A Witch’s Immunity
Supernatural Academy - Book 3
Sophie Castle
Illustrated by
Natasha Snow
Edited by
Elizabeth Lance
Copyright © 2019 by Sophie Castle
All rights reserved.
Cover design by Natasha Snow Designs
Edited by Elizabeth Lance
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locations is purely coincidental. The characters are all productions of the authors’ imagination.
Contents
VIP Reader Club
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
About Sophie Castle
Also by Sophie Castle
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Chapter 1
Bethany
“So where are we landing again?” I asked, looking out the airplane window at the Rocky Mountains. Well, what I could see of the mountains anyway. It was pretty dark, being that we’d had to take an evening flight so Jodie would be able to join us.
“We’re flying in to Aspen Pitkin County Airport. It’s just like a five-minute drive to our chalet. Lindon is picking us up and checking us in. He’s going to be our ‘chaperone’ since they won’t allow anyone under twenty-five to book a room.” James smiled, taking my hand in his. “Cory was pretty stoked to know he’d have the weekend without Lindon.”
I squeezed his fingers and smiled at him. I was so excited to be going on this trip. I had never seen the Rocky Mountains before My family’s summer trip hadn’t gone farther west than Kansas, so all I’d gotten to see was the middle and south of the United States. Now I could say I’d been further west, and skied on Buttermilk Mountain, Aspen Mountain and Aspen Highland Mountain. Of course ,I’d never actually skied before, but James assured me it wasn’t too hard.
“Is Lindon staying with us at the chalet?” Jodie asked over the seat from behind us.
I looked at her through the seats and smiled. She’d glamoured herself to look human, hiding her horns under her dyed black and blue tipped hair, and her goat shaped legs and hooves in a pair of skin tight leggings and black, high-top Converse.
“Yeah, unfortunately, but only because he has to. He’ll be taking the room with the smallest window and putting up a blackout curtain for during the day. He sleeps like the dead, so any noise we make won’t bother him. And he won’t get in our way. He’ll probably go do his own thing when he wakes. He’s not thrilled that we’re with Bethany and Terrance, sorry guys,” James said with a shrug. “He’s still in the process of trying to locate the—” James stopped and looked around the plane’s cabin, “people… who murdered Arrond, so I imagine he’ll be out doing that in the evenings. I’ll just be lucky if he doesn’t drag me along with him.”
Jodie nodded, her blue tipped hair swinging forward. “Don’t worry about it. We all have people in our lives who are stuck in that mindset, you know?”
I sighed. I hated that Lindon was prejudiced against witches. We weren’t all responsible for Arrond’s death, and I had a feeling whoever was responsible was in league with the Shadow Society, but I kept my thoughts to myself not wanting to spoil our trip. “He’d better not! I want you all to myself,” I said with a grin, trying to brighten his spirits.
“Good evening, everyone. Please refasten your seatbelts and return your seats to their upright position. We will be landing at Aspen Pitkin County Airport shortly and thank you for flying United Airlines,” the pilot said over the plane’s intercom.
I pulled out my phone and looked at the time; 9:32 p.m. My leg was bouncing I was so excited to be on this trip. “So how far is our chalet?”
“Not far, like five or ten minutes away and everything is really close.” James smiled. “I think you are really going to like this place. It’s got a great view of the mountains with lots of big windows.”
I frowned. “Is that going to be okay with you, Jodie?” I asked, looking at her through the tiny section between James’ and my seats.
Jodie leaned forward and kept her voice low. “Yeah, sure, you know it’s not that I have to stay out of sunlight, right? It’s just that I have to glamour more. Like now,” she whispered.
“I know, but I want you to be comfortable.” I smiled at her.
“I’ll keep her plenty entertained and comfortable,” Terrance commented with a grin and a wiggle of his bushy eyebrows.
Jodie giggled and smacked his arm.
The plane made its descent and then we unloaded, grabbing our carry-on luggage from the cabinets above our heads before heading into the main part of the airport to meet Lindon. The airport wasn’t huge, but it was busy it seemed, with people rushing around looking to get to their vacation destinations.
“Where are we meeting Lindon?” Terrance asked, looking around.
“I sent him a text, he’s outside in a black SUV waiting in the pickup section.”
We headed outside, trailing our luggage behind us on their wheels. The glass doors opened and a chilled breeze blasted my face, causing me to shiver. James wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close. I smiled at him as we walked.
“There he is,” James commented, pointing to a black SUV between a red sedan and a white pickup truck. “Come on.”
As we approached, Lindon got out of the vehicle and came around to open the hatch back of the SUV. He was tall, around six foot five, with dark skin that looked ashy. His head was bald and he had a black mustache and goatee. He looked somewhat muscular, but thin, and I imagined he was pretty strong, despite being gaunt. “Is he glamoured?” I whispered to James. I didn’t think he was as I couldn’t feel any kind of magic on him.
James shook his head. “Nope. He’s like Cory, Edimmu.”
“Ah, okay, so that’s why the blackout curtains. Got it.” I grinned.
“James, hurry up, I have things to do,” Lindon called from the tailgate of the SUV as he stared at us.
“Coming.” James and I approached first with Jodie and Terrance following just behind us. “Lindon, this is Bethany, Jodie and Terrance.”
Lindon looked at us, his black eyes flicking over us with disinterest. He gave a slight tilt of his head and said, “Get in the car.”
James shook his head as Lindon moved away and
back to the driver’s seat. “Let me take that,” he said, reaching for my bag.
He put it in the back, then added his, Terrance’s and Jodie’s before closing the hatch. Going back to the passenger side, he opened the door, folded the seat down and helped Jodie in. Terrance climbed in next to her, and then James pushed the seat back into place and helped me up before climbing in himself. He pulled the door shut as I put on my seatbelt.
“Everyone in?” Lindon asked, hearing the door.
“Yes, we’re all here.”
“Good.” Lindon pulled out of his spot and took off out of the airport parking area. “House rules. Do not attempt to wake or disturb me. My door will be locked. I will not bother you, you will not bother me. There are enough rooms for you boys to each have your own and the girls share one. I expect not to find anything untoward going on in any of the rooms. Am I making myself clear?” His black eyes flicked up to the rearview mirror and connected with each of us.
“But, Lindon—” James started.
“I told Professor Corbett that I would make sure you all behaved. So you will behave.”
“Fine.” James sighed and rolled his eyes at me.
I swallowed my smile.
“Do we have an understanding?” he asked again.
“Yes,” we all answered, but I could tell Jodie was being sarcastic.
I looked over my shoulder at her and made a face. She rolled her eyes and I giggled. Grinning, I grabbed James’ hand and entwined our fingers. He smirked at me and then leaned in and kissed my cheek.
We arrived at One Aspen Chalet and my eyes went wide. It was gorgeous. It had a modern look, but still retained the look one would expect to see of an Aspen ski resort. Dark woods mixed with stone, modern and sleek furniture that screamed luxurious wealth. “How did you pay for this?” I whispered to James in shock.
He grinned. “Don’t worry about the cost, you’re worth every penny.”
My heart stuttered in my chest and I dropped the handle of my bag to throw my arms around his neck and kiss him. When I came up for air, we were both panting, and Lindon was glaring at us. James smirked, his hands going to my waist.
“I’m taking the car. I’ll return before sunrise.” He turned and strode back out of the door.
“So, which room is ours?” Jodie asked me, arching her brows.
I looked at James and he grinned.
“This way.” He led us to the master suite. “You two take this one, the bed is plenty big for you to share.” He set my bag inside the door and Terrance did the same with Jodie’s.
“Nice digs.” Terrance looked around the room. “Where am I?”
James pointed to a room across the hall. “That one, and I’m next door to this one. Lindon is taking that one, he’s already prepped it, I imagine.”
“So, what are we doing first?” Jodie asked.
“How about the hot tub?” James suggested.
“I’m hungry, is there food?” Terrance put in.
“Fully stocked, for both our needs,” James commented. “The staff took care of yours and Bethany’s needs and Lindon took care of mine and Jodie’s.”
“Good to know he’s got you two covered. I don’t fancy becoming a vamp meal, not even for you, my little hottie.” Terrance grinned at Jodie.
“One day you’ll be begging me to gobble you down…” Jodie said wickedly.
Terrance’s cheeks turned red at her words and he swallowed hard making Jodie laugh.
“You are just too cute,” she said moving into his arms. “Come on, let’s go get you some food, then we’ll change and go out to the hot tub.”
“Sounds like a plan.” They left the room and headed toward the spacious kitchen.
I looked at James and smiled. “So I should change…”
James smirked. “Don’t change on my account,” he said pulling me closer.
I laughed. “I meant into my swimsuit. For the hot tub.”
“Oh. That. Yes, I suppose you should.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “I’ll meet you out there.”
Nodding, I watched him slip out of the doorway and down the hall. Letting out a deep breath, I closed the door and then grabbed my bag and set it on the bed. Opening it, I pulled out my tankini. It was bright red with the corset style top reaching just above my belly-button. The bottoms fit right at my hips and tied on either side with long strings that dangled down to mid-thigh. I went into the bathroom and looked in the mirror to be sure it looked okay. This was the most undressed I’d been in James’ presence, well that he would actually see. I’d changed tops around him before, but he’d had his back turned. Nervously, I grabbed a towel from the heated rack and wrapped it around myself before heading to the outdoor deck. It was cold outside, but in the hot tub, we’d be plenty warm.
James was already there, sitting with his feet in the steamy water. He looked up and grinned as I dropped my towel on a chair and moved toward him. He took my hand and helped me into the water. Together we sank in up to our shoulders. James put his arm around me and I leaned into him, enjoying being close to him.
“So what should we do first tomorrow?” he asked. “Skiing or shopping? I saw a few boutique stores around downtown when we passed through on the way here.”
“Skiing. I want to learn so I can go down the big slopes with you.”
He nodded. “Okay,” he commented as Terrance and Jodie came out on the deck.
“Oh man, it’s colder out here than I thought!” Terrance remarked, his hands filled with a plate of pizza bites. He jumped in the hot tub, splashing us a bit in the process. He set his plate down by his head and reached up for Jodie’s hand, helping her in.
“Oh, this is nice,” Jodie murmured, moving up next to Terrance.
I stole a couple of Terrance’s pizza bites. “Mmmm, good idea, these.” I munched on one and held the other.
“Hey, those are mine, go get your own.” Terrance sent me a fake glare and then grinned. “Just kidding, made them for us both.”
I laughed and ate the other one before grabbing a third.
“So, beginner’s ski lessons in the morning, then bigger slopes in the afternoon?” James suggested.
Terrance and Jodie nodded.
Suddenly I had an eerie feeling. As if someone was watching us, and it kind of creeped me out. I moved closer to James as my eyes trailed across the scenery looking for something, anything that looked off, but I couldn’t see anything. It was much too dark beyond our well-lit chalet.
“What’s wrong?” James whispered into my hair, just above my ear.
“I don’t know, I feel like we’re being spied on,” I said softly.
James looked around for a few minutes and then shook his head. “I don’t see anything. Want me to change and go fly over?”
I hesitated, but I really didn’t want him to leave my side. “No, I’m sure it’s nothing.”
He smiled and kissed my temple.
Chapter 2
James
I didn’t want to worry Bethany, but I felt the strangeness as well and I could smell someone lurking in the darkness. Something, someone, was out there watching us, but I couldn’t tell where it was coming from. It might have just been nosey neighbors wondering why the chalet held four teenagers and no adults. The place was very specific about not renting to under aged teens.
“I don’t see anything. Want me to change and go fly over?”
She hesitated, biting her lip, but then said, “No, I’m sure it’s nothing.”
I smiled and leaned into her, enjoying being close to her as much as I knew she was enjoying being close to me. I kissed her temple and we sat in the steamy water for another few minutes.
“You ready to get out and go inside?” I asked after a little while.
She nodded.
“How about you go get changed and I’ll get a fire started in the fireplace, then we can watch a movie?” I suggested.
“That sounds good.”
“It does, we’ll come too,” Terrance c
ommented, standing. He pulled Jodie up next to him and they both climbed out as well.
Sighing, I hit the button turning off the hot tub and then pushed another button to slide the cover back over it to keep the water from freezing. I wrapped Bethany’s towel around her and walked her to her room. I figured we weren’t going to have as much alone time as I’d hoped on this trip. Not between Lindon’s ‘rules’ and Terrance and Jodie following us everywhere. Still, it was better than being at school and under the eyes of all of the professors.
As I changed into a pair of grey sweats and a tee shirt, I recalled the reason for this trip. Bethany needed a break from all the drama of last semester. The poor girl had once again been the target of a deranged lunatic who wanted to see her dead. I was just glad I was at her side to help her get through it. I strode into the living room and started the fire in the stone fireplace, and then picked up the remote to the television.
“Hey,” Bethany said, coming into the room. She wore a pair of flannel red and black plaid sleep pants and a red tee shirt that had Deadpool’s face on it. She looked adorable with her dark hair up in a ponytail and big fuzzy red slippers on her feet. She’d scrubbed the little bit of makeup she’d been wearing off her face and she smelled like rose petals.
A Witch’s Immunity: Supernatural Academy - Book 3 Page 1
