Page 57 of Magical Mayhem

The heat roared inside me, a wave of fire that seared every nerve. My heart hammered, my breath came in ragged gasps, and my vision blurred at the edges with an orange-red light. It was more than anger, more than fear. It was the memory of every night spent by Keegan’s side, watching his strength falter. It was the way Gideon’s shadow had crawled into my dreams more times than I could count. It was the sight of the Silver Wolf standing in the lane, and the terrible ache of knowing she was his mother and not enough to mend what had been broken.

I couldn’t bear to hear it again. Not in this quiet cottage that was my sanctuary, not with my mother sipping tea like it was just another family squabble.

“Every time you say it, it makes it real all over again,” I said hoarsely. My voice shook, but the fire behind it didn’t. “I know he’s cursed. I know Malore is back. I know the Silver Wolf is here, and I know Stonewick is cracking under the weight of it all. I don’t need you to list it out like ingredients in a recipe. I live it. Every single day.”

The room was silent, save for the pop of the fire in the hearth.

My mom stared at me, lips parted, as if she hadn’t expected the outburst. My dad’s expression softened, but he didn’t speak, maybe knowing that if he did, I’d unravel completely.

I pressed a hand to my chest, willing the fire to recede, to settle into embers. Slowly, my breath steadied. Slowly, the heat ebbed back to something I could hold.

Mom finally spoke, her voice quieter. “Maeve, I need to tell you that—”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “Don’t. Not right now.”

She closed her mouth, but her eyes didn’t leave me.

I pushed myself to my feet, the chair scraping against the rug. I couldn’t sit there while my insides burned. I crossed to the window instead, staring out at the driveway, the glow of lanterns swaying in the gloom.

Behind me, my dad exhaled slowly. The sound was heavy, weary, but resolute.

“That’s the truth of it,” he said to my mom. “You wanted to know why you were called back. Now you do.”

“And that’s the short version.” I rubbed my temple, exhaling slowly.

My mom leaned forward, her eyes on me. For the first time since she’d arrived, her expression softened. She was no longer sharp, nor combative, but something dangerously close to maternal concern.

“Maeve,” she said, her voice low and serious.

I met her gaze.

“You look stressed.”

Chapter Eighteen

My pulse was already racing, which meant trouble was brewing, and it wasn’t the mint tea I’d switched to. I didn’t know if it was the touchdown of Captain Obvious or just…everything.

Across from me, my mother sipped serenely, as if she hadn’t just strolled back into Stonewick after years of avoiding anything with magic in it.

My dad, freshly human after his bulldog stint, sat stiffly in the armchair, hands folded like he was back in school awaiting detention.

And Miora… well, Miora made her opinions known by slamming something glassy in the cellar every few minutes, like the world’s crankiest caretaker.

I had a whole Academy to worry about, plus a cursed wolf shifter boyfriend, even though we hadn’t officially named what we were.

Plus, I inherited a shadow-wrapped nemesis who apparently doubled as family baggage. Thelastthing I needed was my mother leaning in and announcing, “Maeve, you look stressed.”

Captain Obvious had reboarded the ship.

I wanted to snap,Gee, you think?But instead, I reminded myself that arguing with my mother was like trying to out sass Stella…exhausting, and I’d lose.

Always.

My body felt hot, like my magic had turned into wildfire. Fire in my veins, fire in my chest, fire in my cheeks.

I wanted to throw my hands up and shout,See? This is my life now, thanks for noticing, Mother!

But I didn’t. Because then she’d smirk and tell me I wasjust like her, and that would be the end of me.