’ve seen our faces when we all came out of our rooms tonight.”

  “Yeah, that’s my bad.” Bentley shook his head and his shaggy brown hair fell into his golden eyes. “I definitely misread that vision.”

  I snorted then pulled him in for a hug. Then I jumped back and gasped. “OH, Bentley! I want you to meet Deacon’s cousin, Amelia.” I turned and pointed to her standing behind me.

  Amelia smiled and waved. “Hi! I’ve heard so much about you!”

  Bentley chuckled. “I’ve heard so much about you, but not quite in the same way, I’m sure.”

  Amelia’s eyes widened. But she didn’t look afraid. “Oh my Goddess. Tell me everything.”

  I shook my head. “And this is Landy—”

  “Yeah, we’ve met,” Landy said softly.

  “Yep, in Issale.” Bentley gave her a hug. “Nice to see you. I’m glad you decided to come to SOMA. I wasn’t sure you would.”

  “Me either.”

  “Come on Bentley,” Amelia said as she grabbed my brother’s wrist. “You have to meet everyone. And then tell me what you know.”

  Landy frowned and followed after them. “I don’t think that’s how that works.”

  And then they were gone, lost to the chaos of the crowd.

  “Well that smells like trouble.” Deacon laughed.

  I bit my lip and spun back around. “Should we be concerned?”

  Deacon shrugged. “Meh, Bentley will warn us if we need to be.”

  Cooper scoffed again. He pointed to his tux. “Don’t be so sure of that.”

  I snorted. “He is a bit too similar to Tegan for his own good, ain’t he?”

  “Yeah, well, I think we need to —” his jaw dropped. His pale green eyes widened…then filled with rage. His face turned red. He stared across the room and balled his fists.

  Deacon leaned down and whispered in my ear, “here it comes.”

  “TEGAN!” Cooper shouted. “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WEARING?!”

  I had no idea where my sister was, but I heard her cackling over the music – or maybe that was telepathically sent into my head. Cooper growled and cursed some more, then stormed off shouting Tennessee’s name.

  Dad sighed and shook his head. He didn’t even turn to watch my brother march off. “That boy…I really think her torture is good for him.”

  Mom nodded. “And it gives her someone to antagonize, which is always good.”

  “So, Hunter, did Tenn really call and warn you about her dress?”

  “Yes, Deacon, he sure did.” Dad laughed and scratched the back of his neck. “It was nice of him. He said brace yourself and I about lost it. Honestly, I’m just glad I’m not in charge of monitoring her anymore. Fourteen years was hard enough. It’s his turn.”

  “Are you going to avoid her all night?” Deacon chuckled.

  Dad grimaced. “I saw it. I hate it. I’m gonna go eat my feelings and pretend I know nothing.”

  I snorted.

  Mom shook her head and rolled her eyes.

  “But hey,” Dad smiled and gestured between me and Deacon. “You two look wonderful and classy, and you never grope each other in front of me. So…thank you for that.”

  “No problem.”

  “Nice, dad.”

  “C’mon, big guy, I smell cheeseburgers.” Mom pulled him away, still shaking her head. “We’re gonna go pretend we’re seventeen and childless. Have fun. Love you!”

  “Did I hear what I think I just did?” Caroline’s voice carried over the music.

  We spun back around and found her and Noah standing there looking like models. Gus-Gus and Zeus were sitting at their feet. Caroline’s blue Dior gown was gorgeous paired with Noah’s navy tux.

  I sighed. “I’m gonna try not to think too hard about what I just heard.”

  Caroline threw her head back and laughed.

  “Noah, you still pouting Tenn didn’t wear navy blue and match you?”

  “A little bit, yeah.” Noah pouted. “But he’s not matching Chrissy, either, so we’re good.”

  Deacon shook his head. I had no idea what they were talking about and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.

  Caroline gasped and gripped Noah’s jacket. “Oh my God…”

  Noah’s face turned white. “What? What’s wrong?”

  Deacon arched one eyebrow. “Caroline?”

  “That’s Lennox Ward,” she said under her breath.

  I frowned and glanced over my shoulder. Sure enough, Lennox was standing about twenty feet away, scanning the crowd like she was hunting. Her dress was a micro-mini, colorful version of Tegan’s. Wait.

  Then it clicked. Caroline’s past with Lennox. I gasped and spun back to Caroline.

  She threw her hands up. “It was a long time ago! I was a stupid kid. Please…will you go with me? I want to talk to her— to apologize.” Caroline groaned. “I know, it’s stupid late…but…that doesn’t mean she doesn’t deserve one.”

  I pursed my lips and stared at her. Then I cursed. “Okay, yeah. Sure. But she’s tough and knows every spell in the book. She’s gonna be Lead Page one day soon so behave yourself.”

  “I will. I promise.” She held her head up high. “This is Caroline two-point-oh, new and improved. Amends must be made - not for my conscience, but for theirs.”

  Noah grimaced. “Yeah, I’m not gonna watch that. I’ll go find Oliver and Olivia, they’re here somewhere.” He snapped his fingers and both blue cats leapt up into his arms. He winked at Caroline then sauntered off.

  “Come on, let’s go.”

  I didn’t wait for her. I turned and bee-lined right for my friend. Lennox probably didn’t care about anything Caroline had to say, not after what she did to her as kids, but it wasn’t my decision to make. I would be there to buffer and give them a chance to speak…but the rest was between them.

  Lennox spotted me and grinned. “EM!”

  I smiled. “Hey, Lenny!”

  “Girl, you look gorgeous —” she gasped. Her eyes went cold. “YOU.”

  Oh shit.

  Caroline slid up beside me looking like a scolded puppy. “Hello, Lennox.”

  Lennox narrowed her yellow-green eyes at her. “Caroline Davenport.”

  I looked to Caroline and arched an eyebrow. Now’s the time girl.

  “Lennox, I know you probably hate me —”

  “Gee, I wonder why,” Lennox growled.

  “But I wanted to say that I am very, very, very sorry for what I did to you when we were kids.”

  Lennox’s eyes widened. “Wait, what?”

  Caroline licked her red-painted lips then took a deep breath. “I was a miserable, heartbroken child and I took out my pain on you. And that was horrendous. I was so ashamed of myself that I left Edenburg because of it, yet I wish I’d been brave enough to fix it then. For that, I am eternally sorry. I know this apology is many years too late, and it probably means nothing at this point, but I wanted you to know that I’ve thought about you a lot since then…and I’ve always regretted what I did. So…I’m sorry.”

  Lennox opened her mouth then shut it. She blinked.

  Caroline gave a small smile and a little curtsey. “And on that, I’m going to leave you be now. You don’t have to forg
ive me. This wasn’t about that. And I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable. Have a great evening.”

  And then she was gone.

  I turned back to Lennox.

  “Imma need to process what just happened.” Lennox shook herself. “But not right now. Because I gotta go find my date. See you in a bit?”

  I nodded.

  When she disappeared into the crowd, Deacon whistled softly. “Well, that was weird.”

  I snorted and leaned into his arm. “Yeah, and —” I stood up straight.

  What is that? I felt…fire. I only ever felt that when there was an actual flame nearby. My pulse quickened. I glanced around, scanning the room for any sign of smoke or fire, then the energy grew stronger near the front door. I took a step forward just as Koth walked inside. OHHH. Right. Fire breathing dragon. Makes sense.

  Kothari, king of the shifters, took up most of the doorway he was so huge. It was the first time I’d seen him in a shirt, so it took me a minute to realize that the small girl hanging on to his left arm was Chutney. My Coven-mate.

  “I think things just got weirder.”

  I nodded. “Let’s go talk to them.”

  I gripped his hand and led the way over to the front door. By the time we got over there Koth and Chutney had come inside, and he had five other guys with him. Dragons. I recognized them from Issale, but I only remembered Silas.

  “Hey y’all!” I smiled and waved at them. “Koth. Silas. Guys. Chutney.”

  “EM. D. This place…” Chutney waved her hand around. “WOW. This is the prettiest Yule Ball we’ve ever had.”

  My heart fluttered. “Thanks, Chutney.”

  Koth nodded and glanced around. “Thank you for inviting us.”

  “Of course.” Deacon shook his hand. “This school is our school. Together. So thank you for coming.”

  “Make yourselves at home. There’s plenty of food and stuff…mingle?” I frowned. Way to be weird.

  “Stuff. I like stuff.” Koth chuckled. “Now, I was hoping to have a word with Tennessee and Tegan…”

  “Oh, yeah, of course.” I pulled Deacon’s phone out of his pocket – since I didn’t have any in this dress – and dialed Tenn’s number.