“You stowed away?” Aspen briefly peeked at the back seat and then returned his attention to the road.
“We decided it would be best for you to stay back in the dorm with Merrygold.” I pursed my lips.
Nine shook himself and climbed on top of the luggage, including Aspen’s “wizard travel kit” that he said that he was never without.
No, you decided I should stay, and I was okay with it until I started thinking that you’d be having some Christmas buffet and I’d be stuck with the kibble Professor Magnolis picked up for me.
“You told me that you liked the kibble.”
Not as much as I like turkey legs.
Nervousness buzzed in my chest as I side-eyed Aspen. Since he’d told me two days ago that he and his entire family were animal shifters, particularly wolf shifters, I hadn’t shared the secret with anyone, and that included Nine. He had a small problem called a big mouth and I didn’t even want him saying anything to Merrygold about Aspen’s heritage. We’d planned to keep Aspen’s and my relationship a secret from all our friends since we didn’t want any questions about why the curse wouldn’t affect us.
Speaking of turkey legs. Nine craned his neck to peer into the front seat. Have any snacks up there? My nap really made me hungry.
I ignored the cat and pulled my attention back to Aspen. “Is this going to make the whole situation more difficult?”
Aspen blew out a breath. “My family are not the biggest fans of cats.”
Nine stood and jumped to the armrest between Aspen and me. He leaned to Aspen’s shoulder and nudged the side of his face against his upper arm.
Come on. Who could resist this face?
A smile stretched over Aspen’s closed mouth, and he fought back a laugh. Finally, he said, “I’m not sure, but I do know we’ve never eaten roast cat for Christmas dinner. Though we could always start.”
Chapter 2
Gravel crunched under Midnight’s wheels as we pulled up in front of Aspen’s family home. The modest two-story had natural wood siding—very cabin-like. It was pretty much exactly where I pictured Aspen growing up. The house was nestled between tall pine trees with a little snow packed along the trunks. A rough stone walkway led to the steps up to the door, and on it hung a wreath made of pine branches for the season.
My stomach fizzled with nervous energy. I wished that Emiko was here to help calm my nerves, but she was back home with her own family for the holidays. I missed her, Holly and Merrygold already.
Aspen put the car in park and turned the key. The radio went silent.
Are we there yet? From the back seat, Nine lifted his lazy head for a second and then laid it back on his paws and closed his eyes.
As usual, I ignored him. “How do you want to do this?” I leaned my elbow onto the armrest and glanced at Aspen.
He gripped the steering wheel at ten and two and kept his focus on the house door. He pinched his lips together in thought. “Nine should hang out in the car until we come back and get the bags. But you and I are walking right in together.”
I blew out a settling breath. “You sure about that?”
Aspen turned my way. “I’m positive.”
I reached for the door latch. It clicked and the door popped open when I pulled the metal lever. “You okay staying in the car for a few minutes, Nine?”
Fine, he muttered. But don’t take long.
Nine seemed completely unconcerned about Aspen’s joke about his family eating him, although he didn’t know that they were a pack of wolves.
With a shove, I pushed open the door and grabbed my navy wool coat from down by my feet. I slipped my arms into the sleeves and secured several buttons halfway up my chest. The winter air nipped at my cheeks as I slammed the car door shut.
Before I got two steps, the door to the house flew open and a woman wearing a green turtleneck sweater and jeans rushed onto the porch. She had bright blue eyes and dark, wavy hair that might have had a few gray highlights along the edges of her face. Aspen’s features definitely favored his mom. She was lovely.
“Aspen!” she called and threw open her arms as she jogged down the stairs. “You made it!”
Aspen met her in a warm embrace, and he picked her up into the air as if she were light as a feather.
When he placed her feet on the ground, she squeezed him and eased back, moving her hands to either side of his face. “Let me look at you!” A wide smile stretched at her lips while she studied Aspen for several seconds. “I’ve missed you!” She shook her head and turned her attention on me.
I gulped and instinctively reached for my hair, but it was still tucked into my sweatshirt’s hood.
“You must be Aspen’s friend.” She relaxed her smile as she studied me. It wasn’t an unkind expression, but something in her eyes told me that Aspen was right—his mom was cautious. Likely, she wanted to be welcoming, but anyone new was a potential threat that their family secrets would be revealed.
I dug down deep and mustered up my courage, since I really did not want to turn around and drive back to the academy. “I’m Josy.” I held out my hand to her. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Rivers.”
“I wrote you that I’ve been tutoring Josy this semester,” Aspen said. “She doesn’t have family to go back to for Christmas.”
Aspen’s mom nodded and took my hand.
As soon as she did, her lips flattened into a straight line. She tipped her head and squinted. “You’re half Morelli.” She darted her eyes to Aspen while still holding my hand. “You didn’t mention this.”
I bit my lip and with my free hand pulled down my hood, revealing my white hair. Might as well get all the truth out. My heart thudded against my rib cage.
Aspen cleared his throat. “One of my mom’s . . . magical abilities is sensing things about people.”
He’d told me that his family had very little if any magical ability. Shifting was part of their DNA, not magic. I was pretty sure that this was a wolf thing, but before we got to that we’d have to get past the fact that I was half Morelli.
A slight smile returned to her lips and she released my hand. “You can call me Dawn.”
“Mom.” Aspen stepped closer to her. “I need to talk to you about one more thing.” His eyes flickered to the car and I knew it must be about Nine.
We were really pushing our luck.
He took her by the arm and led her closer to the house away from me. My heart was still pounding as he leaned in and whispered to her. Dawn pulled back from her son suddenly, eyes wide. Her chest raised as she took in a large breath and held it for a beat. Finally, she let the air out and said, “The more the merrier.”
But I knew from the tone that was the complete opposite of what she wanted to say.
Dawn patted Aspen on the shoulder and returned her attention to me. “Why don’t the two of you unload the car, and I can show Josy to the guest room afterward. It’s been a very long time since we’ve had a guest . . . let alone two.”
As if on cue, Nine popped his head up over the dash and gazed around.
I rubbed my fingertips at the headache returning to my temples. We were definitely having Tur-CAT-en for Christmas dinner.
✽✽✽
“Aspen’s dad, Flint, is out hunting with his brother Clay.” Dawn handed me a stack of towels for the bathroom and dropped her attention to Nine, who’d already made himself at home on the handmade patchwork quilt covering my double bed.
Somehow, he was keeping his mouth shut even though I knew he was hungry for lunch. Maybe it was the new place or maybe he’d sensed Dawn’s nervousness, but I wasn’t sure Nine had that kind of tact within him.
“Thank you, Mrs.—”
“Dawn. Please call me Dawn.” A small line formed between her brows for a brief second and then relaxed.
“Dawn.” I sighed. “I’m sorry we sprang all this on you. I really thought Aspen would have already told you about—my heritage.”
She shrugged and crossed her arms over her chest
. “It was simply unexpected. With the war and the fact that the Academy has not admitted any Morelli for quite some time—”
“Twenty years.”
She raised a brow and turned to straighten an old-fashioned brass alarm clock on the dresser near the door. “Has it been that long?”
Over the dresser was a small mirror. Within the reflection, I stared at my hair for a moment and then looked back to Dawn, who was moving the clock from its original position and back again. “I don’t know that much about it. Before the semester started, I didn’t even know the Borealis existed.”
Turning back toward me, Dawn gave me a quizzical look.
I clutched at the towels still in my hands and pressed my fingers into the fluffy fabric. “I lived on The Other Side with a Common. Until enrollment day I didn’t even know about magic.”
“Really?” With the question her body relaxed slightly. “Aspen left a lot out when he told us about you.”
“Settling in?” Aspen peeked from around the corner, and his perfect smile turned my insides to mush.
I placed the towels on the bed and unbuttoned my coat. “I think so. You really have a lovely home, Dawn.” I glanced around at the room. The walls were painted a light green that brought out the same shade in the quilt. On each side of the bed was a wooden table with matching silver lamps. A small lit fireplace to my left flickered and crackled.
There was nothing fancy about the house, but somehow everything about it said home.
A warm smile crossed her lips and she checked the watch on her wrist. “Flint and Clay should be back any time.” She returned her attention to us. “And lunch will be ready in a few minutes.”
Nine popped his head up at her words, but she left before he could say anything.
“So your brother and dad hunt?” I asked Aspen.
He walked into the room. “We all do. Plus, we grow a lot of our own food in a couple of greenhouses out back. All the fresh produce gets canned or frozen. It keeps us almost completely self-reliant out here in Tumbling Falls.”
“Sounds like a lot of work.”
He shrugged. “It is, but we’re all pretty used to it. Everyone who lives in this town does the same thing.”
I wanted to ask him if everyone who lived in Tumbling Falls were animal shifters, but Nine was here and I couldn’t.
Nine sighed as he stood and stretched on the bed. Your mom said lunch would be ready. You think we could get to that soon?
From downstairs the opening of the front door echoed. “We’re home,” a deep male voice called.
“That would be my dad,” Aspen said and gestured Nine to the door. “Let’s hope they got a few wild turkeys today so we don’t need to improvise.”
Chapter 3
“You go see your dad and brother. I’ll be right down.” I smiled at Aspen.
He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “You sure?”
“I want to finish unpacking. We’re going to be here for a while, so I want to be settled in.” I pulled my bag toward me on the bed and unzipped it.
Energy tingled between Aspen and me, and I wanted to pull his warm body close to mine and smother him with kisses. I missed his lips.
“See you in a few minutes.” He grinned at me and left. I closed the door behind him.
You’re sure Aspen’s joking about the whole cat-for-dinner thing? Nine jumped off the bed and sat at the door, waiting to be let out.
“You think he’s not?” I raised a brow and pulled out the Spells of the Ancients book on the top of the clothes.
I just want to know what you think. He flicked his tail impatiently and stared up at the closed door.
I chuckled. “When do you ever care what I think?”
When it involves me as a main course on the holiday buffet.
After I placed the book on the quilt, I turned to snatch up Nine. I gave him a scratch on the chin, and he let out a series of purrs. Then I lifted him into the air to examine him.
“You are pretty bony.” I lowered his face to my eye level and allowed a smile to fall over my lips. “Not a lot of meat for five of us.”
Bony? Nine pawed at my nose without releasing his claws. Maybe that’s because I’ve been waiting for lunch for so long. How about you pick up the pace?
I rolled my eyes and set him on the floor. He immediately scurried back to the exit.
“One minute.” I pulled open the spell book and removed my parent’s photo I’d stored inside the pages. “Mom and dad need a place.”
My mind flickered with the memory of the vision I’d had of Mom when Rosalee and I were tested by Mrs. North. Although it was only a few days before, the whole experience felt like a lifetime ago, and I’d started to think that maybe seeing my mom was only a figment of my imagination. I ran my index finger over the image of my parents’ smiling faces and placed the photo next to my bedside.
I pulled open the drawer below and tucked in the Spells of the Ancients book, as well as the Morelli diary. After that, I quickly loaded my sparse wardrobe into the dresser drawers and tossed my toiletries into the tiny attached bathroom.
Peering down at my grey sweatshirt and jeans, I sighed. My clothes were not that impressive, and I did want to make a good impression on Aspen’s parents and brother.
You know, they are not going to be looking at what you’re wearing, Nine yowled.
“How’d you know that was what I was thinking?” I pulled at the hem of my oversized sweatshirt.
I know you. Now let’s go. I need to fatten up for Christmas dinner. Nine chuckled as if he thought getting in on the joke was the most hilarious thing, then he stood and walked to me. The cat bumped his head on my leg and continued rubbing my pants with the side of his body.
“Fine.” I stepped to the door and turned the handle. “Now or never.”
Downstairs, laughter echoed from the kitchen, and I tiptoed through the living room. The space had a large picture window displaying the beautiful pine trees surrounding the house. A stone fireplace that had another fire lit within it was positioned between two fluffy, worn couches. There were no Christmas decorations, so I could only assume that they did holidays differently on The Side of Magic.
I glanced down at Nine, who’d kept pace with me. He let out a soft meow of encouragement.
Holding my breath, I took the last few steps to the kitchen entrance. Aspen, leaning against the counter, was the only one facing me. His eyes lit up at my arrival.
The others turned to see what he was staring at, and the room went silent. Aspen’s dad, Flint, was tall like Aspen, but he had sandy hair and brown eyes. Clay, Aspen’s older brother, looked more like Flint than Dawn, but his hair was wavy like Aspen’s and their mom’s. Flint was a couple inches taller than Aspen, too.
My chest seized with tension and my brain seemed to go completely dead when it came to proper conversation.
When’s lunch? Nine asked.
Everyone’s attention dropped to the black cat at my feet.
“He has terrible manners when he’s hungry,” I blurted out.
Hey!
I widened my eyes and stared intently at Nine. “You do!”
Dawn smiled and held her hand out to me. “Come on in, Josy, and meet the rest of the family. Nine is also welcome. Aspen had a chance to tell us a little more about you two and what you did for the Academy during the attack.”
Clay studied me carefully while he kept his muscular arms crossed over his chest.
The kitchen was small, with dark wood cabinets and a tile countertop. Delicious, savory aromas came from the oven and stove but I couldn’t quite make out what they might be.
“She was very brave.” Aspen held his head high.
“And you weren’t?” I bit my lip at the memory of Aspen in wolf form jumping in front of my uncle and the giant dog he was riding.
Clay grabbed his brother and pulled him into a headlock. “I’m sure you did your best, little brother!”
Aspen grunted and attempted to twist from Clay�
��s hold, to no avail. His cap loosened from his head and tumbled to the ground.
Flint slapped Clay in the arm. “Speaking of no manners.”
Clay rolled his eyes and released Aspen.
“We’re very glad to meet you, Josy.” Aspen’s dad held out his hand to me. “Please call me Flint.”
I held my breath and took his grasp. The man shook my hand vigorously and turned me slightly to the in-kitchen table that was already set for six. There was even a chair with books stacked on the top so Nine could join us.
“Have a seat. We’re about to start eating.” He nudged me to the table. “Sit anywhere you like.”
Nine immediately bounded for the table and leaped to his spot, no questions asked.
“Thank you. Can I help in any way?” I released Flint’s hand.
He shook his head vigorously. “You are our guest, and I think we’ve got it, anyway.”
I glanced to Aspen, who was adjusting his cap. He gave me a lopsided grin, which I returned with a playful glare. Aspen’s family had no idea that we were dating, and his goofy smiles were going to give the whole thing away before we were ready to tell anyone.
I found a seat next to Nine, and the rest of the family went to work loading veggies, meat, and some sort of rice dish into serving bowls and platters. The whole scene made me incredibly happy, seeing how they worked together. The Rivers family really was a good team.
When the last of the dishes were placed on the table, each of them had a seat.
I peered out over the food. “Thank you so much for all this.”
Dawn folded her hands onto the table. “Flint and I were lucky enough to come home with an elk a few months ago. That’s the roast. The carrots and potatoes are from our greenhouse, and then there’s wild rice and mushrooms.” She picked up the platter of sliced meat and handed it to me.
My mouth watered at the sight of it. The food at the Academy was really good, but nothing beats a home-cooked meal, and I hadn’t had that in months. Hungrily I loaded a slice onto Nine’s plate and one onto mine.
Spellcaster Academy Box Set Page 26
