Page 108 of Magical Mayhem

“I do,” I said. “I believe destiny’s just a map you redraw every time you choose to stay or go.”

He was quiet. His gaze flicked to the sky where Malore’s face had been, then down to the teachers, then back to me. “If you called my mother,” he began, voice a notch rougher, “if you… lured her…”

“I intend to do more than lure,” I said, and his eyes darkened at the promise in my tone. “I intend to give her a reason to walk through these gates with her head up. Not because Stonewickdemands it, but because Stonewick is finally strong enough to forgive it. That call was for her.”

His throat worked. The Silver Wolf’s absence had been a scream waiting to escape from him for years, and the truth was that the thought of her return was a tender, dangerous thing. “What if she doesn’t come?”

“Then we do it anyway.” I nodded toward the clusters. “With or without her, this is the beginning. And if she does come,” I tried to keep my breath steady, “then it’s not just a beginning. It’s a return.”

“Return,” he echoed, as if tasting the word. “I want to hate it. But I don’t.”

“Good.” I bumped my shoulder lightly against his arm. “Save the hate for Malore. It looks terrible on you.”

He snorted softly.

My dad cleared his throat in the gentle parental signal forI’m here for you, and I will break anyone who hurts you, even if it’s Keegan.I smiled and nodded.

“I’ll make a sweep,” my dad said.

“Thanks, Dad.” My voice shook and steadied in a single breath as my mind cratered to Gideon, and my dad melted into the moving crowd with surprising stealth for a man built like a tavern door.

The moment he was gone, Keegan’s hand found mine.

“I can stand a while,” he said. “But if I start listing like a ship, do me the favor of pretending I’m dignified.”

“You’re the definition of dignity,” I said solemnly. “You’re practically a brochure.”

He huffed. “A brochure?”

“For Stonewick. ‘Come for the cobbles, stay for the sexy wolf.’”

“Ridiculous.”

“Accurate.”

Twobble walked over and smiled while I tried to give him the eyes.

“You’ve got an itch there, Maeve?” Twobble asked, cocking his head.

“No, just curious why you’re here and not there.”

“There, as in where?” Twobble asked.

My eyes widened.

“Oh, right. The vamps are on it. Those old gals…”

Keegan scowled. “On what?”

I cleared my throat, hating the lies. “Long story.”

“I’m not sure I have the strength,” Keegan said, shaking his head.

“Well, that’s the best news I’ve heard all day.” Twobble grinned, and I shooed him away.

The wind worried the lanterns again, but they held. Shadows bruised the clouds, but they didn’t break. Around us, instructors took their corners.

Nova dipped a sprig of rosemary into a bowl and let the water bead into stars. Ardetia coaxed the ash trees to sway in time with breath.