The Windhaven Witches Omnibus Edition : Complete Paranormal Suspense Series, Books 1-4 by Carissa Andrews (graded readers txt) 📕

straighter in her chair. Evidently finished with me, she turns her piercing gaze to Wade. Her eyes flit from the top of his head downward, but she doesn’t extend her hand to him.

She shakes her head and mutters, “Angel. How quaint.”

Wade’s face pales and my mouth pops open.

How in the hell did she know the pet name I have for him?

Suspicion dissipates and I lean back in my seat. “Ah…you’re the world-renowned psychic we’ve been hearing about. No offense, but aren’t you a little young?”

She’s certainly not what I expected. If anything, she’s got maybe a year on me, and if that’s the case, there’s a good chance Wade’s older than her.

Again, she smirks, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “What’s age got to do with anything?”

Again, it’s not the response I was expecting. She clearly just likes to turn people in circles. Probably so she can make herself seem more powerful. Despite her knowing Wade’s nickname, it doesn’t mean she has psychic gifts that go beyond Dominic’s.

What a joke.

“Well, a lot, actually. Look around you. This school is filled with people our age, all trying to learn how to master their abilities. How am I supposed to believe you can pick things up better than they can?” I say, holding back my indignation as best I can.

Diana leans forward, with an oddly gentle expression taking over her features. “And you believe a school like this is the only way to hone those abilities, do you?”

“Well…” Sorta. But with the way she’s looking at me, I’m inclined to keep that to myself.

“Diana, if you are who you say you are, then you’ll have to give us something more to go on. No offense, but this is a college campus, and everyone here has it in for us at the moment. So, you’ll have to forgive us if we don’t take you at face value,” Wade says, recovering from his initial surprise.

Diana inhales slowly through her nose, letting her gaze fall to the table then rise up to him. “I understand your hesitation, Mr. Hoffman. I do, but I’m not the one under investigation here.” Diana’s eyes flick to me. “She is. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is…I’m disinclined to acquiesce to your request.”

Wade inhales sharply and his gaze snaps over to me. I’m not sure if it’s from the fact that she so bluntly said I’m under investigation or the fact that she used a movie quote reference from one of his favorites.

She’s either fishing, a genius, or actually rooting around in his brain.

“Fair enough. What do you want?” I say, turning to her.

“Don’t be coy, Ms. Blackwood. You know why I’m here. I’ve been sent to assess your level of interaction with the local resurrections,” she says, turning to me without batting an eye. “So, do you have anything you’d like to confess? Anything on your mind and weighing on you?”

“I didn’t do anything—” I blurt out. Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is Cat’s resurrection and the weird interaction with her in the woods.

Diana’s blue eyes home in on me. “So, there has been a resurrection, then? Who’s Cat?”

My pulse quickens, and I gape at her.

She chuckles under her breath and shakes her head.

“What are you laughing at?” I say, slamming my hands down on the table in front of me.

She tips her chin condescendingly and pats the top of my left hand. “There, there, little one. No need to get yourself worked up. You’ll give yourself premature wrinkles.”

“Ugh,” I moan. She’s just toying with me, but I’m starting to feel like a mouse who can’t escape.

“See, here’s the thing, kids,” Diana begins, resting her forearms on the table and clasping her hands out in front of her. “There’s only two ways revenants like the ones in this town can be called forth. The first one would take a magician capable of harnessing the higher vibrations of earth energies. We’re talking deep, powerful magic. Not only would that take an incredible skill level of biomancy, but it also requires the use of relics very few have even heard of. Or…the more likely scenario is a newbie necromancer was playing around with forces beyond her capabilities and level of awareness…and who, of course, didn’t know any better. Since all magicians with elemental magic get catalogued and there’s no one in this area with that level of power just yet, it sorta leaves you.” She shoots me a knowing look. “So, you can see our predicament. Now, let’s try this again. Who’s Cat?”

“Cat has nothing to do with any of this. I haven’t done anything wrong. This wasn’t me—”

However, a seed of doubt blossoms in my abdomen.

Could I have done this? I’ve even had my own doubts about her…

Diana’s eyebrow arches upward, as if she hears every word in my mind. Then, she leans in close to me. “Autumn, you’re gifted—naturally so, in fact. I’ll give you that. Your powers have a greater capacity than you’ve even begun to test. It’s almost as if you’re afraid to. Why?”

I blink back in surprise.

I’d never even looked at it that way. Instead, I sorta feel like I don’t have control of what happens. Abigail, the resurrection chamber, the revenants… I’m in reaction mode without a chance to be proactive.

Diana’s tongue flicks across her lower lip and she turns to Wade. “So, you’re also in the epicenter of all of this, Mr. Hoffman. What about you? Anything on your mind?”

His face again drains of color and he shakes his head. “No, Autumn’s right. We have no idea what’s causing any of this. We just want it all to be over.”

Silence expands between the three of us as Diana watches every movement Wade makes with rapt attention. “I’m not entirely certain why you’re shrouding yourself with so much…mystery. But I’d be careful if I were you. It could be your undoing. I should know.”

“What on earth are you talking about?” I say.

“Nothing you need to worry your sweet little head