Page 33 of Magical Mayhem

“Maeve,” she said, urgency lacing her usually calm tone. “He’s worsened. He was in class, and he managed to finish the lesson, but…”

My stomach dropped.

Images collided in my mind. Keegan, pale and strong-willed, pushing himself upright in his bed, determined to teach despite Malore’s curse. And Gideon, slumped under moss in the Wilds, his breath shallow, his body heavy as stone.

Both of them slipped further. Both of them breaking. And somehow, both of them tied in a way I didn’t understand.

My heart hammered as I followed Nova without a word.

The corridor seemed to stretch longer with every step, but at last we reached Keegan’s door. Nova pushed it open, and I stepped inside, bracing myself.

The sight still stole my breath.

Keegan lay on his side. His face was even paler, and sweat dampened his temples.

The strong lines of his body seemed diminished, as his chest rose shallowly.

His hands twitched against the blanket, claws straining against skin as though the wolf inside him fought to claw free.

My knees buckled, witnessing the parallels between Gideon and Keegan’s strength.

I rushed forward and knelt beside him. With my trembling hand, I brushed limp hair from his forehead. His skin was clammy, fever-hot beneath the sheen of cold sweat.

My throat closed as I pressed a kiss to his cheek.

“Keegan,” I whispered, my heart pounding. “I’m here.”

His eyes fluttered open. The hazel dulled but still caught light.

I could see he tried to smile, but the expression cracked into a grimace. “Maeve.”

“Don’t speak. Save your strength.”

Behind me, Nova moved quickly, tracing sigils in the air. Ember hovered beside her, pouring pale green light over Keegan’s chest in a fog-like glow. It soothed small spasms in his chest.

“His body is resisting us,” Nova said in a controlled tone. “The curse spreads faster now.”

Ember’s glow dimmed and brightened again. “It’s clinging to him. Every thread we unravel knots twice over.”

I squeezed Keegan’s hand harder, as my heart broke.

The sound of footsteps thundered down the hall, and then Ardetia swept in, her silken hair streaming behind her. Her bracelets chimed as she skidded to a halt.

She moved quickly to the other side of the bed.

“What can I do?” she asked urgently.

Nova glanced at her. “Hold him. Keep him in the here and now. If he slips…”

Ardetia nodded and knelt next to him as she set her hand on Keegan’s arm. Watching her Fae magic curl faintly against his skin like a silver thread might have been majestic any other time, but not today, not with Keegan.

Lighter and swifter footsteps came down the hall. Bella burst in, her tail flicking once before vanishing as she forced herself fully into human form. Her golden eyes fixed on Keegan instantly. Her expression was stripped of her usual sly mischief. My dad followed in behind her, and his gaze steadied on mine.

In that moment, I saw the truth as I looked between Bella and my dad, both shifters.

They didn’t think it would end well.

The understanding passed between us like lightning. They knew the signs, the tremors in his hands, the way his wolf strained against the curse. Their eyes said what Nova would not, what Ardetia would not.