Page 104 of Magical Melee

“Maeve,” he said, standing from his seat quickly. “What brings you here? Everything okay at the cottage last night?”

They’d decided to alternate, staying in the woods with me, and the last couple of nights had been Nova’s turn.

“All is well. Probably too well. It’s been so quiet and still in the woods.”

“Don’t let Shadowick scare you. Remember, before you met Gideon, you would have welcomed a quiet forest.”

I nodded in agreement. “True.”

“So, what brings you here?”

“I need a favor.”

He raised an eyebrow. “A favor?”

“Yes.” I crossed my arms, trying to appear more confident than I felt. “I want to go back to the Academy’s gardens.”

Keegan’s expression didn’t change. “Why?”

“Because I can’t stop thinking about it,” I admitted. “There’s something there, something I need to understand. And I can’t get the alley to appear again. Believe me. I’ve tried.”

Keegan sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Maeve, the Academy isn’t a tourist destination. You can’t just stroll in and out as you please.”

“I know that. Believe me,” I said, my frustration boiling to the surface. “But I was there once. What’s stopping me from going again? Why won’t it welcome me? I’ve even traced the Stonewick lock.”

“The Academy,” he said simply. “It allowed you into the gardens once, but that doesn’t mean it will again. It’s not something we control.”

I frowned, my determination not wavering. “Then how do I find out if it’ll let me back?”

Keegan regarded me for a long moment with a hard gaze. Finally, he said, “Why are you so set on this?”

“Because it feels like… like there’s something calling me there. I told you that,” I said, hesitating only slightly. “I need to know why. And if I can get the Academy to open up, then maybe I can finally learn how to be a witch.”

Keegan studied me, and his gaze intensified with every passing second. Then, to my surprise, he gave a slight nod. “Alright. I’ll tell you what to do once you’re at the first gate. But you go at your own risk. I can’t promise you’ll get in or won’t get hurt trying.”

“I don’t care. I have to try something.” I exhaled in relief. “Thank you.”

He stood from his chair. “I’m not happy about this, but something tells me you’ll keep trying it on your own unless you get the answer you want.”

“How very perceptive.”

He let out a low laugh, and his hand gently swept along my back. A surprise charge ran through me from his touch, but I kept walking.

If I didn’t know better, I’d actually let myself think he was checking me out.

But it didn’t matter. The last thing I needed was to let my emotions run wild.

“So, we’re going now?” I could hardly believe my good fortune.

He didn’t look convinced but didn’t argue further. “No. If you get in, you won’t be able to distinguish time. You could be there for hours, days even. I’ll show you the way after your work.”

I nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. “Deal. But then, where are we going?” He walked by my side.

“I wanted to show you something.”

“Where?”

“Out back.” He motioned me through a set of double doors leading to a courtyard.