The Witch's Guardian (Caspian Academy Book 1)

by Anna Edwards

  “What the hell is your problem?”

  He shrugs, a sly smile dancing on his face. “When Ashdown is finished with you, can I have a go? I mean, I assume you’re not a virgin anymore, and honestly, if he’s dumped Taya for you, your pussy must be golden.” He laughs, and I’m about to get out of my seat to do God knows what when a body launches itself over the desk, knocking Lance to the floor.

  I hear bones crack and see blood splatter, but I don’t truly understand what’s going on until Lucas starts grappling with the student beating on Lance. When Lucas finally manages to pull the attacker off, I realise it’s Jacobi. The rage in his eyes is like live fire.

  “You broke my fucking nose!” Lance screams.

  “Count yourself lucky, Lance,” Lucas grits out from between his teeth. “This school is filled with bitches and pussies. You got a problem, confront it head on. Don’t be a bitch and take it out on someone you believe is weaker than you.” I’ve never seen Lucas so angry. He spits on Lance as Cobi grabs my shaking hand.

  “Jacobi, Lance, Lucas, I suggest you all find your way to Mrs Donovan’s office,” Mr Gamble orders as he enters the classroom, ten minutes late.

  I manage to grab my bag as I’m dragged along with them.

  “Juniper, you stay here. You still have class,” Mr Gamble instructs.

  I open my mouth to speak, but Jacobi bears his teeth and growls at Mr Gamble, who gulps and shuts up.

  Great, now to see what Mrs Donovan says.

  The red mist of my anger is still flooding my body. I’m squeezing tight to Juniper’s hand because if I don’t, then I’ll probably kill Lance. How dare he talk to my girl that way! Punk.

  Breathe.

  A low growl still reverberates in my throat, but thankfully Lance keeps his mouth shut. Lucas is just as angry as I am at the comments, and I can see the heat of his ire, radiating off him like dragon’s smoke. Juniper is quiet, her eyes wide, as she wonders what is going to happen next.

  Why the hell can’t we just get through one day without any issues?

  Just one goddamn day.

  When we enter Mrs Donovan’s office, she’s already standing with a look of thunder on her face.

  “Mr Gamble has called through to me. Sit down all of you,” she orders. I pull a chair out for Juniper to sit on and stand behind it.

  “I need a doctor,” Lance complains. “He’s broken my nose.”

  Mrs Donovan narrows her eyes as she stares at Lance’s face. “It does look broken. Okay, go and see the nurse. She can sort it for now and take you to the hospital if needed. I’ll deal with what happened from your point of view afterwards.”

  I turn around and glare at Lance as he leaves the room, threatening more retribution if he comes anywhere near Juniper.

  “Jacobi, sit down,” Mrs Donovan instructs. I don’t move.

  Juniper turns around to look up at me. “It’s all right. I’m not going to get hurt in here.”

  I grunt and reluctantly pull a chair closer to Juniper and sit on it.

  “Right, can someone please tell me what happened. Lance obviously has a broken nose, and various other wounds. Jacobi, you have blood on your hand and shirt. Am I to assume you’re the one who hit him?”

  I still can’t speak. I’m so angry I can’t begin to try and sell my side of the story at the moment. I just want to get the hell out of this room and put a stop to Lance ever saying anything even remotely horrible to Juniper again. Why is my anger so intense?

  Juniper reaches out and takes my hand, and it soothes me again, but only a little.

  Mrs Donovan shakes her head. “Will someone please tell me what’s happening, or I’m going to suspend you all for the next week?”

  “It was Lance’s fault,” Lucas instantly answers to my right. “He was saying nasty things about Juniper.”

  My nostrils flare as I remember the words. Lucas looks at me. “I’m not sure I should repeat them in Jacobi’s presence.”

  My breathing quickens, and Juniper looks at me. I’m losing control of my ability to maintain my control.

  Damn, is this another side of my power?

  “Just tell me, Lucas” Mrs Donovan orders.

  Lucas gulps, and Juniper squeezes tighter to my hand. I yank my hand away from hers, though.

  “He asked, when Jacobi’s finished with her, if he can he have a go. He assumed she’s not a virgin anymore, and if Jacobi dumped Taya for her, then her pussy must be golden.”

  I don’t see or hear Mrs Donovan’s reply, because I’m on my feet and tearing apart the room. I smash the chair I was sitting on into the wall and send the headmistress’s desk flying across the room. Juniper jumps back into Lucas’s protection as Mrs Donovan looks on shocked. The anger inside me peaks again, watching Lucas hold Juniper, and stepping forwards. I rip her from his arms.

  “Mine,” I growl and pull Juniper flush against my body. Why can’t I control anything? My skin tingles, and I feel like a rabid monster.

  “Jacobi, I need you to sit down.”

  Mrs Donovan steps closer to where I’m holding Juniper. She’s reaching her hands out in a placating manner, but I only see more red. It’s like someone has put a spell upon me, and I can’t control myself. My mind flashes back to Sebastian, and the spell on him. There’s a dark force invading Caspian Academy, and it’s making us into puppets for its own gain. But who is behind it?

  Juniper whimpers in my arms. “Jacobi, please.”

  She turns around and looks up at me, her eyes full of fear. I’m scaring her. I don’t ever want to do that. I can’t be responsible for putting that look in her eyes. She didn’t even have it when I changed into a Guardian in front of her.

  Guardian.

  That’s my way out of this.

  I crush my lips against hers before running from the room.

  I don’t know how long it is before I wake up in my bedroom with no memory of what I’ve done. Did I take a life or save one? Will I ever know?

  When I open my eyes, it’s still light outside, and the brightness sets off a pounding in my aching head.

  “Drink this?” Juniper’s voice floods into my half-conscious world.

  I sit up gingerly on the bed, and she helps me to drink.

  “Do you know what I did?” I instantly question.

  Juniper shakes her head. “No, I didn’t follow you.”

  I put my head in my hands. “I hope it was good. It was the only way I could think to stop what was happening.”

  “And, what was happening, Jacobi? It was like you’d turned into some sort of monster. I didn’t recognise you. I mean, after the first comment from Lance, I can understand why you flew at him. But to completely trash Mrs Donovan’s office? It was crazy. It wasn’t you.”

  I shake my head. “No, it wasn’t, and I can’t explain what happened. It felt like someone was controlling my rage, and it wasn’t me. I had a spell or something put on me. There was an aura in the room similar to the one when Sebastian died.”

  Juniper’s eyes well with tears at the mention of our friend and his death. I pull her into my arms, and we settle back down on the bed together.

  “It feels like someone is controlling us and our every move. They’re one step ahead of us all the time, and I can’t see us ever stopping them.” I kiss the top of her head.

  “And I know exactly who it is, it’s my father.”

  “He’s coming for you in a couple of days, and if he can turn me into the incredible hulk with his spells, I don’t know how I’m going to protect you from him at the tournament.”

  Juniper pulls away from me and gets to her feet. She doesn’t look at me at all.

  “Juni?” I can feel the tension radiating off her as she stands with her back to me. I slide from the bed, and wrapping my arms around her waist, I turn her to face me. “Talk to me.”

  “You won’t be able to protect me, spells or not.”

  I shake my head in confusion. “I don’t understand. What do you mean?”

  �
��Mrs Donovan has suspended you, pending a psychological report. She’s called your parents, and they’re waiting downstairs. They think Sebastian’s death has affected you mentally, and the headmistress can’t risk you coming back to the academy until you’ve had counselling.”

  “What?” I can’t believe what I’m hearing. It’s insane. I’m not going crazy, despite everything happening to me. It’s the people around me who are causing the issues. It’s Juniper’s father and whatever plan he’s conjuring for Juni and me.

  “You aren’t allowed on school property. If she sees you, she’ll call the police. Whatever happens at the tournament, I’m on my own. I’ll have to face my father alone.”

  Juniper buries her head into my chest. “I’m scared, Cobi. I’m so scared. I’m not sure I’m strong enough. I don’t want to leave the academy, and I don’t want to lose you. I love you. What are we going to do?”

  “Don’t go, Juni.”

  “I have to,” I sigh.

  “No, you don’t. You can stay away from school,” Jacobi pleads, grabbing my hand and tugging me into his body.

  “Your parents are barely accepting of me staying here, and my mum is sleeping in their bedroom.” I bite down on my lip. “I really need to find us somewhere else to stay.”

  His body stiffens. “You’re not going anywhere. Like I told my parents yesterday, you go, I go.”

  I thread my arms around his waist and look up at him, my chin resting on his chest. “You can’t do that. They’re your parents.”

  “What they are is fucking useless,” he bites out. “I haven’t listened to them or their demands for years, and you being here doesn’t change that. Anyway,” he shrugs, “this house is in my name. It was my grandfather’s, and he left it to me, not them.” He buries his nose in my hair. “I’ll kick them out before they get rid of you. There’s no one in this world more important to me, Juni.” I open my mouth to speak, and Jacobi frowns at me. “And the way I feel has nothing to do with whatever fucking possessive curse I had put on me yesterday.”

  I shiver, remembering his rage. I know he thinks I was scared of him, but it’s not in the way he thinks, and I need him to understand. “The way you were yesterday,” I start, but he closes his eyes and shakes his head. “No, listen,” I command, capturing his chin between my fingers and making him look at me. “I wasn’t scared of you, I was scared for you.” He opens his mouth, but I don’t let him speak. “I was worried you were going to do something you would regret. I knew it wasn’t you.” I stare over his shoulder as I picture the events of yesterday again. “I knew something must have possessed you. It wasn’t you, but…” I break off and meet his eyes again, “even if it had been you…the real you,” I shrug, “I wouldn’t have cared.”

  “Bullshit.” His eyes flare.

  I grip his chin again, even though he’s not looking away, and make him see me, really see me. “It was always you. It will always be you. If you were a demon in the pits of Tartus, I’d be by your side. It doesn’t matter…” I look away from him completely. “It should matter if you’re evil, or bad, or you want to take over the world,” I add for some light relief, but there’s none, not for me, because I know what I’m saying’s the truth. “It should matter, but it doesn’t. I’d still want you, still love you.”

  He kisses my neck as his hand threads into my hair, tilting my head back to give him better access.

  “Jacobi!” We both jolt and stop what we’re doing when his mum yells through the house. I look up to him as he pulls away and watch him grind his teeth.

  Come on,” I say, grabbing his hand in my own. “I need to go to school anyway.”

  He grumbles darkly but follows me into the living room. I don’t miss the way his mum’s eyes travel to our joined hands, and she turns her nose up at our show of affection. Jacobi squeezes my hand tighter like he thinks I might let go, but I’m not intimidated by his mum. I’ve lived with my dad, so no one scares me these days. Her gaze moves to me, and I smile saccharine sweet. Not today, you’re not going to be another person I need to overcome. I’m done with being the victim.

  “Jacobi, your father’s had to leave for work.”

  Cobi snorts, not hiding his derision. “Nothing new there. When are you following his lead?”

  “Jacobi, I’m staying until you get better, even if it is in the spare bedroom.” She curls her lip, clearly annoyed my mum took her old bedroom.

  “There’s nothing wrong with me, Mum,” he snaps.

  She glances at me then back to him. “Maybe we should discuss this when Juniper has gone to school.”

  His hand tightens in mine. “She’s not going.”

  Her back straightens, and I’m suddenly on alert, but still I respond, knowing I might be making a mistake, “I am going to school. Cobi, just wants me to stay with him.” I smile, reaching up and squeezing one of his cheeks. He looks down at me with a mixture of frustration and love. It’s adorable.

  “I thought we talked about this,” he grits out.

  “No,” I smile, “you talked and I disagreed. I’ll see you later. Oh, and I forgot to mention my mum said she’d be out all day,” I whisper as I lean up on my tiptoes and kiss his cheek. “Bye, Mrs A,” I call, knowing it will annoy his mum.

  “Goodbye, Juniper.”

  I glance down at my phone. I have text number ten from Jacobi, even though I’ve only been in school an hour and Lucas is a permanent fixture at my side.

  “Lucas Black, you should be in magical history class, and this is,” the teacher reaches up to point at the chalk board, “English.” He waves his hands towards Lucas. “You can leave now.” He then sits behind his desk and busies himself with his papers, but Lucas doesn’t move.

  “Lucas, you better go,” I urge him.

  “I’m staying,” he states, taking a seat at the desk next to me after eyeing a guy who was going to sit there, making the poor guy scurry away. I roll my eyes at Lucas but don’t argue. There’s no point, I know he’s been tasked by Jacobi.

  Mr Walkden, the English teacher, huffs, but he seems to accept that Lucas isn’t moving, and so he starts the lesson.

  Lucas leans over to me. “Text Cobi back,” he orders.

  I shake my head but try to take my phone out inconspicuously so I don’t cause more problems for Mr Walkden, who is, in fact, a nice teacher.

  Jacobi – Tell me u r ok.

  I don’t read the rest of the texts but quickly type a reply.

  Me – I’m fine. Talk later.

  I press send and slide my phone back into my pocket. It buzzes again, but I ignore it this time, giving Lucas a look which relays to him that no amount of strong arming will get me to change my mind.

  The speaker in the corner of the classroom crackles to life. “Today marks the official start of the tournament,” Mrs Donovan announces to the school. “Later today, we will have an opening celebration, and then you will be placed in your teams. Have fun this week!”

  Everyone starts chattering at once, excited about the tournament.

  “Okay, okay, everyone get back to work,” Mr Walkden orders and the class quiets.

  I don’t take in a thing he says, and I do zero work the whole lesson. I can’t tear my mind away from the fact that there are dark forces working in this school. I need to find out about the spell placed on Jacobi, the death of Sebastian, the magic binding placed on my heart, and who’s involved.

  Today is the official opening of the tournament, as Mrs Donovan said, when the teams will be announced. Tomorrow is the first day of competition, so my father will be appearing at the academy to do his duty. It’s also the day when he said he’d be back to collect me. I need to figure some stuff out, and fast.

  “Hey, class is over.” Lucas nudges me, and I blink up at him.

  “Come on,” I say, jumping from my seat and rushing out the door.

  “I didn’t think you were that excited to get to spells class,” Lucas chuckles.

  “We’re not going to spells class,”
I inform him over my shoulder as I weave through the students.

  “We’re not?” he replies, scratching his head.

  I stop when we reach Mrs Donovan’s door. “No,” I tell him, knocking on the door.

  “Come in,” she calls, and for once, I’m glad to see her.

  We slip into the room, and I see the surprise cross her face.

  “Well, I didn’t expect to see you so soon. Wasn’t yesterday enough?” she questions, arching her fingers in front of her.

  I take a breath, and trusting my gut, I slide into the seat in front of her, rest my elbows on her desk and lean towards her. “Mrs Donovan, you were close to my mum.” Her eyes flare, and she nods. “You hate my dad,” this time she doesn’t respond, “and so do I,” I inform her.

  She purses her lips, stands, and walking to the door, she locks it before she whispers a few words under her breath and a magical film coats the room.

  “For privacy,” she tells me, nodding at the film. “You want me to be frank?” she asks, looking between Lucas, who is standing at my back, and me. I nod. “Whatever I say can be denied, which is why I want the privacy. You’re right, though. I was very close to your mum, but when she dated and then married your dad, things changed.” She sighs. “I can see how much you hate your dad. He isn’t a nice person, and he’s also a dangerous one. You think there was a spell put on, Jacobi?”

  “And Sebastian,” I retort, and her lips thin.

  “Neither would surprise me.” She shakes her head, disgust in her eyes.

  “Mrs Donovan, please bring Jacobi back to school, and tomorrow, invite my father to return to close the games.” The headmistress starts to speak, but I hush her with my hand. “Please, let me explain,” I ask, and she nods. “My father has told me he’s coming for me tomorrow, to take me away from here. I don’t intend to leave with him, and you asking him to come back and close the games gives me an extra three days. Three more days to plan.” I take a breath and fist my hands, knowing even with the additional time, I’ve no idea what to do. “Let Jacobi come back and team me, Jacobi, Emmie and Lucas together-“