It’s a new level of betrayal.
I used to think Dark Witches were evil, and I still sometimes do, but this is something else. It’s one thing to decorate with dripping blood, another to set murderers on a girl you used to love. Or, at least, claim to have loved.
When I finally let go of him, Nicholas rocks forward on the balls of his feet. He nods at Puck first, then Merlin.
“Well then, what’re we going to do about him?”
“Not him,” I say, quickly. Merlin looks like he’s about to argue, so I reach up and rest my hand on his forearm. “Not just him.”
I shrug my returned cloak off my shoulders and hold it out. The last time I wore this, I was on a mission to prove I wasn’t a Dark Witch. I was so sure it couldn’t be true. Dark Witches were cruel and wicked.
Now I know the opposite is just as often true.
“Something’s going on at Highborne Academy. I glimpsed it when I was there, but now we’ve all experienced it firsthand.” When I look back up at them, I’m not crying anymore. “I’m going to find out what it is, and I’m going to put a stop to it.”
Beside me, Puck shifts to hold my hand. “No, my little bird. I meant what I said before, I’m in this for the long haul.” He glances up at the other two, and then adds, “And not just me. Merlin and Nicholas too. Whatever it takes, we’re in this together now, Wren. All of us.”
The anger in Merlin’s face turns to resolve as he meets my gaze and nods once. “You’ll never face the dark alone again.”
There they go making me choke up again.
“Come on, guys,” I say, “you’re going to make a fool out of me.”
Nicholas can contain himself no longer. Solemnity isn’t in his nature.
He ignores the protests of the other boys as he climbs down to practically straddle me on the top step. “So long as you’re our fool, we won’t have it any other way.”
Nicholas takes my face in his hands and kisses me deeply.
When he draws back, neither of the other boys are looking away.
Puck sees the look of wonder on my face, and he’s the first to laugh. “Don’t be so surprised, Wren. I think the three of us were always destined to share this life—and everything in it.”
Merlin chuckles too. “After all, it’s not like there’s a plethora of other females for us to choose from.”
It’s my turn to laugh, though it comes out strangled between the tears. “Look at you, the ever-practical one.”
“Wouldn’t want to disappoint,” he says, leaning down to kiss me on the forehead. Before he draws away, however, he whispers softly in my ear so only I will overhear. “Even if there were a thousand others to pick from, I’d still pick you.”
Abacus stops outside the gate and waves his arms to get my attention. Behind him, the window to the car rolls down and Renault, the Dark Witch he saved from burning, leans out to say something to him. When Abacus straightens back up, I know it’s time to go. For real this time.
I look up at the three boys standing around me on the steps, and if ever I believed in fate, it’d be now. Because that’s what this has always been about.
There’s still a long road ahead of us. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but I’ll find my way back to them, eventually. The world is still as confusing and complicated as it was when this whole thing started. But, at least, I know one thing now.
It was never really about whether or not I was a Dark Witch by birth. It was about choice.
Even if a set of enchanted scales says otherwise—I know what I am now, because that’s what I choose to be.
And right now, right here, I choose this.
I choose them.
I’m a Dark Witch.
From the Author
Thank you for taking the time to read Dark Witch, Book One of the Academy of the Dark Arts series.
Book Two’s estimated release date is December 2019-January 2020.
If you enjoyed Dark Witch, please consider leaving a review on Amazon!
This book couldn’t have been made possible without the support and encouragement of my friends, family, and readers like you.
With love,
Analeigh
Dark Witch: A Paranormal Academy Romance (Academy of the Dark Arts Book 1) Page 32
