Casters Book Two: Shadow Caster

Chapter Thirty Four

I wake up later cuddled up to what I thought was Vega but when I opened my eyes I was greeted with Joni. I flinched. She smiled at me, staring at me with those sharp and clear green eyes. Her hair is blonde today.

I pull away from her.

"I'll never understand how Vega gets all the girls," she sighs.

"W-what are you doing?" I force out.

She reaches into her pocket and pulls out the now-folded paper from before. All the hairs rise on my arm. She must have read everything. She knows now. She must read my face because she says,

"I won't tell anyone. I don't even know what it means or what the heck you two were talking about. But if you need my help, I'm happy to offer it."

I take the paper from her and rip it to pieces before crumbling them all up.

"That serious huh?"

I eye her.

"Here," she takes the crumbled-up paper from my hand and then casts a spell, saying something in Latin. I watch the paper poof into thin air.

"All gone," she smiles.

I avert my eyes from her.

"So you forgive Vega, just like that?" she asks.

I shrug.

"A girl like her, she must have a secret weapon to get all the girls. That or she's using her mind powers to control you." She says nonchalantly.

I turn to her with a glare and punch her in the arm.

"Ow, kidding." She laughs. "You're probably immune to her power anyway being a Star Caster and all that." She says.

I raise an eyebrow in confusion.

"What? They didn't tell you? Star Casters can cast a spell that protects them from outside influence like Psy magic."

No, they, in fact, did not tell me. Add that to the list of things to look into.

Joni smiles at me before pulling me into her arms.

I squirm in her embrace.

"Sorry for invading your space, but I just can't help but stare at you. You're pretty cute when you're like this. Just all snuggled up in bed."

"I have a girlfriend," I force out.

"Who cheated on you for the better half of your relationship." She points out.

I frown and avert my eyes from her.

"You may say you forgive Vega, but your facial expression says something different." She says.

I shake my head no.

"Face the truth Emery, knowing she was boldface lying to you and leading you on to make you think you were special hurts more than you can admit. It opens the doorway and makes you wonder, what else has she been lying about? Who is she really?"

I meet her eyes.

"I can tell you're inexperienced. A doe in a field of hunters. You walk into a trap just because you think it's safer than being shot, never knowing that being in a cage is worse than being killed. But you're very pretty Emery, I don't know if many people have told you that, but you are. You've got this hunter's attention. I can't help but think about you, my eyes crave to see you. My fingers long to touch you." She whispers.

She leans in, cautiously, her lips brushing against mine.

My heart hammers in my chest, my body filled with anxiety, stuck between wanting to run and wanting something it shouldn't want. I've never been in this position before. No one has ever wanted me like this before. I used to be invisible to people, no one wanted me. Now... now people are fighting for me and I'm not sure how to comprehend that.