Shadow Chaos: Misfit Magic Academy, #3

By C. S. Churton

She grew up in the shadows. But will finally embracing her powers mean stepping into the light?

 

Norah Sheehan has spent the last two years wrapped in shadows of her own making. But when her infamous criminal brother escapes prison, his unlikely jailbreak lands the spotlight squarely on her. Under suspicion at every turn, being dragged in by the druid enforcers and accused of aiding his escape only heightens her simmering resentment towards the ever-watchful council.

 

Throwing herself into her studies, Norah is determined to keep her head down and make it to graduation. But when her best friend starts behaving weirdly and the academy's mean girl stops being abrasive, it's clear she has more than druids to worry about.

 

Can Norah make it to graduation without giving the council an excuse to bind her magic forever?

 

Shadow Chaos is the action-packed conclusion to the Misfit Magic Academy YA urban fantasy trilogy. If you enjoy likeable characters, erratic magic, and fun twists and turns, then you'll love C. S. Churton and Keira Stone's spellbinding tale.

 

Buy Shadow Chaos to step out of the shadows today!

• Language: English
• Publisher: C. S. Churton
• Release date: Sep 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223268543

Book preview

SHADOW CHAOS

Book 3 of the Misfit Magic Academy Series

Table of Contents

Title Page

Shadow Chaos (Misfit Magic Academy, #3)

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Also By C. S. Churton

C. S. Churton & Keira Stone

This is a work of fiction. The characters and events described herein are imaginary and are not intended to refer to specific places or to living persons alive or dead. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher except for brief quotations embodied in critical reviews.

Cover by May Dawney Designs.

Copyright © 2022 by C. S. Churton & Keira Stone

All rights reserved.

Chapter One

I hadn’t thought about my brother in months. In retrospect, that was probably my first mistake.

My parents had stopped putting all their focus on me and I had just been grateful to feel like I could breathe again in their presence. Sure, it would have been nice of them to congratulate me on saving people’s lives, but I’d come to realise that no matter what I did, I was never going to be as good as Micah. The sooner I accepted that, the better.

Unlike last summer, I actually got to leave the house, which was firmly in the plus column. Zachary and I hadn’t actually had a proper date as of yet, which was firmly in the column of suckiness. That time off he was meant to have right after the academy year ended disappeared like a druid through a portal. I mean, literally: he portalled out ten minutes into our date, full of apologies and promises to make it up to me. Apparently, he was in high demand. And he’d kept sending me promises to make it up to me. I’d stopped holding my breath by early August.

Eva and I had done better seeing each other more frequently over the break. We had a standing Friday afternoon coffee date at Fantail Market. It helped us both get away from family drama and allowed us to discreetly practice our magic without too many people judging. Okay, so the shop owner had given me a couple of dirty looks when I’d accidentally broken three coffee cups he had just filled with piping hot coffee. She’d been off on holiday with her mum in France for the last two weeks, and today was our last meet up before the semester started.

Even though it had only been a couple of weeks without it, I missed our routine. Getting together, even for a short time, gave me something to focus on and look forward to. I was even feeling pretty good about my magic most days. It still came and went, but I was making a conscious effort to try to only focus on the good days. Was it working? Well, the jury was still out on that one.

I’ll be back later, I called from the front door on my way out. Neither of my parents responded, which wasn’t unusual. It was like being a non-entity in my own home.

It’s not forever, Norah, I reminded myself as I slipped out of the door. As soon as I graduated, I could look into getting my own place. And that day could not come a moment too soon. Along with the day I learned to portal. With a sigh, I pulled the transportation stone I’d ‘borrowed’ from the academy last year from my pocket and headed for a spot away from prying mundane eyes.

Fantail Market was busy when I arrived, but everyone was so preoccupied that my transportation stone induced nausea went unnoticed. It was always like this close to the start of the new semester—people rushing around getting supplies for whichever academy they attended, all trying their best not to start fights because none of us had anything to gain if the tentative truce between us all was shattered on account of two people wanting the same textbook. As I watched, a trio of druids came out of one shop, arms laden with what looked like new uniforms, and someone wearing a shifter control cuff scurried out of another doorway clutching a book. Things I should probably be worrying about. But my old uniform still fit, and I’d gotten through two years at Braeseth without having to buy my own supplies. So I figured, why start now? It was probably for the best, anyway. If I turned up with shiny new textbooks and equipment, the instructors might actually expect me to put in some effort.

Still, I wound my way through the throngs of people, casting a look at the shop windows as I passed. A row of shiny amulets caught my attention. I wasn’t much of a jewellery girl but they were glowing and pulsating, impossible to ignore—which was exactly what I needed to do. I definitely couldn’t afford anything like that. Checking the time, I started to make my way to the cafe and the table Eva and I had claimed as our own over the last few months. I figured I’d get there first and buy her a cake and a coffee before she arrived so she could just sit and spill about her holiday.

As I neared the front entrance to the cafe, the little hairs on the backs of my arms prickled, and my stomach did a flip. I could feel someone’s gaze on me, even before I turned to glance over my shoulder. I saw a guy in a long, deep-red cloak with black trim across the walkway staring at me. He was all muscle, as evidenced by the bulging biceps in his arms crossed over his chest, and his cold eyes were locked onto one person. Me.

Great. Just what I needed, a stalker. Worse, there was only one type of person who wore a cloak round here: a druid. And there was only one type of druid who wore a cloak with a black trim. My new friend was an enforcer.

I still had a little time to kill so I backtracked through the crowds, checking every few paces. Crap. The enforcer was definitely following me. I turned a corner and spotted another one barring my path. If I retreated, his buddy would catch me. I ducked into a second-hand shop and wound my way through the piles of goods to the back. I heard the tiny bell over the door ring a moment after me and the first guy walk in. The few other customers gave him a wide berth and the shop girl behind the counter suddenly looked petrified.

My stomach churned. Why the hell were enforcers following me?

I grabbed a jumper off the rack in the back and tried to make my way toward the changing area when the back exit door opened, and a third guy, this one sporting a flat top buzz cut, appeared. I reached for the curtain in the changing area, but a fiery spark zapped my fingers. I jumped back and cradled my fingers to my chest. He was lucky he hadn’t set the damned curtain on fire.

You’re not going anywhere, the first guy said in a deep voice.

Look, I don’t know what you guys want, but I’m pretty sure it’s against shop policy for you all to be back here when I’m about to get naked, I said. I clutched the jumper to my front for good measure.

You’re coming with us, the third one—the flat top buzz cut—barked.

Nope, sorry, I’m already meeting someone, I replied, and tried to assess my options as another guy in a black trimmed cloak crowded into the shop. Seriously, were they bloody multiplying?

All four of these men were massive compared to me. And definitely more in control of their magic. I could maybe use the jumper as a distraction and make a run for it. Maybe my shadows would be kind to me today and hide me from their pursuit. If I stayed put, there was no chance I’d get out of here without some serious injuries, or being hauled away someplace dark and dingy.

Jumper it is.

They were spread out a little and I could just about make out the exit between the two of them in front of me. I might just be able to make it if I ducked between them. Only one way to find out.

I tossed the jumper at the ones to my left and ducked between the other two. I slammed my hands hard into the release on the door and spilled into the back alley behind the shop.

Get her! Flat Top ordered.

Don’t fail me now, I whispered, and called on my magic.

It swirled around my hands like a mini storm cloud, and I lobbed it over my shoulder, hoping it would obscure my departure. Bright flashes of red-orange flame burned through my cloud and the face of the first guy appeared.

Bugger.

By order of the council, you’re coming with us whether you want to or not, he growled.

The words ‘over my dead body’ came to mind. But I didn’t want to test whether they’d take me seriously and for all the complaining I did about my life, I definitely enjoyed numbering amongst the living.

Long tendrils of shadow shot out of my palms and wrapped around his ankles. I gave a sharp tug and he faltered but didn’t go down. One of his buddies lobbed a fireball at my head and I let out an undignified yelp as I threw myself to one side to avoid being burned. I narrowly avoided staggering through an open doorway to an apothecary in my haste to escape the fire.

Shouts went up from people around us as they realised something was happening. Another fireball came my way and I tried—and failed—to throw out a shield to deflect it. It just whizzed past my arm, leaving the tiny hairs singed. These guys weren’t messing around. One of the others formed what looked like one of Zachary’s air balls and lobbed it straight at me. I was so distracted by the air magic that I didn’t get out of the way fast enough, and it knocked me flat on my arse.

My chest ached from the impact as I struggled to my feet again. There was no way I could fight them. They had superior training and I still wasn’t in control of my magic all the time. Even the magic I’d been able to use just now hadn’t stopped them. It hadn’t even slowed them down. And I had a horrible suspicion that air ball hadn’t been full strength.

I don’t know why you’re here, but I’m not going anywhere with a bunch of thugs, I shouted, anger laced in my tone.

You don’t have a choice. Norah Sheehan, you are under arrest by order of the Circle, Flat Top answered. He looked pleased with himself, as if hauling me before the community’s governing body had been at the top of his bucket list.

I froze. I hadn’t done anything to warrant being arrested. In fact, the Circle owed me for saving lives not once but twice while attending Braeseth. And I was pretty sure the couple of magical mishaps during my coffee dates with Eva didn’t constitute a crime. There had to be a mistake or a mix-up on their warrant. Maybe someone with a similar sounding name? A Moira or a Noreen.

You’ve got the wrong girl, I tried.

Flat Top shook his head and advanced on me. My only option was to backpedal, but I made it two paces before a pair of thick forearms wrapped around my torso and lifted me off the ground. I’m not embarrassed to admit I screamed like a lunatic, thrashing in his grasp to try and get free.

Get off me! I howled. My legs kicked out as the others approached. I didn’t make contact, but it was enough to keep them at a distance.

No-one came to defend me, not even to tell them to stop being so rough. They just turned around and went back the way they’d come, heads ducked down and gazes on their feet. I guess no-one was dumb enough to defy druid enforcers going about council business. I stopped kicking. I was caught—whether they were out of order or not. All fighting was going to do was piss them off, and I didn’t want to give them an excuse to show how strong their magic really was.

Flat Top nodded in satisfaction and clamped magic suppression cuffs around my wrists. Instantly, I feel the connection to my magic disappear. I might not always have a good grasp on my magic, but I’d got used to it being there, even if it was shoved way down deep. This detached feeling cascaded like ice down my spine. It wasn’t natural.

Be a good girl and come quietly, now, he said.

His patronising tone made my vision blur and darkened at the edges. I wanted to slap the smug look off his face and tell him what a sexist pig he was. But his buddy’s arms were slowly squeezing the air out of my lungs, and I was almost certain I was less than a minute from passing out.

Losing consciousness was not an option. I needed to know where they were taking me. I gasped for air and the grip loosened. Why...

Why? Flat Top repeated.

I coughed, forcing air back into my lungs. My ribs ached and my vision was still blurred. Why are you...arresting me?

Like she doesn’t know, the first guy said, shaking his head.

My vision was tunnelling now, and I tried to focus on his face. If he had a big mouth, maybe he would let slip why they’d come after me in broad daylight on a Friday afternoon. I had just enough visual field to see Flat Top make a sharp hand gesture to keep his fellow enforcer quiet. Whatever they thought I’d done, they weren’t going to tell me here in the open.

I wished I had a way to let Eva know what was going on. Not that she’d be able to do anything to stop them, but she could tell my parents. Or Zachary. Or someone. Anyone. In case I didn’t come back.

They shoved me into the middle of their tight two-by-two formation and marched me down the back alley to an empty stretch of walkway. The ground fell away under me without any warning, and I’d have yelped out a panic scream if there had been any breath in my lungs. The hands of the enforcers were still gripping me tight, and it took my panicked brain a moment to process what was happening. Transportation stone. They were transporting me somewhere.

The world spun around me, and I could feel my stomach churning as we were hurdled across space. I knew what was coming next and as gross as it was going to be, I was almost looking forward to unloading my breakfast all over their stupid shoes.

We landed hard on solid ground, and my knees buckled at the impact. Firm hands gripped my arms, hauling me up. As expected, my stomach revolted at the method of transport, and I bent double.

Move, Flat Top barked.

Gonna be sick, I managed before breakfast in fact made a reappearance all over the paved drive. It didn’t hit their shoes like I’d hoped, but they did scurry back like mice.

You’ve got to be kidding, one of the other enforcers groaned.

Get her cleaned up and bring her inside, Flat Top ordered to one of the others. I was so focused on dry heaving that I didn’t see who he was actually addressing.

They must not have thought I was that much of a threat now because two of the men followed Flat Top, leaving me with the first guy I’d spotted across from the amulet shop. He had seemed almost eager to fill me in on why they’d arrested me back at the market. Maybe now that it was just the two of us, I could get him to divulge what was really going on. Because I had no chance to defend myself if I didn’t know what I was supposed to have done.

Can you just tell me what you think I’ve done? I gasped as my stomach started to settle.

You’ll find out soon enough, he said and gave me a hard shove between the shoulder blades.

The gesture propelled me forward, and I looked up at the familiar Circle headquarters building. I hadn’t been here since Celine’s trial a little under two years ago. I hadn’t bothered to go to Reggie’s. They hadn’t called me to give evidence, so I’d had no real reason to spend the beginning of my summer reliving the drama of the last academy year—which hadn’t stopped me doing it, it just meant I hadn’t had to do it publicly, which was no small mercy. I didn’t need to hear about his obsession with me and how he had studied more advanced subjects without permission in order to gain the skills he needed to make other people’s magic backfire on them. I’d heard from other sources that he had been given a long sentence and would no longer be enrolled at Braeseth. Morbid curiosity dogged at the back of my mind, though, wondering what sort of chaos awaited me this year.

A desperate part of me hoped I’d run into Zachary here and he would whisk me away from whatever nightmare I’d woken up in today. But as the enforcer led me inside and up a secluded staircase, I could feel that whatever waited for me was going to be worse than anything I could have imagined.

Chapter Two

The interrogation area was sparse and dimly lit. The lone fireball lighting the room looked weak and aged. My eyes ached from trying to see in the darkness after only a few minutes. Maybe that was a tactical advantage. Maybe the enforcers were used to the crappy lighting and so they let it disorient the people they’d dragged in off the street to question. Well, point to them because by the time the door to my little interrogation room opened and two druids marched in, complete with black-trimmed cloaks, my head was throbbing.

It didn’t help that my stomach was still a little off from our trip from the market. As I sat there—how long I couldn’t say—I tried to figure out what they could have blamed me for, but, coffee cups notwithstanding, I was coming up empty. Truth was, the enforcers scared me, as they would any sane person. We didn’t have the death penalty, but my mind was coming up with a dozen alternatives that were almost as bad.

Norah Sheehan. It was a statement more than a question, but it made me lift my head and try to look at the man taking the seat across from me.

He had a day’s stubble and penetrating brown eyes, and the way he studied me made me want to be sick all over again. I didn’t know if he expected me to respond or not, but I was afraid if I opened my mouth, none of us would like what came out. I had a habit of saying all the wrong things when I was in mortal terror.

You are Norah Sheehan? he continued. Apparently, it was a question I had to answer.

I took a big breath in and blew it out, leaning back against the roughhewn chair in which I sat. The cuffs around my wrists clanked against the table that separated us.

Don’t be sarcastic. Don’t be sarcastic.

If I’m here, don’t you already know who I am? I’m pretty sure checking someone’s identity before you arrest them for no reason is how it works.

Crap.

His partner, a blond guy, leaned forward. We’ve got a lot to do today, so please answer the question.

It wasn’t my problem they had a lot of work to do. If they were so busy, maybe they should stop wasting their time with me. On the other hand, not answering was probably just going to piss them off more, and it wasn’t like it was going to get me anywhere. I had no problem admitting who I was, because I hadn’t done a damned thing. Maybe if we got on with this, we could fast forward to the part where they realised I was innocent and let me go.

I nodded. Yes, I’m Norah Sheehan. Could someone please tell me what it is you think I’ve done? Your attack dogs chased me at the market and abducted me without any explanation.

Blond Guy furrowed his brow at me. You weren’t notified you were being arrested?

I fought not to let my eyes roll, as part of my whole cooperating plan. "They told me I was under arrest, but not what for. I