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

go on a tirade about how student loans are put in place, so we start out our lives stuck under the thumb of Big Brother.

“I still have some money in my savings. We’ll figure it out. If I have to get a job to help—” I begin.

“In no way are you helping me to pay for my tuition. Nuh-uh, that’s a deal breaker,” he says, shaking his head.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Waving a hand in front of him, he cuts me off. “Let’s not worry about any of the real-world stuff right now. I’m in a friggin’ magical school. Now’s the time to sit back and enjoy it. I wanna see what the fuss is about, while I revel in the fact that I’m also here with the most beautiful woman in the whole world. Deal?”

I narrow my gaze.

“Deal,” I say, hugging his arm closer. “Let’s go see what this Witching Stick ceremony is all about.”

Wade beams back at me and I lead the way to the auditorium. The seats are nearly filled already and I’m surprised at the sheer number of new students coming in, especially since this is just the second semester. It’s not even the start of a new year.

When I began, I was off in my own world, focusing on so many of my own inner struggles that I never really looked around. I barely registered the sheer awesomeness of abilities coming from the others around me. Now, as someone who isn’t worried about fitting in, or wondering about my powers, I guess I can breathe a bit. It’s fascinating to see the questions painted across the faces of nearly everyone here. Their anxiety and excitement are palpable.

The two of us maneuver into one of the only two-seat spots left, which are off as far to the left of the stage as humanly possible.

Wade leans in close. “How do you think this thing goes? I mean, do you think the whole Sorting Hat thing was taken from this? God, I hope not.”

My eyes widen and I hold back a laugh. “Wouldn’t that be something? I guess, stranger things…”

“Right, we are definitely in the Upside Down,” Wade nods.

“Not what I meant. I literally meant stranger things have happened.”

His eyebrows lift upward and he laughs. “Oh, right. Habit.”

“It’s one of the many reasons I love you,” I say, smiling.

He turns back to me, looking me over intensely. His silver irises get consumed by his pupils, but as he opens his mouth to speak, a hush falls across the crowd and his lips pinch tight. We both turn to face the stage just as a plume of purple fire dies back from the entrance of a woman in a purple pinstripe suit. Her wild, curly black and purple hair flows around her and she holds her arms out wide, palms up. A tiny smirk branches out across her face and she steps up to the microphone.

“Welcome everyone, to your Witching Stick ceremony. My name is Marva Arlo, but you probably remember me as the disembodied name on your admissions letter,” she says, quirking an eyebrow and giving a knowing look as she casts her gaze out over the sea of people. “I’m Windhaven Academy’s Director of Admission and I’m here to properly introduce you to the world of the supernatural and magic.”

Leaning in, I whisper, “I have never seen this woman before now.”

“This is probably her only gig. Then she goes back to sitting behind a desk,” Wade snickers. “Makes sense as to why she had to make such a big entrance.”

I cover my face, holding back a laugh. He’s probably right. It’s the most theatrical thing I’ve seen take place in the past five months.

“So let me explain to all of you hopefuls on how this day works. The mere fact you are sitting in your seat means you have already been vetted as carrying supernatural qualities. Some of you were gifted from the day you were born; others may not even know what your gifts are quite yet. Each of us run on a supernatural spectrum, so to speak. Our job at Windhaven Academy is to help you develop at your current level and then quickly advance you into your area of magical expertise,” she continues, crossing her arms behind her back and walking across the stage. “Should you be more advanced upon entry, you will be happy to know, your lessons will help you level up further. If you are a magical newbie, on the other hand…” she stops, raising her left hand, palm up to the air, “…then our lessons will start out in the basics as we test you for your innate abilities. Every classroom is warded with enchantments that detect who you are and your level of advancement. This helps to provide your instructor with the ability to teach you where you are at. At this point you might be thinking, ‘This sounds great, Marva, but what does this mean?’”

The director stops pacing across the stage to look out over the audience again. Not a single one of us moves; instead, we’re all thoroughly engrossed in her words. Even me.

“It means that while you might be in the same classroom with your peers, the lessons they are receiving may be vastly different from the one you are receiving. Does this make sense?”

Chatter breaks out over the audience and I turn to Wade. “Did I just hear what I think I heard?”

Wade’s face is wide with surprise and he shrugs. “Heck if I know. What did you hear?”

“That each student is actually getting a different lesson at the same time during the same class?”

“Yup, that’s what I got, too.” He nods.

“Holy shit. How did I not realize this before now?” I say, my mouth gaping open.

“Er, probably because you didn’t get to have this orientation?” Wade says.

Shaking my head, I turn back to the stage. I think back to all the lessons from last year and how many times I felt like I must be falling