Magical Misfit (Magic And Metaphysics Academy Book 3)

by Laura Greenwood

  Magical Misfit

  Magic and Metaphysics Academy #3

  L.A. Boruff & Laura Greenwood

  © 2019 Laura Greenwood & L.A. Boruff

  All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise – without prior written permission of the published, except as provided by United States of America copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher at “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the email address; lauragreenwood@authorlauragreenwood.co.uk.

  Visit Laura Greenwood’s website at:

  www.authorlauragreenwood.co.uk

  Visit L.A. Boruff’s website at:

  www.laboruff.com

  Cover Design by Ammonia Book Covers

  Magical Misfit is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Blurb

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Epilogue

  Also by L.A. Boruff

  Also by Laura Greenwood

  About L.A. Boruff

  About Laura Greenwood

  Blurb

  With the academy against her, Lou has to prove she can be trusted, even to those she cares about the most.

  Determined to clear her name and defeat her unlikely enemy, but controlled by a book at every turn, it takes Lou and her allies everything they have to break Estelle's hold on the academy.

  Can Lou save the day while completing her mating bonds and keeping her friendships intact? Or is the Magic and Metaphysics Academy doomed?

  Magical Misfit is the third and final book in the Magic and Metaphysics Academy series. It includes a reverse harem romance.

  Chapter One

  TYLER WILL BE UNABLE to be herself with anyone but me.

  Holy broomsticks. I closed the evil book quietly and looked around. I’d found a quiet corner in the library to read in. Surrounded by stacks, it was so deadly silent this far back in the room, I was sure I’d hear anyone that tried to sneak up on me. Plus I put up a charm that would make tinkling sounds only audible if anyone got within five feet of me.

  I’d already found proof that Estelle wanted the school to know I’d killed Kristi. She’d written in ink. Lou caused Kristi to walk out in front of the school bus. Doing it in ink ensured it would be a rumor, and it had worked. The whispers I’d endured through the entire memorial service proved that.

  Damn her. But for now, I had to get the book back to the dorm before she got out of chess club.

  I stuffed it in my bag just as little chimes sounded in my head. Nobody else would've been able to hear them, but they alerted me that someone was very close to me.

  "Hey," Sadie whispered as she and Madison walked out from between a stack of books. "I thought we'd find you here."

  "Hi," I said, grateful it was them. She and Madison had been unbelievably supportive the whole time. I'd gone to them first thing, as soon as the service was over. The past four days had been torture. Estelle walked around the school as if she owned the place.

  In a way she did.

  I hadn't been able to sneak time with the book until today, and I'd warned Sadie and Madison I'd be hiding here if I managed to get my hands on it.

  "What was in it?" Sadie asked.

  "I read a potentially vicious blood-rumor about Tyler, but I can't figure out why Estelle would do something so heinous to her very best friend?" Not being herself could grow to give Tyler serious social anxiety. I wondered how long the rumor had been there.

  "What was it?" Madison asked as she looked around.

  "I'd rather not say. It's deeply personal." I walked out of the stacks, Madison at my side, Sadie following. "But making it come true is cruel to Tyler."

  "Will you tell her?" Sadie asked.

  "I have to. She doesn't believe me, but I've got to find a way to convince her before Estelle does something even worse." We exited the library and headed toward my dorm room. "Estelle's club ends soon. I've got to get this back in her dresser."

  I hadn't been able to get alone time with the guys. They’d believe me and be on my side but so far stuff had interfered with my trying to explain myself. I couldn't help but think there was something written in the book I hadn't found yet. Something to explain why it had been so hard to get Tyler or my guys alone for more than a few seconds. If we weren't being interrupted by a teacher, it was another student, or one of their parents. A phone call. Once there was even a magical fire alarm. It was all getting very ridiculous. And Jayse's parents had made him come home while the school was technically closed for a mourning period.

  "I'll send you guys a text when I can get free. I don't want to do anything to make her suspicious yet, not until I have more information, and know she doesn't have anything written in here that could hurt someone else." I didn't know how much Estelle knew about how strong my friendship with Sadie and Madison was, but the less she knew for sure, the better.

  Sadie and Madison gave me a quick squeeze and broke away from me a few hallways over from my dorm.

  I scurried inside and put the book back the moment I was sure nobody else was in the room.

  Time must have slipped away from me, because just a few seconds after I sat on my bed, Estelle and Tyler walked in. Shoot. I was almost busted.

  "Chess club let out a few minutes early," Estelle said with a sadistic smile. "The headmaster and teachers have to have a meeting with Kristi's parents. I think they're bringing up charges against the academy."

  Tyler nodded. "The Alpha is here." The Alpha of the mountain shifters had jurisdiction over the school, though I was pretty sure he worked closely with the Witches' Conclave. The specific details of how the academy was governed were out of my pay grade, but I knew the Alpha only came when important decisions had to be made or there were big problems. Like a student being killed by a school bus.

  I needed to do something. It wasn't the academy's fault. And even though I wasn't sure if this was the right place for me, it was for other magical kids, and had been for years. If they kicked up enough of a fuss to get it shut down, that would be horrible.

  I knew what I had to do. I had to take that book to the Alpha. As soon as possible.

  Before I could do that, I had to wait Estelle out. All my classes were canceled, thanks to the funeral. The students had been given a week off, except for a few extracurriculars like chess club this morning. Many of the students had gone home, but I'd decided to stay. There was too much at stake to tuck tail and run away. Nothing said guilt more than that.

  Estelle finally stood from her bed and smoothed out her clothes. I'd plopped down and tried to get into a novel, but all I could do was let the last week play over and over in my mind, trying to figure out if there had been anything I could've done better or differently. Nothing came to mind. I'd truly tried my best.

  "I'm going for lunch. You two hungry?"

  I shook my head. "No, thank you," I said as pleasantly as I could muster.

/>   "No, they're serving hot dogs today," Tyler said. "I can't stand them. I'll eat some snacks I've got here."

  "Suit yourselves." Estelle shrugged and walked out.

  After a slow count to five, I jumped out of bed. "I'm so glad you stayed," I said.

  "Don't start again.” Tyler held her hands up. She got off her bed and headed toward the door. "I don't want to hear your crazy conspiracy theories. Estelle is my best friend."

  "Hang on, though." I ran for the book. "You've got to—"

  "No, Lou, if you don't stop, I'm going to tell her."

  She was halfway out the door when I cried out. "Stop! She wrote about you!"

  Tyler froze in the doorway. "What did she say?" she asked without turning her head.

  "If some part of you didn't believe me, you wouldn't be stopping now," I said cautiously. "But you know that was her handwriting, and you know that was blood."

  "What did she say?" she repeated as she backtracked into the room and shut the door.

  "You have to read it." I sat on the edge of Tyler's bed, which was positioned in a way that kept me close to Estelle's nightstand so I could shove the book inside again at the first hint of the door opening.

  "Well?" she asked, sitting beside me.

  "Let me find it." I flipped through the pages toward the back of the book, where I remembered seeing the words about Tyler. I couldn't mark the page. If Estelle looked at it and noticed a page was marked, she'd know for sure that someone had been looking at the book. And I'd be her first suspect.

  "Here it is." I moved the book to Tyler's lap. Though I was desperate for her to believe me and be wary around Estelle, I took no pleasure in seeing the look of confused upset on her face as she read the words.

  "How could she do something like this to me?" She traced the words with her fingertips. "This is blood."

  I nodded and put my hand on her knee. "I'm sorry."

  "I've struggled for years, feeling like nobody wanted me around when we were in a group of people or in class. I've felt ostracized. I can't crack a joke or speak up." Her face was stricken and tears rolled down her cheeks. "I'm always afraid someone will be cruel or at the least dismissive of my thoughts and opinions."

  Wrapping my arm around her, I pressed my forehead into her shoulder. There were no words to comfort her and help her get through such a betrayal as her best friend creating a dependency like this. "I'm so sorry," I whispered.

  "Whatever you need." Her fingers trailed over the words over and over. "This is her handwriting. And it's blood. I refused to believe it before, because I wanted to be a good and loyal friend. But not anymore. I'll do whatever you need."

  "Okay," I said. "I'm trying to get through the whole book, I want to make sure there's not anything else in it that shouldn't be addressed immediately."

  "The Alpha is here, and I'm pretty sure some of the Conclave."

  Pulling away from Tyler, I searched her face. "You think we should just turn it over to them?"

  "Probably the best idea," she said. "I don't know if I can face Estelle after this."

  "If we turn it over, what if they blame me for Kristi's death?" Nervous energy fluttered out of my stomach. I stood and paced.

  "They can't. You were manipulated by a spell." Tyler set the book on the bed. "I'm going to my parents’ place for tonight and tomorrow. While we're still under the mourning break. I can't face her, I'm sorry."

  I understood her need to flee. "It's okay. Go. You're right. I'll take this to the office as soon as you go."

  She yanked a duffle bag out of her bureau and started throwing clothes, books, and personal items in it. The more she moved, the angrier her face grew.

  "Who does she think she is? I'd probably already have had social anxiety without that bullshit in the book. Now I don't even know what's me and what's the spell. Maybe I'm an outgoing life of the party!" By the time her bag was full, she was in a full rant. "What a bitch! You get that book straight to the office. Take her down."

  "I will," I said. "I promise. Just go calm down. Make your peace with this, and when you come back, you can be the you that you're meant to be, whoever that is."

  She nodded. "Yeah. Okay."

  After a quick hug, she strode from the room, her steps heavy on the wooden floor. She was pissed.

  I hated that she had to go through this, but there was no way I could let her go on without knowing.

  The book still sat on Tyler's bed. I picked it up, ready to take it to the office.

  Except I didn't. I grabbed it, walked it to Estelle's nightstand, put it exactly where I'd found it, and left the room.

  Why wasn't I taking it to the office? I knew I should.

  But I didn't. And I couldn't figure out why.

  Chapter Two

  I TAPPED MY HAND AGAINST my leg, admitting that the boredom of no lessons was starting to get to me. I didn't know how the other students were dealing with most academy activities being postponed, but I was restless.

  Maybe I should take this chance to take the book to the Alpha. He was bound to still be around. They didn't have any leads on what had happened to Kristi. Was it bad to feel relieved about that? If they had no leads, then that meant none of the teaching staff suspected me, which was something.

  I needed an activity that would take my mind off this whole situation. Class would be perfect right now.

  But wait, there was something happening today. The Greenies were still meeting.

  Jumping to my feet, I rushed out the door and down the corridor towards the greenhouses. The moment the idea to go to the Greenies meeting popped into my mind, I knew it was the right thing for me. I hadn't been able to connect with nature enough since coming here, something to change when I got through this. If I even stayed.

  I almost crashed into another student as I entered the greenhouse, only to find a steadying hand on my arm. Looking up, I met caring eyes I recognized.

  Brooks.

  Swallowing, I fought the butterflies in my stomach and tried to calm the nervousness. I didn't want him to think I'd killed Kristi. He should know I didn't do it anyway, of all the people at the academy, he was one of the ones who knew me best. And more than that, he'd seen me straight after.

  Neither of us said anything, but then he stepped away.

  The silence between us was deafening.

  His brows knitted together as he looked at me, and I wished I could reach out and assure him that there was nothing to be unsure about. I was still me, he didn't need to fear what I was.

  Unable to stand it any longer, I looked away and walked to a tray of seedlings. They wouldn't judge me. All they cared about was that my magic would nurture them. I picked the tray up and went to a bigger trough to work with them.

  Multiple tools sat beside the troughs. I kneeled on the ground and chose a simple trowel to dig the holes the seedlings would need to grow. I wanted to use my hands, but I felt eyes on me. There wasn't a way for me to do that without looking like some kind of animal.

  And yet, it was hard to imbibe the soil with any kind of magic while handling a trowel.

  Taking a deep breath, I dug my hands into the soft loose soil and wiggled them around. My senses flooded with everything that made it live. The worms wiggling their way through, the dead leaves that crumbled and decayed, giving the soil the nutrients it needed, and the water.

  I funneled magic into all of it. Every bit was an important part of the puzzle.

  For one of the first times since I came to the academy, I had nothing on my mind but the beauty and magic of nature. This was where I was the most at home. I should have come here much sooner.

  Once I was satisfied that there was enough magic in the soil, and that the holes were big enough for the seedlings, I dug them out of the tray and planted them. I wasn't even sure if this needed doing, or if someone else had another plan for the trough, but I didn't care. Too much ran through my head to give any thought to where the plants were going. I needed this connection more than anything. I'd
even risk expulsion over it. Not even knowing Brooks was in the room deterred me from my connection.

  "Come on, little plants," I crooned, lifting the first seedling and placing it in the trough. I was being strange by talking to them, but it helped me connect. I whispered as I transferred the rest of the seedlings. Once that was finished, I placed my hands on top of the dirt and pressed down, sending magic through the soil and to the baby plants hidden beneath. It would help them grow into stronger plants far faster than nature could.

  I still wasn't sure if this was what was supposed to be going on in the Greenies room, but no one stopped me, so I carried on.

  Brooks stood off the side, watching my every move. I didn't say a word to him, though I was certain he knew I was aware of him. After our time in the circle, it would've been impossible for him not to. Something connected the two of us like I had the connection to Francis, and soon, I hoped, Jayse. If they didn't believe I was capable of murder.

  I spared a glance over my shoulder and regretted it. Brooks’ face was screwed up in thought as if he had no idea what to make of me.

  Turning back to the seedlings, I pulled in a calming breath. They understood me. They wouldn't take everything I had to offer and then throw it back in my face when the first bad thing happened.

  The sensation of growth spread through me. My eyes widened as I realized the seedlings were skipping through the growth cycle at an alarming rate.

  They weren't supposed to do this. I hadn't intended for them to grow faster than was natural. Yet here they were, tall green stems and beautiful purple blooms.

  Violets. Vibrant, colorful, violets.

  "They're beautiful," Brooks whispered and stepped closer to me.

  Awareness of his body flooded through me. How was he so close to me, and yet so far away? I longed to reach out and touch him but didn't dare. Just in case he did think I was a murderer, it was better for him to make the first move.

  "How did you do that?" he asked.