The Daring Witch: Year Two

By Kristen S. Walker

A young witch who is tired of playing by the rules. A half-wolf shifter who wants to be accepted by the other witches. Can they find the spy before their enemies strike again?

Brie survived to her senior year at Santa Cruz Witch Academy and just wants to graduate so she can go to art college. But her new roommate is a transfer student who is not the average witch-in-training. Willow is part wolf shifter and struggling to control her abilities. Shy Brie knows what it's like to be the odd one out and she wants to help her new friend fit in.

But Brie is still being targeted by a hostile Fae and her minions in the human world. Her enemies must have a spy inside the school. One of her fellow students is reporting her every move. Is it the mean girl bully? Someone in her magic classes? Or even one of her friends?

As Brie tries to keep her grades up and stay out of trouble, she needs help from Willow and her other friends to investigate the threat inside the school. What she learns will challenge her beliefs and force her to make tough choices. The enemy seems to have no morals at all and they've killed before.

What is Brie willing to do to stop them?

The Daring Witch is the final book in a YA urban fantasy academy trilogy. The series takes place twenty years after the Fae of Calaveras trilogy, but does not require prior reading. If you like teen witches, magical schools, and mean girls, you’ll enjoy Kristen S. Walker’s latest novel.

Buy the complete series today!

Rated PG-13 for mild profanity and sexual references.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kristen S. Walker
• Release date: Oct 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005606701

Kristen S. Walker

Fantasy author Kristen S. Walker dreams of being a pirate mermaid who can talk to sharks, but she settles for writing stories for teens and adults. She's proudly bisexual, Wiccan, a liberal feminist, and lives in northern California with her family and two rescued pets. To find out more about her stories, please visit kristenwalker.net.

Book preview

1

Ihad so many things to worry about during my senior year at Santa Cruz Witch Academy. Re-taking the broom flight class and overcoming my fear of heights. Passing a packed schedule so I could graduate. Completing my art portfolio and applying to colleges. Not to mention my previous run-ins with the local magical creatures including mermaids, vampires, and murderous Fae.

But the thing that scared me the most? Sharing a room again with Samantha Blackburn, the self-proclaimed queen of the rich bitches.

Despite having both my moms for backup as we approached the Unicorn Building, one of the girls’ dormitories, I hesitated outside on the cement bridge that led to the front door. I’d only seen Samantha and her followers a few times over the summer but the encounters had been almost as traumatic as being kidnapped and threatened with murder by the faeriekin. It wasn’t just that Samantha disliked me for being less rich or popular than her. She caught me breaking into her stuff, and even though I didn’t steal anything—I’d only copied her notes and textbooks for a few classes—she’d never forgiven me.

Mama Rosa shifted her load of boxes to free up a hand and tucked a piece of my red hair behind my ear. Hey, it’s okay, Brie, she said warmly. You’re an expert at this school now, right? This year should be so easy for you.

I glanced at her bright, reassuring smile, then turned to Mama Ashleigh with a desperate look. The two of them couldn’t seem more different. Mama Rosa was short and dark-haired, with the telltale signs of a human approaching middle age like extra pounds around her waist and lines around her eyes, although she still acted like an overeager child. She dressed like a typical Earth witch with a long skirt and embroidered blouse. Mama Ashleigh was tall and fair, with white-gold hair and the ageless, otherworldly grace of a half-Fae. But she dressed in a tailored suit that looked like she belonged in a corporate job.

I didn’t really look like either of them. Yeah, I was human and short, but my skin was sunburnt despite all the sunscreen I’d worn over the summer—the curse of being a pale redhead. Despite trying to build up muscles during swimming and surfing, I was mostly just skinny. My casual clothes were all beach-going fare, like today’s loose, blue-striped linen pants and a tank top with a faded surfboard logo.

My moms didn’t know half the trouble I’d gotten in, since I’d been very careful to hide my most dangerous adventures, but they were both educators. They had to know that the last year of high school was never easy.

Mama Ashleigh’s smile was softer and more sympathetic. I think what she means is, you had a few rough patches along the way, but you seem to have found your stride. If you stay calm and work hard, I know you can graduate. We’re so proud of you.

I bit back a groan. Neither of them really understood me. I used to feel so close to my parents, but now that I had spent time on my own, I realized that there were a lot of things that they didn’t know about the world. Or what I really needed.

But now was not the time to make a big scene in the middle of campus. I took a deep breath to fortify myself and pushed through the door.

Inside, the common room already had a few girls hanging around chatting, obviously finished with their move-ins. The RA, Hailey, stood up with a smile and picked up her clipboard from the counter.

Hello, Mrs. and Mrs. Quinn-McAddams, she said, nodding to my parents. You’re the last ones here. Long drive?

Mama Rosa groaned. Yeah, longer than usual. I think we’ll rent a hotel room tonight and drive back in the morning.

Hailey tucked the clipboard under her arm and turned to me. Brie, I need to talk to you about your room assignment. There’s been some last-minute changes.

I swallowed nervously. How could this get any worse? What kind of changes?

Normally, you would have the same roommate as last year, she said, voicing my fear that SCWA was determined to pair me with Samantha again. But Samantha Blackburn moved into a triple room with her friends, so she isn’t available.

No doubt the rich Mr. Blackburn had something to do with Samantha getting special treatment. I leaned forward with excitement. Does that mean I can request another girl that I’m friends with? Could I get Erin Murphy? She was the only girl at the school who I actually got along with.

Hailey shook her head. I’m afraid it’s too late for requests, and Erin is already moved in with her same roommate from last year. She lifted the clipboard. We have a transfer student who is new to our school.

A new student? That meant it was someone who didn’t already have a grudge against me. Since the new laws said witches-in-training had to be sixteen before they could learn magic, the academy only took in eleventh-grade students and lasted two years. I didn’t know that someone could transfer in halfway through, but I guess Pamela’s death over the summer had left an opening.

Sure, that sounds fine with me, I said with a shrug.

She glanced around at the other students in the common area, then lowered her voice and said, Perhaps it would be better for you to meet her and see if you get along. If you don’t mind following me?

That sounded suspicious. Was there something wrong with the new girl? I looked down at the armfuls of my belongings that my parents and I were holding. We were all tired from the long drive and I just wanted to get settled into a room so we could relax. If I’d known this was going to be such a long discussion, I wouldn’t have carried so much from the car in the first trip.

Mama Ashleigh caught onto the situation. She set down her heavy boxes, then took the suitcase from my hand. We can stay here and watch your stuff. Go on and talk to the new girl, honey.

I tried not to look as nervous as I felt as I followed Hailey to the stairwell which led down to the lower floor. She took me all the way down the hall and around the corner to the far end of the dorm building.

Wow, we’re pretty far from the bathrooms, I said with a half laugh, trying to lighten the situation.

Hailey glanced back at me. Sorry, but it’s next to the ground floor exit.

Isn’t that just for emergencies?

Normally, yes, but we’re making an exception—not that it will be left unsecured, Hailey said quickly. I promise you that the school is making every effort to make sure you and everyone else will be safe this year.

Because we hadn’t been safe before. Pamela wasn’t abducted from campus when she was killed, but I was, since the faeriekin used her key to get into the room we shared over the summer. I’d also exploited holes in campus security when I didn’t want them to know what I was doing, so I couldn’t be too angry. But of course, the administration’s biggest concern was covering their own asses from potential lawsuits.

It was my first time on the ground floor. I didn’t know anyone who had a room down here and I’d never bothered to explore the entire building. The ground floor exit was listed on all the maps as an alternate escape route. When we came to the end of the hallway, I was surprised to see the top half was taken up by a window of reinforced glass. Instead of pointing at the parking lot or another open area, it led straight into the forest that surrounded the campus.

Why did this mysterious new girl need to be so close to the emergency exit?

I opened my mouth to ask, but Hailey had already turned to the dorm room—number 113—and knocked on the door.

A muffled yelp came from inside, followed by a crash.

Hey, Willow, it’s Hailey, the RA called. Is everything okay?

Um, yes, sorry! a high-pitched girl’s voice answered. She sounded even younger than I expected, more like twelve. There were a few more strange noises, and then the door swung open.

I caught my first glimpse of Willow and my jaw dropped.

Willow was tall and broad, looking awkward in the school’s required uniform of a white button-up shirt and pleated blue-and-purple plaid skirt. She had that hunched-over look of a girl who felt uncomfortable with her size. But that wasn’t what surprised me. Her brown eyes glinted with a golden highlight, her nails were long and pointed without any sign of fake tips, and in her dark hair, two furry ears swiveled toward me.

I took an involuntary step back. I couldn’t place exactly what she was, but it wasn’t human. How could she be at the small witch academy instead of the many schools for magikin?

Hailey put her hand on my shoulder before I could retreat any farther. Brie, this is Willow, she said with extra cheerfulness. She’s been given a special scholarship to study at our school, so we want to make her feel welcome. I was hoping that since you have so much experience with, um, people from diverse backgrounds, you might be the best person to show her around the school.

Diverse backgrounds? Did she mean because I dated a mermaid last year, then a vampire over the summer? I folded my arms and shot a questioning look at Hailey to give her a chance to explain.

Willow sniffed the air and scowled. I thought you said her mom was a faeriekin, but she smells all human to me. Her voice was low and rough, like she was having a hard time shaping the words around her teeth.

Brie has a mixed family, Hailey said quickly.

I flinched. Was I getting paired with the new girl just because my family wasn’t all human? But at the same time, I felt sorry for Willow. She looked so uncomfortable and defensive, like she was just waiting for anyone to say something bad about her.

My aunt married a naga, I said with a shrug. And my cousins both take after their dad, which makes babysitting extra fun. But I don’t think that you need a babysitter.

Willow raised her chin, her eyes flashing at me in appreciation. You’re right, I just need people to stay out of my way. Can’t I just have the room to myself? she asked, turning to the RA.

Hailey shook her head. I’m afraid it’s against school policy to let anyone room alone. Since we have an odd student out, someone’s going to need to move into a triple. It’s either one of you or Helena.

Willow and I shared another look, sizing each other up. With a slight nod, we came to a silent agreement—we would find a way to make this work.

I smiled at Hailey. I think we’ll get along fine together. Can you let my parents know so they can start bringing my stuff down here?

Hailey hesitated for a moment, then handed me a key. Fine, if you both agree. She let out a sigh of relief. That lets me sort out the last assignment. Have fun, girls.

The RA spun around and trotted back down the hall.

Willow pushed the door open the rest of the way and stepped aside, ducking her head in sudden shyness. I guess you want to come in?

Thanks. I walked into the room and stopped in the middle, my eyes widening at the sight.

Aside from the school-issued furnishings, the room was almost bare. There was a rugged leather backpack resting against one desk, and the closet door stood open, showing a few spare uniforms and athletic clothes hanging inside. Dirty running shoes sat in the corner. Otherwise, there were no personal belongings—no posters, no knickknacks or stuffed animals, no attempt to fill the space with anything that told me who Willow really was. Both beds were neatly made-up with the school’s blue blanket and purple sheets, so I couldn’t even tell whether she’d chosen the top or bottom bunk yet.

I glanced at Willow, who was still looking at the floor. Is the rest of your stuff coming later or something?

Willow shrugged. No, this is what I got.

Oof. Guilt shot through me. Maybe she didn’t own anything? I set down my messenger bag on the empty desk. Um, okay.

The situation became even more awkward when my parents arrived with all my stuff. I wasn’t rich and spoiled like Samantha, but cheap, secondhand belongings were still nice when compared to nothing. Willow backed into a corner, trying to hunch down even farther.

Mama Rosa bustled in first, setting down the heavy boxes with an exaggerated grunt. Whew! We didn’t know how lucky we were last year, when we didn’t have to take the stairs. She caught sight of Willow and stared. Well, hello there! Introduce us to your new roomie, Brie.

I gestured vaguely at the poor girl. Um, this is Willow, and she just transferred into the school. I pointed at my parents. These are my mothers, Rosa and Ashleigh.

Mama Ashleigh put down her load with less theatrics, but she also looked at Willow with open surprise. You’re a… shifter? she asked gently. Her gaze went to me, full of questions.

I shook my head to show that I didn’t have any answers, either. There were several kinds of shapeshifter magikin, who could change form between one type of animal and a human-like appearance. I’d only met kitsune, who turned into foxes and gained another tail for every century they lived, and pookha, who kept their horse ears even when they walked on two legs. Willow didn’t look like either kind.

Willow squeezed her eyes shut. Her whole body shuddered and she shrank again—literally this time, as her massive frame grew smaller. The furry ears disappeared from her head and her claws retracted into her fingers. When she opened her eyes again, they were a normal chocolate color. Her school uniform fit her new size better.

Only part wolf shifter, she said. Her voice had become higher and softer, without that hint of growl underneath, but so quiet that I had to strain to hear her from a few feet away. My mom, who raised me, she’s a regular human. I have a hard time controlling it.

Mama Ashleigh nodded with sudden understanding. So a Fae granted you magic to give you a better grip on your abilities?

Willow took a step back. How’d you know?

Mama Rosa reached out her hand. It’s okay. Faeriekin can always recognize someone with the mark of a Fae. Just like all witches have. She gestured at herself, then me.

Sorry, it’s all very new to me. Willow ran her hand through her hair, pulling some of it forward to hide her face. I didn’t start changing at all until I was sixteen, so I went to a magikin school, but they couldn’t help me figure out what I was doing wrong. Then a Fae offered me help—like you said—but she said I’d need to find others to teach me how to use the magic she gave me. I’m not exactly a witch, but it seemed like the closest thing. This was the only witch school that finally accepted me as a student.

My parents exchanged a look.

It would be hard for most schools to understand what you’re going through, Mama Rosa said with a sad shake of her head.

It’s unprecedented for a Fae to give magic to a non-human, Mama Ashleigh added. In the past, magikin who needed or wanted additional powers beyond what they were born with would ask a human to teach them sorcery.

Willow covered her mouth with a gasp. But sorcery is forbidden!

Which is why you’ve had to find a new way to deal with your abilities. Mama Ashleigh tilted her head to one side. I imagine that there are more young people in similar predicaments to you. The Faerie courts should be seeking a new solution, not leaving you to flail about on your own.

Willow squirmed under their gazes, and I felt sorry for her. It must be weird to have these adults she’d just met talking about her life like they knew more than she did. Only Willow knew what her real problems were or how she wanted to solve them.

I interrupted by roughly opening a drawer in the empty dresser and shoving some clothes inside. All this talk about magical politics is fascinating, but I’m supposed to meet my friends for dinner in less than an hour. Can we try to finish bringing in everything before then?

Yes, of course, Mama Ashleigh said patiently. We were just taking a few minutes to get to know your new roommate.

I clamped my mouth shut before I said anything more rude and just shooed them out of the room. But when they got to the door, I turned around and mouthed, Sorry, at Willow with an apologetic smile.

She blushed and looked away. When we came back with the next load from the car, she’d left the room.

2

After saying goodbye to my parents, I hung around the dorm for a little while to see if Willow would reappear. I thought it would be the right thing to do if I invited her to join me and my friends for dinner. But there was no sign of my new roomie. Finally, when I was already running late, I gave up and left.

I waved my wrist over the panel at the dining hall door to activate my newly upgraded student ID bracelet. A magitek chip inside made the panel light up, opening the door. The bracelet was supposed to keep all of us safe, allowing access to the right buildings on campus but also tracking our movements to make sure we didn’t go anywhere off-limits or stay out after curfew. The new upgrades were supposed to fix the old security holes. I had turned off the tracking more than once with my magic in order to get some privacy, and the faeriekin who murdered Pamela then used her bracelet to get into our room when they kidnapped me over the summer. Only time would tell if the system would prevent those issues now.

It was Saturday night and there were signs of students moving in all over campus, but the dining hall was less than half full. Many people went out to eat at a local restaurant or to party downtown on the first night back at school. But Damian, Erin and I didn’t have lot of spending money, so we’d