Ethics of Magic: Ember Academy for Young Witches, #4

By L.C. Mawson

Okay, so maybe taking powers from an ancient, unfathomable being wasn't the best idea...

When the school was in danger, taking a helping hand from Nature seemed like the only option.

But now the Council of Light are asking to examine my magic, and I get the sense that I'm just a pawn in their game of political chess.

If they decide that my connection to Nature makes me a threat, or worse, discover my connection to Maria Brown, the criminal they're still trying to catch, I'm screwed.

If I want to survive, I'll have to learn the rules of their game. And fast...

ETHICS OF MAGIC is the fourth book in the Ember Academy for Young Witches YA Urban Fantasy Academy series. If you love kick-ass heroines, Sapphic slow-burn romances, and magical boarding schools, you'll love this latest fast-paced series in L.C. Mawson's Snowverse.

• Language: English
• Publisher: L.C. Mawson
• Release date: May 23, 2020
• ISBN: 9798201190026

Book preview

Chapter One

Igroaned as I awoke from another long night of research in my dreams.

I needed to spend every second I could searching for a way to lift the binding spell keeping my auntie unconscious.

Which included the nights I spent mentally projected into Maria’s tower.

Especially then, given that it was Maria herself who cast the spell, making her the best bet to lift it.

But it meant that I was reaching a week without a decent night’s sleep.

I sighed as I looked around my room to see that my roommate, Natalie, was already dressed, waiting for me.

She tossed my clothes to me as soon as she saw that I was awake. I didn’t want to wake you and take time away from your research with Maria, but we’ll have to rush breakfast if you don’t hurry.

I nodded, taking my clothes and hurrying to the bathroom.

Did you find anything? Natalie asked through the door, which I’d kept slightly ajar, so I could still hear her, while she couldn’t see me. To help your aunt, I mean.

I sighed. We’ve got ideas, but nothing concrete yet. We’ll definitely get something soon, though. I spoke with as much conviction as I could muster, hoping to convince myself as much as Natalie.

I was right.

I had to be.

I quickly brushed my teeth, swallowed one of my tablets and pulled on my clothes, running a brush through my hair as I left the bathroom. Okay, I’m good. Let’s go.

Natalie gave a slight smile as I slipped on my shoes and grabbed my phone, stepping slowly towards the door, waiting for me to catch up.

I returned the smile in thanks as I headed out of the door, finally ready.

I hurried to the dining hall, and Natalie kept pace beside me, presumably not also hurrying, given her Vampire speed.

As we arrived in the hall, I made a beeline for the pastries and coffee, picking up two Danish pastries, one custard and one jam, and a cup of decaf.

Natalie picked up some kind of meat sandwich that I didn’t look too closely at, knowing that she preferred her food on the raw side.

As I’d not touched any kind of meat in years, such things tended to put me off my own food, despite the increased metabolic needs my magic gave me.

We headed over to our friends and I gave them a wry smile as I sat down next to my girlfriend, Willow, and Natalie sat down on my other side.

So, I said, how long do you think we can be in classes before they’re interrupted again?

Lena, the half-Mermaid, smirked. At this school? I give it a week.

Her girlfriend, Charlotte, nudged her with her elbow. We should be more optimistic. With the Slayers gone, there’s no reason to think things won’t go back to normal.

Lena rolled her eyes, though that was a hell of a lot less than the rest of us would have gotten for those comments.

Lena wasn’t exactly the optimistic sort...

But the two of them had been almost sickening since they’d gotten together. And if I was being honest, they hadn’t been much better before then, either.

Natalie nodded to Charlotte. You’re right, we should try to put all of this behind us and move forward.

I looked down at my plate, doing my best not to grind my teeth.

How in the hell was I supposed to put it all behind me when my auntie was still under a binding spell? Unconscious, and unable to wake up, until I could figure out how to lift it...

A soft hand pulled me from my thoughts as it encompassed my own, and I recognised the feel of my half-Elf girlfriend, Willow.

Ever since I’d gone to Nature for help in lifting Maria’s binding spell, I'd been more attuned to her, the extra sense Nature had given me making me hyper-aware of her magic.

I was more aware of all elemental beings now, including Lena, but there was something different about Willow.

As if her magic was constantly calling to me.

And mine was calling to hers.

I turned to see that she was giving me a sympathetic look. No one has forgotten your aunt, Amelia. We’ll figure out a way to wake her up, I promise.

I nodded, almost awed by how quickly she’d figured out what was wrong.

But then, magic was fuelled by emotion, so our magic being so in-tune made everything else more in-tune.

Natalie turned to me with an apologetic look. I’m sorry. My wording was careless. I just meant... We should try to get everything else back to normal while we work to wake your aunt.

It’s okay, I said. I get it. Waking up one person isn’t the same as either the Amazons or Slayers invading the school.

No, but she’s your aunt.

I nodded once more as Willow leaned closer to me and I took comfort in her presence.

I glanced back over to Natalie and saw that she had a slight furrow to her brow.

I almost went to assure her again, but then I realised that Willow and I were sitting rather obviously close.

And so were Lena and Charlotte.

Whereas Natalie sat on her own, the normal space between chairs now like an impassable gulf.

My stomach twisted with guilt. None of us were trying to flaunt our relationships, but it was hard not to just gravitate to sitting in our couples when we were all together.

But even if Natalie liked someone, she couldn’t join us.

Not when the risk of biting anyone she liked was too high.

I wanted to figure out some way to help her, but I was at a loss.

Still, that didn’t mean that I would stop looking.

MR STILES SET US OFF writing essays in History of Magic, allowing us to pick the subject.

I frowned as I flicked through my textbook, struggling to choose a topic.

Not because none of them interested me, but because too many of them did.

I wanted to know more about Maria’s time. About the fights that had left so many scars beneath the surface.

But then, I also wanted to know more about Esme, the new leader of the Amazons, and the fights for justice she’d taken part in in her youth.

And then there was my sister, the Demon Queen, and the subject of most modern history.

I wanted to know everything I could about her life since she’d left home.

With everything pulling me in different directions, I decided to just keep flicking through my textbook until I found something that interested me enough to stop.

But before that could happen, Mr Stiles came over and cast a privacy spell.

I frowned as he sat down on the chair in front of me, and I wondered what he wanted.

So, he said, I realised that you never told me, how did you know that concentrating Maria’s binding spell in a single person would free everyone else?

Umm... I looked away, finding it impossible to meet his gaze. I read her grimoire, remember?

And you remembered that much from it? It’s clear that you have more information on Maria’s magic than most, and I don’t think it all comes from textbooks.

I frowned as I finally looked up at him, wondering if he knew the truth.

He couldn’t, right? That’s why he was asking.

It was a suspicion at most.

But then, if he suspected now, and I lied...

You’re not in trouble, Mr Stiles assured me. And if you don’t want me to repeat what you tell me here, I won’t. But I need to know that you’re okay. That you’re not in trouble.

I shook my head. No, I’m not in trouble, I promise.

But...?

I sighed. The last time I hadn’t trusted him, we had both ended up in trouble, so maybe now wasn’t the time for lies.

I just had to trust that he really meant what he said about me not being in trouble.

Between trying to lift the curse on my mum and casting that spell on Samhain with Maria... Something happened. We’re connected now. I can... I can communicate with her. And I didn’t trust her at first, but then she helped me to pass the Amazons’ trials. And she’s helping me figure out how to wake up my auntie.

Mr Stiles sighed. I can’t say that you still being in contact with her is something I think is a good idea, but if she’s not looking to hurt you...

I promise, she’s not. She’s done nothing other than help me.

I don’t think I’m as certain of her intentions as you are, but she probably is our best bet of figuring out how to wake up Jessica, so... Just promise you’ll be careful, all right?

I promise.

I HEADED TO THE INFIRMARY after my last class, where my auntie was still lying on one of the beds, unconscious.

I hated seeing her like that, but I had to keep track of the binding spell and make sure it wasn’t starting to do more harm.

I arrived in the infirmary to see that Ms Griffin, the head teacher of the school, was already by Auntie Jess’ side.

She made her way down as often as she could, but as she had to run the school, that wasn’t as often as I was sure she’d prefer.

Hey, I said as I approached, not wanting to scare Ms Griffin, as she seemed too preoccupied to notice my entrance. How is she?

Ms Griffin sighed, and I noticed that while she’d done her best to cover them, there were dark circles under her eyes. There’s been no change in her condition, I’m afraid.

Are... Are you okay? I asked, not sure if my concern was welcome, but feeling the need to ask anyway.

Ms Griffin folded her arms. I’m just worried about Jessica. And about what the Slayers plan to do next...

I suppressed a wince, fully aware that I was responsible, at least in part, for both problems. I’m sorry for causing so much trouble.

No, Amelia, don’t blame yourself. These are trials that the school would have always had to face. As long as Queen Freya is the one funding us, the Slayers will never be happy. They were always going to start this fight. You were just who they happened to focus on.

I nodded, glad that Ms Griffin saw it that way, though the situation was still a total mess.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, drawing me from my thoughts, but I didn’t answer it.

Ms Griffin frowned as she heard it. Amelia, have you told your family about your aunt’s condition?

I shrugged. I told Nightingale. I figured she could decide what to tell the rest of the family.

Like your parents?

I nodded.

Have you spoken to them since the Slayers left?

I... No. My mum’s been ringing, but... I haven’t been answering.

I braced myself, expecting Ms Griffin to scold me for that, but she just gave me a sympathetic nod.

This cannot be easy for you, Amelia. This situation would be difficult enough without also trying to balance the magical world with your Human family. Ms Griffin shrugged. It’s why I never wanted to leave the covens, and why I could never understand why Jessica wanted to live on her own. Cut off from her own people and surrounded by Humans...

I... Did she tell you why she didn’t trust the Council of Light?

That they covered up her husband’s murder? Yes, she told me. But that doesn’t explain why she was so distrustful of covens, even when we were teenagers.

I shrugged. I guess you both just found comfort in different things. I sighed. Surely there has to be a middle ground, though...

Ms Griffin gave me a bittersweet smile. That would be nice. But if one exists, I’ve yet to find it.

I nodded, thinking back to the idea Maria’d had when I’d been struggling with the idea of finding a home after I finished school.

Somewhere where I could use my magic and be myself.

Maria had suggested I simply build somewhere like that.

If I did, could it be somewhere for Humans and magical beings to safely intermingle? Without all this difficulty?

Don’t worry, Amelia, Gail said. We’ll figure out a way to wake up your aunt.

I nodded, getting the feeling that her words were more for herself than me, assuring her that things left unspoken wouldn’t be forever so.

Chapter Two

Maria grinned at me as I arrived at her tower.

I think I’ve got it, she said.

My heart skipped a beat, sure I knew what she meant but not wanting to jump the gun.

I somehow found the courage to voice my question. You’ve found a way to wake my auntie?

She nodded. Yes. It’s not quick, it will take a few days, but it should work.

Great! What do we have to do?

"Well, that’s the difficult part. The spell will

Reviews for Ethics of Magic

[Northern Wolf Studio · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a beautifully written series, i love the characters and the feel of the world, it capivates you and pulls you in right away, i can't wait to keep going!